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Written by Barbara Robinson - Audio book performed by Elaine Stritch - Unabridged Fiction with music - 2 COMPACT DISCS 1.5 hours

Publisher, Harper Audio (October 2006)

The printed version of this title was selected by The New York Review of Books' "Reader's Catalog" as one of the 40,000+ Best Books in Print!

"Wiry-tough, tender-hearted, unsentimental, and consistently funny." —The London Sunday Times

"The book is outrageous, lively, funny, and wonderful. The Christmas story takes on a strangely moving depth of meaning and shines through with a new brilliance." —Denver Post

Called one of America's favorite Christmas stories, and now a classic television movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has been a favorite of young readers the world over since 1972. Funny, memorable, and outrageous, it is the story of a family of incorrigible children who discover the Christmas story for the first time and help everyone else rediscover its true meaning.

The Herdmans - Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys - are horrible. They do awful things like lie and steal and smoke cigars. They threaten to stuff pussy willows down their enemies' ears and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old tool house. They are the worst thing that ever happened to their school, and it's hardly surprising when they extend their reign of terror to the church and take over the annual Christmas pageant.

The Herdmans have never heard the Christmas story before, and their interpretation of the events, which includes beating up Herod and finding some decent gifts for the Wise Men to bring, promises disaster and has the whole town up in arms. But the Herdmans are no ordinary kids, and this year's Christmas pageant is full of surprises for everyone, especially the Herdman's themselves.

About the Author: Barbara Robinson has written many popular books for children, including The Best Halloween Ever, The Best School Year Ever, and My Brother Louis Measures Worms and Other Louis Stories. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an ALA Notable Children's Book and was filmed as a television movie.

About the Performer: Elaine Stritch, a superlative dramatic actress, won a Tony® Award for her one-woman show, Elaine Stritch, At Liberty. A four-time Tony® nominee, she has starred in numerous plays and musicals including Bus Stop, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Company, and A Delicate Balance. She received a Grammy nomination for her recording of The Best Halloween Ever.