The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

New hardcover gift edition with foil touches on the classic cover of America’s favorite Christmas book by Barbara Robinson.

America’s favorite Christmas book by Barbara Robinson is now a major motion picture! Lionsgate is releasing a live action movie version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on November 8, 2024, directed by Dallas Jenkins of The Chosen and featuring actors Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, Elizabeth Tabish, and Pete Holmes, coming to a theater near you!

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, swear, and smoke cigars. 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—has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play’s production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas. They will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

Barbara Robinson’s popular and bestselling tale of the rowdy Herdmans has been beloved and celebrated since the book’s original release in 1972. Read the book again before you see the live-action movie version that releases on November 8, 2024,

The Herdmans might be outlaws, but their chaotic collision with the Christmas story will give the whole town a holiday they’ll never forget.

• Unlikely Heroes: Meet the Herdmans: six rowdy, cigar-smoking kids who lie, steal, and might just be the only ones who can save the Christmas pageant.
• Fish Out of Water Humor: When the "worst kids in the history of the world" hear the Christmas story for the first time, their outrageous questions and wild interpretations lead to nonstop laughs.
• A Fresh Take on the Nativity: See the story of Mary and Joseph through new eyes—ones that see the Wise Men as spies and wonder why the Child Welfare wasn’t called on the innkeeper.
• Perfect Family Read-Aloud: For generations, this beloved and heartwarming tale has been the go-to Christmas story for parents and children to share together.

“One of the best Christmas books ever.” - Publishers Weekly

“Outrageous, lively, funny, and wonderful. The Christmas Story shines through with a new brilliance.” - Denver Post

“This charming story delivers a fresh perspective on the nativity and is a beautiful reminder that God loves everyone.” - Brightly