This is a great chapter book to read aloud to kids ages 7-10. The chapters are a decent length so you could probably read aloud one chapter a day. This book is all about a child finding the true meaning of Christmas through some very unlikely people.
The Herdmans are the bad kids in town. There are a lot of them and they are constantly getting in trouble. They bully other kids, start fires, lie, cheat and so much more. Everyone is scared of them. One day the Herdmans show up to church (they heard they could get free food) and all of the sudden they are the stars in the annual Christmas program.
The entire town is concerned and worried about the Herdmans being in the play, they are convinced that they will single handedly ruin the tradition. The Herdmans don't even know the story of Christmas. After telling them the story of Christmas and several practices it the night of the pageant. The church is packed (mostly with people who want to see what type of shenanigans the Herdmans pull during the program) and it ends up being the best Christmas pageant ever.
You see, the Herdmans were like Mary and Joseph- poor and maybe a little disheveled. They understood having to use whatever you can for a bed, Jesus used a manger and the Herdmans used a dresser drawer. They also brought a new perspective to the wise men and demonstrated how protective Mary would have been over Jesus. The Herdmans showed the entire congregation that Christmas was about love, not about everyone looking pretty and perfect.
Here are a couple of quotes from the book that I thought were very fitting:
"After all, that was the whole point of Jesus- that he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of "Amazing Comics," but that he was born and lived... a real person." pg 82
"But Imogene, I guess, didn't see it that way. Christmas just came over all at once, like a case of chills and fever. And so she was crying and walking into the furniture." pg 88
Stage One in Louisville has just a few performances of the play. I believe they are December 15 and 21 at 2 and 5 PM. Stage One always puts on great performances so if you are looking for a show for your children I would recommend this one. The theater is smaller so there is not a bad seat in the house and Stage One is geared directly to children and families.
Happy Reading!
Laura
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