The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Several of my students participated in the local play for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and because I couldn't attend the play, and because I've never read either the book or the play, I decided to honor them by picking up this quite popular little novel and giving it a read today.  Here's the blurb from the back of the book...

"The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.  They lie and steal and smoke cigars (even the girls).  They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse, and take the name of the Lord in vain.  So no one is prepared when the Herdmans invade church one Sunday -- and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.  None of them has ever heard the Christmas story before.  Their interpretation--the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating--has a lot of people up in arms.  But the actual pageant is full of surprise for everyone, starting with Herdmans themselves."

Looking forward to a good laugh! 
Happy Reading!
RC