Every December, something strange starts happening within our schools all across the country. Walk into any primary school hall and you will see them gearing up for one of the most charming, and chaotic, traditions of the season: the school nativity play. These festive performances, typically starring children from Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (ages 5 to 11), are a staple of the Christmas calendar. They’re heartwarming, often hilarious and rarely go off without a hitch. But that’s part of their magic and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Rebecca Patterson’s delightful picture book, The Christmas Show, captures the essence of this seasonal ritual with humour, warmth and a wonderfully relatable, but unexpected, star of the show who steals the spotlight in the most delightful way.
As Christmas approaches, the local primary school is busy preparing for its annual show. Miss Bright, the teacher in charge, has assigned all the roles, but one little boy, the narrator of the story, hasn’t quite been paying attention. He’s not the narrator of the play, he’s not even one of the main characters and he’s definitely not playing the recorder or triangle. He’s supposed to sing, but he can’t recall learning any songs. His confusion is palpable and amusing, and young readers will instantly recognise the feeling of being swept up in something without quite knowing what’s going on. The mystery of his role is solved when Miss Bright hands him a tea towel, although this is not for drying dishes, but instead it is intended to be worn as a shepherd’s costume. Because what would a nativity be without a shepherd?
The Christmas show rehearsals are intense (they practice for an entire afternoon!) and it is not long before the big day arrives. The children put on their costumes, take their places on stage and the show begins in front of an eager audience of classmates, teachers, parents and grandparents. But things don’t go exactly to plan. Our shepherd sings at the wrong moment, dances in the wrong direction and forgets to exit the stage when he’s supposed to. It’s a comedy of errors, but rather than feeling embarrassed or upset, the boy is thrilled – why? Because his granny is in the audience and tells him he was the best part of the whole performance.
Overall, The Christmas Show is a fantastically humorous picture book that children will love to read (or have read to them at bedtime) and out loud with. It is a story that young children and their parents will easily be able to identify with.
The story is told from the perspective of the young boy, offering a refreshingly honest and humorous look at the ups and downs of school plays, especially where young children are involved. With his short attention span and muddled memory he is an endearing character to readers especially with his earnest attempts to participate, despite not quite getting it right, as it will appeal to children and parents alike. With its fun, engaging and playful storytelling, it does an excellent job of highlighting the nerves, excitement and occasional confusion that comes with the effort of putting on a school play.
Featuring bright and bold colourful illustrations by the author that adorn every page, the pages are full of vibrant energy. The images complement to the lively tone of the story perfectly and let young readers engage with the story. Some pages can seem slightly busy but they do effectively convey the hustle and bustle of rehearsals and the chaotic charm of the final performance.
The Christmas Show is 32 pages of festive fun that is a joy to read. But it is not just a fun story with a Christmas theme, it is one that celebrates imperfection, participation and family pride. It reminds readers that school plays don’t need to be flawless to be memorable (and they never are) – what matters most is the effort that everyone puts in, the laughter and the love from the audience, especially when a proud granny is watching. It is a funny and very relatable Christmas-themed story full of heart – it captures the spirit of Christmas through the eyes of a child doing his best to join in… and enjoying it.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £6.99 (Paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
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