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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever  By  cover art

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

By: Barbara Robinson
Narrated by: Elaine Stritch
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Publisher's summary

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. 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 and Herod needs a good beating) has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

©1972 Barbara Robinson (P)1995 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the best Christmas books ever." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Don't miss this hilarious and touching book." ( The Boston Globe)

What listeners say about The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Average customer ratings
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I think it was the best thing I ever heard 😂

I LOVE IT!! and you can always call you tomorrow morning to get the kids to the park and ride at the end of the

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Classic!

This story is a family favorite. We love the humor surrounded by an important message of giving and compassion. I highly recommend this story for all ages!

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A favorite family tradition

We love listening to this story and this version with Elaine Stritch as the narrator just brings this book to another level of enjoyment. We laugh every time we play this book and it is specially requested by my children every year. Hope others can take the time to share this experience.

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Love it!

This is my favorite Christmas book, specifically this audiobook with this specific narrator. Maybe its just because I grew up listening to it on tape traveling to my grandparents house for Christmas Eve, but I think the author does a great job at portraying the humor of the book.

The book is hilarious, especially if you grew up in a small town, going to a protestant church all your life. For me, it was very relatable. I think that those who are not religious might still find it funny.

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My Fav

We listen to this story every year and every year I love it! Elaine’s narration makes this book come alive!

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It was amazing

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. And one of the best.

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Great story

Wonderful story and the reader reading it was to listen to. Very much enjoyed it and my students did too!

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Wonderful story.

Oh my heart. The last chapter is the Best!! My kids really enjoyed listening to how bad the kids were. Hopefully they don't get any ideas.

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Great story

It’s a a story that shows how partial we as humans can be. But also the beauty of letting those who are underprivileged take a place in the world, and how that can change us all. My 14 and 10 year old laughed at scenes throughout the story and sighed when it was done! What a great story. Narration needs a little help,but otherwise good!

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An essential story for Christmas

I have been listening to this story since I was a kid. My mother read it to us and then we found it on cassette tape. lol. We can't have Christmas without it.

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