Author: Barbara Robinson
Illustrator: It depends on the edition.
What does it look like outside?
What does it look like inside?
It is a chapter book, so has only a few pictures.
What is it about?
The church Christmas pageant is approaching, and everyone is preparing to do things as usual. Then the Herdmans show up! The Herdmans are a family of wild children. They 'take over' the Christmas play and it ends up being the best pageant ever.
I hear so many people talking about "trappings of religion" vs. a deep faith. This book dives right into the heart of all that. It gently pushes on some dear religious traditions, and tells the Christmas story in the place where "how we always do things" cracks open. The Christmas story is powerful and touching, and it brought tears to my eyes.
This book is easy enough for a grade 3 child to read. It is complex enough that teens and adults can be interested.
Are there any drawbacks?
It was written in 1973 and is showing its age. Gender roles, childhood and the place of the church in the community were all different in 1973. The language also sounds a little quaint in 2019. The book might need some translation for children today.
Where can it be purchased?
There are so many versions of this book! It can be bought at any bookstore, as well as many used bookstores. There is an audio book version and a picture book version in addition to the novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment