So begins the beloved Christmas novel by children’s author Barbara Robinson. Originally published in 1972, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the story of the Herdman’s – Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys – whose “reign of terror” extends from the community at large to the public-school students and teachers and ultimately to the church’s annual Christmas pageant.   It is laugh-out-loud funny while ultimately its message of the true meaning of the Christmas story poignantly resonates.

Over the years, Barbara’s novel (she passed away in 2013 at the age of 85) has become an iconic Christmas tradition. First produced as a made for TV movie in 1984 starring Loretta Swit (of MASH fame) as the beleaguered pageant director, there has been a musical version and countless “little theatre” productions and church performances, along with “read with me” podcasts   As recently as 2024 a new and updated movie version appeared complete with a robust website of “tools” for added viewing enjoyment. But nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the read aloud experience!

The story first came into our lives some 40 years ago … ours was always a reading household – and I read to my son Joseph from the time he was born. On a search for a new story to share for Christmas, I came across Barbara Robinson’s novel, drawn to the author’s name, which happens to be my maiden name! As a single parent since Joseph was three, creating holiday traditions became ever more important…from selecting our live Christmas tree from the Boys and Girls Club (or was it Kiwanis?)  to sharing a reading of our newest story.   After decorating the tree [don’t ask about getting it out of the car – into the tree stand – STRAIGHT or close enough – that’s another story in and of itself!], Joseph would sit on my lap in our bentwood rocker [remember those?] and we would read.

That first Christmas season that we shared my namesake’s story, Joseph and I could not stop laughing – a challenge when reading aloud!   And he would ask to go back and re-read certain of the more outrageous escapades of the Herdman’s as told in the voice of the narrator Beth Bradley, whose mother, due to an untimely accident to the long standing pageant director, found herself in that role; the year the Herdman’s crashed the Sunday school on the boast of Beth’s brother Charlie of free goodies and, through blackmail and threats, took over the “starring” roles in the pageant – Mary – Joseph – the Three Wise Men – and the Angel of the Lord!

Needless to say, we loved it so much that the reading aloud of TBCPE became our annual tradition.   Even after Joseph was grown and the bentwood long gone, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is still an annual holiday tradition to this day.   And with four grandchildren to create new Christmas memories, the tradition was passed down, and given the author’s name was dubbed “Nana’s book” by the Fitos4. 

Traditions matter whether it is re-reading cherished classics or sharing special memories as this community now does each holiday season thanks to the vision of RJ Jenkins and the Literacy Council.  The annual Literacy Council Holiday Reading Party and RJ’s Birthday Open House has become  one of our treasured traditions – the 8^th annual 2025 celebration coming December 6^th!    Many of us have been honored to participate in this benefit featuring celebrity guest readers who share excerpts of their favorite seasonal readings, poems, and original works…yet another tribute to the lasting power of books and reading.