FICTION

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara ROBINSON
978-0-06089-074-2.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—The infamous Christmas pageant scene from Robinson's chapter book of the same name (HarperCollins, 1972) has been condensed quite successfully into a picture book. Readers are introduced to the six Herdmans, "the worst kids in the history of the world." They lie, steal, and play with matches "…and when they didn't have anything else to do, they would bang the garage door up and down and try to squash each other." When they take over the annual Christmas pageant, everyone is horrified but, of course, the Herdmans bring a chaotic sincerity and authenticity to the evening that is truly moving. Cornell's trademark pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings capture the skinny-legged, scraggly-haired, snaggle-toothed Herdmans to a tee.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Robinson retells her classic Christmas story for a picture book audience. The much shortened text focuses on the pageant itself, but the entertaining Herdman children manage to shine nevertheless. Cornell's sketchy ink and watercolor illustrations play up the lovable messiness and chaos of the church pageant. This is not a replacement for the original novel but a suitable addition to holiday collections.
Reviewed by Eva Mitnick , Oct 01, 2011

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