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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie Tie-In Edition: An Award-Winning Holiday Classic of Laughter and Christmas Spirit―Now a Major Motion Picture from Lionsgate Paperback – October 1, 2024

by Barbara Robinson (Author)

6,821 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Herdmans series

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America’s favorite Christmas book by Barbara Robinson...is now a major motion picture! Lionsgate is releasing a live action movie version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on November 8, 2024, directed by Dallas Jenkins of The Chosen and featuring actors Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, Elizabeth Tabish, and Pete Holmes, coming to a theater near you!

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, swear, and smoke cigars. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies—has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play’s production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas. They will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

From the Publisher

	The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie Tie-In Edition	The Best Christmas Pageant Ever	The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (picture book edition)	The Best Christmas Pageant Ever	The Best Halloween Ever	The Best School Year Ever

Customer Reviews	6,821	6,821	245	6,821	594	822
Price	$5.82	$14.99	$11.01	$5.14	$7.99	$6.33
Barbara Robinson’s popular and bestselling story of the rowdy Herdmans has been a beloved Christmas	America’s favorite Christmas book by Barbara Robinson is now a major motion picture! This special movie tie-in edition of the beloved middle grade holiday story features cover art from the movie and is the perfect holiday gift.	A new hardcover edition of the classic novel about the holiday misadventures of the outrageous Herdmans, the worst kids in the history of the world! This deluxe hardcover edition with foil on the jacket makes the perfect Christmas gift!	This classic Christmas story of mayhem and wonder gets a perfect picture-book makeover for the younger set, with fabulously funny and beautiful artwork by Laura Cornell, the Herdmans come to life and this tale reminds us once again of the true meanin	Christmastime couldn’t be crazier when the Herdman kids are around! They’re the worst kids in the history of the world, and they wreak havoc on EVERYTHING … so what will happen when they take over the town’s Christmas pageant?	The worst kids in the history of the world return to terrorize Halloween this time, and their mischief has readers in fits of laughter. Now in paperback, kids will be raking in this funny book faster than candy this season.	The teacher has just given the hardest assignment ever—to find something nice about everyone in the classroom this year … including the Herdmans. But is it possible there’s any goodness at all in that crazy clan?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the best Christmas books ever.” — Publishers Weekly

“Wiry-tough, tender-hearted, unsentimental, and consistently funny.” — The London Sunday Times

“This charming story delivers a fresh perspective on the nativity and is a beautiful reminder that God loves everyone.” — Brightly

“Outrageous, lively, funny, and wonderful. The Christmas Story shines through with a new brilliance.” — Denver Post

About the Author

Barbara Robinson has written several popular books for children, including My Brother Louis Measures Worms, The Best School Year Ever, The Best Halloween Ever, and the enormously popular bestselling novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, first published in 1972, which was made into a classic TV movie and on which this book was based. The play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is produced annually in theaters, schools, and churches all over the world. Ms. Robinson has two daughters and three grandchildren.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Media tie-in edition (October 1, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063416476
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063416475
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7+ years, from customers
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.8 x 0.4 x 7.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #52,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #32 in Children's Christmas Books (Books)
- #319 in Children's Coloring Books
- #476 in Children's Classics

Customer Reviews:
6,821 ratings

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6,821 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this Christmas book heartwarming, telling the story from a child's viewpoint and teaching the true meaning of the holiday. The book is written at an elementary level and is enjoyable for all ages, with customers noting it keeps them chuckling throughout. They appreciate its conversational value as a discussion starter, and one customer mentions it helps answer important inference and comprehension questions. Customers value the book's message, with one noting it teaches lessons to both children and adults without preaching, and they consider it worth reading every year.

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Heartwarming story Humor Readability Writing quality Heartwarming Conversational value Value for money Message

345 customers mention "Heartwarming story"345 positive0 negative

Customers love this heartwarming Christmas story, particularly appreciating how it is told from a child's perspective and teaches the true meaning of the holiday.

"...It was really funny yet heartwarming and so beautiful...." Read more

"...The prose is simple but gets its point across...." Read more

"This is a wonderful story that highlights the real meaning of Christmas. Simple, funny, with truth and compassion mixed in. "..." Read more

"...This simple retelling, written so children can understand it, is the most meaningful to me. It is truly the Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" Read more

278 customers mention "Humor"276 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it super funny and keeping them chuckling throughout, with one customer noting how it weaves a story of Christmas with comedic elements.

"...It was really funny yet heartwarming and so beautiful...." Read more

"...Simple, funny, with truth and compassion mixed in. "..." Read more

"...has a wonderful gift of telling this story in a frank, yet hilarious manner...." Read more

"This book was great. It had cute humor in it. Great read for kids 3rd through 6th grade. I loved reading it as an adult...." Read more

153 customers mention "Readability"149 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, particularly as a wonderful read for kids and enjoyable for all ages, with children of all ages loving the story and holding their attention.

"...Yes, it’s a book meant to be read to children, but as a kid you don’t pick up on all the underlying details and meaning...." Read more

"This book was great. It had cute humor in it. Great read for kids 3rd through 6th grade. I loved reading it as an adult...." Read more

"...It is a great book for all ages." Read more

"I liked this funny but very thoughtful book that’s full of wonderful children’s imagination in the Christmas story. Also, I loved" Read more

36 customers mention "Writing quality"33 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is well-written and accessible at an elementary level, with one customer highlighting the author's vivid storytelling style.

"...The prose is simple but gets its point across...." Read more

"...This simple retelling, written so children can understand it, is the most meaningful to me. It is truly the Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" Read more

"Very well written. Very funny even the second time around." Read more

"A wonderfully written book with an even better message. No need to be religious to appreciate this story. The true purpose of Jesus well represented" Read more

34 customers mention "Heartwarming"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, bringing both smiles and tears, with one customer mentioning it makes them cry from laughing so hard.

"...Simple, funny, with truth and compassion mixed in. "..." Read more

"...I read it to my kids and by the end, was completely invested and tearing up. It's a short and simple read but the message is absolutely profound...." Read more

"...did I Iaugh through the whole book but I really enjoyed the importance of accepting everyone...." Read more

"...I’m now purchasing to read to my granddaughters. Heart warming and hilarious. Most importantly, it’s on point." Read more

24 customers mention "Conversational value"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great conversation starter, with one mentioning it works well for family book club discussions.

"...Precious book with a precious message that doesn't glorify the sins it presents...." Read more

"...went over the head of my 4 year old but we had some great discussions with my older son." Read more

"...It's an interesting little book." Read more

"...or listened to the book this Christmas we had a great family book club discussion about the book and how true the story is today...." Read more

21 customers mention "Value for money"18 positive3 negative

Customers find the book worth buying and reading every year, with one mentioning it's worth every minute for family time.

"Two thumbs up! It was a quick read but so worth it. I will be reading it to my loved ones for Christmas." Read more

"...I am sure not many will read this review but worth a share...." Read more

"The characters are not the usual but are exceptional. You will always remember The Christmas Story after reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" Read more

"...the Kindle version is nice to read aloud to kidsm especially for the low price." Read more

20 customers mention "Message"15 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the book's message, with one noting it teaches valuable lessons to both children and adults, while another mentions how it encourages perspective-taking and avoids preaching.

"I love this book and all Barbara Robinson books. This story reminds us not to judge, share the love of God and include all...." Read more

"...Using humor, the author threw a spotlight on key societal issues, and presented the nativity scene in a realistic way. I loved it." Read more

"...The theology isn't perfect but when is a child's theology perfect?..." Read more

"...when I get stressed over the Christmas program, this books help put it all in perspective. I recommend this book for all ages...." Read more

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Andrea Riggs
Such a heartwarming and funny book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2025
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We read this aloud to our late grade school kids and Our Family absolutely loved it. It was really funny yet heartwarming and so beautiful. It was around 100 pages so easy to finish in less than a week and really fun to go see the movie after we read it. I would highly suggest us as a read aloud to your kids!

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Customer
Brilliant story that some people still misunderstand
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
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So, I’ve read this book several times throughout my life and the story itself improves as I mature.

Yes, it’s a book meant to be read to children, but as a kid you don’t pick up on all the underlying details and meaning.

The prose is simple but gets its point across. It is a deeply Christian book that shares a message about mercy and the change that can happen when you fully embrace the gift of His birth.

I have noticed that there are a lot of one star reviews that harp on the fact that the Herdman children are rotten to their cores. That they smoke and steal and all manner of things. These reviews complain because the word sex is in the book.

Well, they’re not wrong. The Herdmans are kinda awful bullies, and the word sex IS in the book— twice, I think. But I would be remiss in writing a review if I didn’t say that those people who are complaining about those things completely missed the point of the book. They completely miss the point of their own religion, in my opinion.

This book is meant for sinners to see that there is another way, and to remind Christians like myself that Christ came here for ALL of us— especially the sinners— and we’d all better be grateful for that because news flash: we are all sinners… especially the prideful among us who would turn away children that need guidance simply because they have a bad reputation, those who would ignore a person’s spiritual growth because that person knows the word sex, or isn’t clean to the standards of the person doing the judging. Don’t read this book if you think yourself above sin. Don’t read this book if you think you’re the only one God sent His Son to save.

DO read this book if you want to see prideful, uptight Christians put in the hot seat for once.

DO read this book if you want a fun story about a person’s changing character.

DO read this book if you want your kids, or yourself to understand the significance of Christmas.

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Greg
Wonderful Christmas Story
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
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This is a wonderful story that highlights the real meaning of Christmas. Simple, funny, with truth and compassion mixed in.

"Well,' Mother said, 'just suppose you had never heard the Christmas story, and didn’t know anything about it, and then somebody told it to you. What would you think?' My father looked at her for a minute or two and then he said, 'Well, I guess I would think it was pretty disgraceful that they couldn’t find any room for a pregnant woman except in the stable.' I was amazed. It didn’t seem natural for my father to be on the same side as the Herdmans."

"They looked like the people you see on the six o’clock news—refugees, sent to wait in some strange ugly place, with all their boxes and sacks around them. It suddenly occurred to me that this was just the way it must have been for the real Holy Family, stuck away in a barn by people who didn’t much care what happened to them. They couldn’t have been very neat and tidy either, but more like this Mary and Joseph (Imogene’s veil was cockeyed as usual, and Ralph’s hair stuck out all around his ears)."

"Everyone had been waiting all this time for the Herdmans to do something absolutely unexpected. And sure enough, that was what happened."

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3 people found this helpful

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J. A. Spencer
The Most Meaningful Christmas Pageant Ever
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
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This story of Christmas has been on my favorites list since I first discovered it shortly after it was published in 1965! I was teaching second grade and chose to read it to my class, a chapter a day. Their feedback was great! They identified with the bullying, poverty, haughtiness, good and bad parenting, children's behavior on stage, competitiveness, dealing with mistakes and surprises, and prejudice: all of which are presented in this refreshing retelling of the Christmas Story.

Barbara Robinson has a wonderful gift of telling this story in a frank, yet hilarious manner. The Herdmans were enticed to church when they discovered they'd get snacks. The director's family going without dinner because she was so caught up in her volunteer position that she forgot to fix it. The Herdmans' transition from outcasts to heros was especially poignant to me.

I recommend this book to all who know the biblical accounts of Christ's birth and can appreciate how mankind has attempted to retell it throughout history. This simple retelling, written so children can understand it, is the most meaningful to me. It is truly the Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

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2 people found this helpful

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Jess
A Christmas Classic
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025
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I read this book in elementary school and now 33 years later I read it again but it was different. Through the eyes of an adult, you can picture everything going on throughout the book. You can feel the frustration of the mother but find the humor in it. A great holiday read.

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Jordan
Excellent for kids
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2025
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This kept my 6 and 4 year olds fully engaged and was a heartwarming Christmas story with a positive message.

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Great Read Aloud my Kindergarteners loved it along with this teacher❤️
Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was great. It had cute humor in it. Great read for kids 3rd through 6th grade. I loved reading it as an adult. It brought back memories from my childhood of Christmas plays I was in or watched. I can't wait to see the movie.

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One person found this helpful

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PDQ services
Fun book to read aloud.
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
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Funniest book! Traditionally, we read it aloud at Christmas ... even did it this year, gathering a few people on our cruise who also enjoyed it.

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Kindle Customer
The best Christmas read!
Reviewed in India on December 18, 2021
Verified Purchase

The best Christmas read!
I read this book out loud with my kids and what fun we had. The kids were vaguely aware of the Christmas story, but hadn't ever thought of it the way the Herdmans did. So when it did come up, we did stop and ponder on it.. Saying 'thats actually right!'

Smaran says - it was a great book telling us about the story of Jesus and explained about deep feelings about Christmas

Avni says - the books is about the spirit of Christmas and you can always change.. It's never too late to become loving and grateful for the spirit of Christmas.

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C. Watts
Childhood favourite, shared now joyfully with my children
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2019
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I wanted to read this with my 10 yr old and 5 yr old sons, to share one of my happiest childhood memories with them. Much to my delight, they both got right into the story and cheered with happiness at the end. And now we have a new family tradition, reading this on Christmas Eve. So happy. :-)

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"hyogokko"
heartwarming and entertaining
Reviewed in Japan on April 7, 2004
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This book was a favorite of mine as a child and I enjoyed rereading it even more as an adult. It's funny and heartwarming without being overly sentimental.

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Cliente Amazon
Optimista historia navideña
Reviewed in Spain on April 7, 2018
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Una bonita y optimista historia navideña, perfecta para leer en familia o para practicar el inglés. La edición de Harper Collins es muy sencilla y el papel tiene aspecto de reciclado (aspecto tosco y color grisáceo).

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Kristine Daniels
No Herdmans no Christmas
Reviewed in Germany on January 9, 2019
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Had the book for decades, lost it and decided for the kindle version, this time in English. No Herdmans no Christmas. Absolutely must have

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie Tie-In Edition: An Award-Winning Holiday Classic of Laughter and Christmas Spirit―Now a Major Motion Picture from Lionsgate Paperback – October 1, 2024

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars The best Christmas read!

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood favourite, shared now joyfully with my children

5.0 out of 5 stars heartwarming and entertaining

4.0 out of 5 stars Optimista historia navideña

5.0 out of 5 stars No Herdmans no Christmas

The best Christmas read!

Childhood favourite, shared now joyfully with my children

heartwarming and entertaining

Optimista historia navideña

No Herdmans no Christmas