<P> The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ( titled `` The Worst Kids in the World '' in Australia , New Zealand and the UK ) is a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1971 . It tells the story of Imogene , Claude , Ralph , Leroy , Ollie , and Gladys , six delinquent children named the Herdmans who were engaged in misfit behavior for their age such as smoking , cussing , drinking jug wine , and shoplifting . They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers snacks . Despite protests from other church members , they are given roles in the Sunday school 's Christmas play , in which they tell the Christmas story in a nonconventional fashion . Robinson first published the story in McCall 's magazine before it was adapted into a book , which sold over 800,000 copies . </P>
<P> The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ( titled `` The Worst Kids in the World '' in Australia , New Zealand and the UK ) is a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1971 . It tells the story of Imogene , Claude , Ralph , Leroy , Ollie , and Gladys , six delinquent children named the Herdmans who were engaged in misfit behavior for their age such as smoking , cussing , drinking jug wine , and shoplifting . They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers snacks . Despite protests from other church members , they are given roles in the Sunday school 's Christmas play , in which they tell the Christmas story in a nonconventional fashion . Robinson first published the story in McCall 's magazine before it was adapted into a book , which sold over 800,000 copies . </P>
the herdmans names in the best christmas pageant ever
the herdmans names in the best christmas pageant ever
Imogene Claude Ralph Leroy Ollie Gladys
Imogene Claude Ralph Leroy Ollie Gladys