The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

infobox Book
name = The Best Christmas Pageant Ever


image_caption = Cover of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
author = Barbara Robinson
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = 1972
media_type =
pages = 96
isbn = ISBN 0060250437
ISBN 978-0060250430
preceded_by =
followed_by = The Best Hallowe'en Ever

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1972. It focuses on the poorly-behaved children of the Herdman family, who discover the true meaning of Christmas through participation in a church play about the birth of Jesus.

The book was adapted into a television movie in 1983, which featured the first acting role of Fairuza Balk at the age of 9. It has also been adapted for the stage and is a popular choice for community theaters during the holiday season.

The Herdmans were featured in two sequels, "The Best Halloween Ever" and "The Best School Year Ever."

Characters

Grace Bradley: Mother of Beth and Charlie, and new director of the Christmas pageant. She's determined to make the pageant the best one ever, even with the Herdmans.

Bob Bradley: Grace's husband, an average American dad, unenthused about the pageant.

Beth Bradley: The Bradley's older child, who serves as the voice of reason (and narrates the stage version).

Charlie Bradley: Beth's lovable younger brother. He tells the Herdmans that there are free refreshments at church, which convinces them to participate in the Christmas pageant.

Ralph Herdman: The oldest Herdman, tough and surly. Casts himself as Joseph in the pageant (he and his siblings intimidate all the other children into not trying out).

Imogene Herdman: Bossy and domineering. Casts herself as Mary in the pageant.

Leroy Herdman: A schoolyard bully. Cast as one of the Wise Men, he gives a ham to the baby Jesus.

Ollie Herdman: A troublemaker. Cast as another Wise Man.

Claude: Likes to set people on fire. The third Wise Man.

Gladys Herdman: She's the smallest, but she's fast, and she's mean, and she bites. Gladys is cast as the Angel of the Lord, who she confuses with her favorite comic book character, the Mighty Marvo.

Alice Wendelken: An annoying goody-two-shoes girl who traditionally has always played the Virgin Mary in the pageant.

Maxine: Another "goody-goody" girl who narrates the pageant.

Reverend Hopkins: Wants everything to go smoothly, and knows the Herdmans will disrupt it.

Elmer Hopkins: The Reverend's son, who has traditionally always played Joseph in the pageant, though he secretly despises it.

Helen Armstrong: She was traditionally in charge of the church Christmas pageant, but since she broke her leg, Grace takes over.

Now this book has been turned into a play.