This is one of my favorite books from my childhood! I always enjoyed reading it every year at Christmas time. A great story about the Herdmans and how they made the annual Christmas Pageant the best ever. :)

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great christmas story. I loved it as a kid and still do!

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The book is outragious, lively, funny and wonderful. The Christmas story takes on a srangely moving depth of meaning and shines through with a new brilliance.
---Denver Post
It had me laughing so hard I could hardly read. Don't miss this hilarious and touching book. --THe Boston Globe

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This, is by far, my family's favorite Christmas book. I know that a friend of mine was hesitant to read it due to the rudeness and crudity of the Herdmans. BUT, after I explained that THAT is what the book is all about, their encounter with the Christmas Story and how it profoundly changes them. I can never read the last chapter without bawling! Shared with my children this past year as a read aloud. It was a touching moment to share with my oldest who totally "got it". DEFINITELY worth reading.

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This is an excellent book for young or old. It's wonderful for teaching the REAL Christmas story in a sneaky and humorous way. It is great for teaching compassion and tolerance.

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I read this to my family and we all loved it! I have loved this story for years and I like to read it every Christmas. I love how it is written from a child's perspective and how she learns more about the Christmas story than she ever knew before, because this year's pageant wasn't the same old thing. The Herdman's are in it this year and they are the town hooligans so everyone expects them to ruin the pageant, but they end up bringing just the right feeling to the night. I highly recommend this book for adults and children alike.

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A favorite at our house. Dad loves this book too!

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I have read this book aloud to family members every year for as long as I can remember. It's hilarious - yet such a wonderful picture of what Christmas is really all about.

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I laughed out loud reading this book to the kids one holiday season. It's funny and touching at the same time. Gotta read it again this Christmas.

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I found this Christmas story to be a refreshing change from the high drama or folly choices of most Christmas offerings. The people are real, the problems reasonable and solved with sincerity and humor.

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I read this book as a kid and I think I got even more enjoyment out of it as an adult. I read it to my husband because he had never read it before and we laughed so hard together that we were crying! Love it!

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Adorable adaptation of the Gospel. Great for the young and young at heart.

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Wonderful book...puts all things Christmas into a thought-provoking perspective with lots of laughs!

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Wonderfully funny and touching!

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This is a 35 year old book, but it is just the most endearing story you've ever read.

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This is such a great book. I loved it the first time I read it and I still read it at least once a year.!

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The Herdmans are the worst kids in the world. No one is prepared when the Herdmans show up one Sunday in church and want to be in the annual Christmas pageant. The pageant ends up being full of surprises.

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I first read this in school, about 3rd grade I believe, and I have always remembered how much fun it was. I found it again at a library sale, and grabbed it. It's still just as fun, and the descriptions of events and charachters reminded me a lot of Mark Twain. Of course, his works were much longer, and in ways darker, but the author uses the same matter of fact attitude in this book.
The one thing that stood out during this read was how religious the book is. It's not overtly so, but the comments and observations throughout make me wonder how it was that this was approved reading at a public school. As a Christian, I can appreciate it, but as someone who would never tread on another's beliefs, it seems this book would be the basis for a separation of church and state lawsuit today.
... Which is sad because it's a wonderful story, well written, very entertaining, and altogether a terrific read for kids and adults.

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One of the sweetest stories I have ever read. A must for Sunday School teachers or a child who needs a special story. 4th grade reading level.

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Great book for kids ages 8 to 12!
"The book is outrageous, lively, funny and wonderful. The Christmas story takes on a strangely moving depth of meaning and shines through with new brilliance." (Denver Post) Great Christmas gift!

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A funny, interesting, outrageous, exciting book.

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We read this book every year! We love it!

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The 25th Anniversary of "One of the best Christmas books ever."-Publishers Weekly
"Wiry-tough, tender-hearted, unsentimental, and consistently funny."-The London Sunday Times
A multiple award winning book.
A Harper Trophy Book

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A Funny, Heartwarming, delightful story about one child's experience with the Christmas pageant and the worst kids in town.

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