The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Grades 4-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 2.0
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- How does the author describe the
Herdmans? the worst kids in the history of the world p.2 - How did the Herdmans burn down the
toolshed? Leroy Herdman stole a chemistry set and they were trying it out
p.3 - Why did Imogene write down everyone’s
weight? So she could blackmail them p.14 - Why is Gladys the meanest Herdman? Each
Herdman child taught the one younger than them everything they knew and Gladys
was the youngest p.19
Chapter 2
- How does the author’s family feel
about the Christmas Pageant? They don’t like it; it’s the same every year
p.20 - Why did the author’s mother get put
in charge of the Christmas Pageant? The woman who usually did it, Mrs.
Armstrong, broke her leg p.23 - What did Charlie say that made the
Herdmans want to attend Sunday School? That he can get all the dessert he
wants there p.29 - How did Imogene act when told the
pageant was about Jesus Christ? Uninterested p.33
Chapter 3
- Who volunteered to act in all the
important roles of the pageant? All the Herdman kids p.41 - How was everyone feeling about the
Herdmans taking over the pageant? They didn’t like it p.47 - Who motivated Mother to make this the
best Christmas Pageant ever? Mrs. Armstrong p.51 - What did the minister say to those
who complained to him? That Jesus said “suffer the little children to come
unto me” and Jesus meant all the little children including the Herdmans p.51
Chapter 4
- Why hadn’t the Herdmans heard of the
Christmas story before? They hadn’t ever been to church and their parents
hadn’t taught them p.55 - How did the Herdmans react when
Mother was telling them the story? They were interested and shocked p.57 - How did the kids feel about King
Herod? They were really interested in him p.66
Chapter 5
- How did the Herdmans learn about King
Herod? They went to the library p.71 - Name two things the Herdmans have
done that have made Alice upset? Drank the communion wine, stole crayons
from the Sunday School cupboards, stole pennies out of the Happy Birthday bank,
and smoked cigars in the bathroom p.74 - Why was it difficult to get a baby
for the pageant? No one wanted Imogene, who was playing Mary, to touch their
babies p.79
Chapter 6
- Who pierced Imogene’s ears? Gladys
p.85 - Why was the fire department called?
Someone saw smoke in the bathroom when Imogene was smoking p.89 - Why was Reverend Hopkins worried no
one would come see the pageant? Because of the Herdmans were in it and they always
caused trouble p.93
Chapter 7
- What did the Herdmans bring for their
gift to the baby Jesus? Their ham p.100 - Why did Imogene cry during the song
Silent Night? She felt the spirit of birth of the Savior p.104 - What made this pageant the best one? The
Herdmans p.104 - Why didn’t the Herdmans take back the
ham? It was their true sacrifice to the baby Jesus p.106