This December, we read and enjoyed a couple of Christmas books this season with a similar theme–destroying a Christmas play. Both books focus on abhorent characters who display an offensive behavior or two or three, but while this will attract your young reader’s attention, he/she will absorb the overall positive lesson behind the tale.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever–By Barbara Robinson

Though I’d never before read this gem, this is apparently widely recognized as a Christmas classic, as it was published in 1972 and even transformed into a family film in 1983. This timeless and timely book  is about a band of heathen children, the Herdmans, who cuss, fuss, steal,  and enjoy cigars. According to the wizened narrator, they are the worst children in “entire history of the world.” best-christmas-pageant-ever

When these kids take roles in the church Christmas play just to get their hands on the refreshments, you can just imagine  the chaos that ensues. But instead of ruining the play, the Herdmans teach valuable lessons about the true meaning of Christmas.

What I loved most about this book was the writing–it is sharp, witty,  and full of surprises.  This is a must read!

 Reading level: ages 9-12. Paperback: 128 pages. Harper-Collins (June 6, 1997). Originally printed 1972.  ISBN-10-0064402754.  Source of review copy: purchase.

 

 

HENRYHorrid Henry’s Christmas–By Francesca Simon

We’d also never before picked up any of the misadventures of Horrid Henry, though he reminds us all quite a bit of Rotten Ralph, Jack Gantos’ rude and obnoxious cat that readers cannot help but love.

Horrid Henry is, putting it mildly,  a mischievous kid,  who ambushes Santa, wrecks a nativity scene, and topples the Christmas tree makes for holiday reading, all to the delight of readers who can’t possibly act out this way. Perhaps that is the endearing quality of these sorts of books–the character can do things that the reader cannot.   

This is entertaining reading, ripe with humor and  fun writing. My son breezed through this easy-to-read chapter book in a day, laughing as he turned the pages.

Info: Ages 7-10. Paperback: 112 pages. Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky (September 1, 2009)ISBN-10: 140221782X. Source of review copy: Publisher