Any book set in the North Carolina mountains is sure to get my attention and the fact that this one parallels my own book, ¡Ole! in a Manger, was just icing on the cake. In this case, there are two churches in the tiny town of Good Shepherd, going head to head in their annual Nativity pageants. Interject a few scientific equations into the downhome sentiments and scenarios and you get a tale that will leave you smiling.
It began with a quarrel over which newborn should be the baby Jesus in the town's Christmas pageant. Decades later, two scientists arrive to study small-town genetic patterns, only to run up against the invisible walls that split the leading citizens into two congregations that can only be joined by love and forgiveness. And maybe a little deception, because there might be some things that people just don't need to know.
Surely we’ve all read this one but, trust me: it’s time to read it again. The tale of how the Herdman tribe turns the birth of Jesus into a comedy of errors—but, ultimately, into a recommitment to the true meaning of Christmas—is one of literature’s most memorable stories.
This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.
Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.”
The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. You and your family will laugh along with this funny story, perfect for independent reading or read-aloud sharing.
Another of my favorite genres are stories set in small towns. In this one, we learn about the lives of five key characters who are coming up to Christmas with a variety of issues and concerns. Serious subject matter, but plenty of humor as well and, once again, a Nativity pageant plays a key role in helping everyone discover the strengths and coping strategies needed to move forward.
In the small town of Grandon, five very different people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Jennifer and Ryan are both single parents, struggling with their own losses and heartache as they attempt to move forward in the present while still holding onto the memories, joy, and heartache of the past. Sixteen-year-old Kaylee is faced with a life-changing situation that has affected her whole family. Stephen and Lily are happily married and ready to start a family. All of them are facing their own struggles, and all are finding their way through the dark. When they are brought together for…
Concerned about her church’s declining attendance and listless spirit, bookstore owner Myrna Malloy suggests a live nativity as a way to energize the congregation and give something back to the community. Dancing naked on the altar would have met with less resistance. ¡Ole! in a Manger tells the story of well-intentioned efforts that go gravely awry as the good folk of Mountain View deal with prejudice, civic rivalry, llamas on the loose, an hysterical Baby Jesus and more. This timeless tale of Christmas shared—front and center on Highway 12—is one you will never forget.
