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rochelleisreading's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Body shaming
Minor: Animal cruelty
Children smokingsarah_brazenbookworm's review against another edition
Oof. I remember loving this book, and it was still a fun read for me. That said, it really shows its age and would not be a good read for most kids these days. Basically, there’s something to make almost every kid feel bad about themselves or the family: body-shaming, poverty, lack of education, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Child abuse, Ableism, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Bullying
Word sex is mentioned in this book, kids smoking cigars is also common- could be updated in later versions but I read the originalkelly_e's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Title: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Author: Barbara Robinson
Series: The Herdmans #1
Genre: Holiday Middle Grade
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: January 1, 1972
T H R E E • W O R D S
Comical • Wise • Genuine
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I read this book over a period of 3 weeks as part of book club for my niece and nephew's home school curriculum. It was interesting to discuss it with them, and see the story through their eyes. I will preface this by saying this book is certainly not for everyone, and some of the content does not stand the test of time (see content warnings below).
An unconventional, but ultimately realistic story about redemption and Christmas. It mixes humour and clever writing to enlighten the reader that there is good in everyone. I found the father to be quite comical and got several laughs at the things he does. The Best Christmas Pagenat Ever is a simple and endearing story with a good lesson, and a reminder of what the season is truly about.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Sunday school classes
• Grades 3-4
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everyone had been waiting all this time for the Herdmans to do something absolutely unexpected. And sure enough, that was what happened.
Imogene Herdman was crying."
Author: Barbara Robinson
Series: The Herdmans #1
Genre: Holiday Middle Grade
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: January 1, 1972
T H R E E • W O R D S
Comical • Wise • Genuine
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I read this book over a period of 3 weeks as part of book club for my niece and nephew's home school curriculum. It was interesting to discuss it with them, and see the story through their eyes. I will preface this by saying this book is certainly not for everyone, and some of the content does not stand the test of time (see content warnings below).
An unconventional, but ultimately realistic story about redemption and Christmas. It mixes humour and clever writing to enlighten the reader that there is good in everyone. I found the father to be quite comical and got several laughs at the things he does. The Best Christmas Pagenat Ever is a simple and endearing story with a good lesson, and a reminder of what the season is truly about.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Sunday school classes
• Grades 3-4
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everyone had been waiting all this time for the Herdmans to do something absolutely unexpected. And sure enough, that was what happened.
Imogene Herdman was crying."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Ableism, and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of the few children's stories I like *better* as an adult. As a child I was not impressed with the Herdmans, and the fact that they did actually bad things, not just nominally bad things, and the fact that their redemption arc is left incomplete at the end. Now I can see that I would have removed most of the point of the story in my unintentional childish legalism, and also that we don't have to see the whole story to know that something lovely has been set in motion.
I'm still uncomfortable with the blasphemous language the reader has to wade through to enjoy this story, but otherwise this is totally appropriate to the intended age group, with the usual descriptions of bullying, passing references to children smoking, and such.
I'm still uncomfortable with the blasphemous language the reader has to wade through to enjoy this story, but otherwise this is totally appropriate to the intended age group, with the usual descriptions of bullying, passing references to children smoking, and such.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Bullying
kelseyr713's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great funny story to read around Christmas!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Fire/Fire injury
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