--- title: The Perfect Christmas Pageant description: "Don't save \"The Perfect Christmas Pageant\" for Christmas! Barb Szyszkiewicz says it's a great book for Advent." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/10/the-perfect-christmas-pageant#) # The Perfect Christmas Pageant Nov 10, 2013 2:00:20 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg?width=550&height=169&name=CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg) [![The Perfect Christmas Pageant](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Joyce-Meyer-Perfect-Christmas-Pageant-402x400.jpg?width=402&height=400&name=Joyce-Meyer-Perfect-Christmas-Pageant-402x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Joyce-Meyer-Perfect-Christmas-Pageant.jpg) The Perfect Christmas Pageant Too many Christmas-themed read-alouds follow the same tired pattern: (Insert Name of Cartoon Character or Superhero Here) Saves Christmas. We all know there's a lot more to Christmas than that, and we'd like the Christmas books we read with our preschoolers to reflect the real story without being too heavy-handed. [***The Perfect Christmas Pageant***](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031072354X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=031072354X&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom) by Joyce Meyer is a fun story that young families can read together with confidence. The familiar setting of a Christmas pageant is the backdrop for this story that centers on the lesson that God can bring miracles out of less-than-ideal situations. The Holy Family did not have a safe, clean and comfortable place to bring the Savior into the world. The "perfect holiday celebration" isn't the important thing; what matters is that Christ came into an imperfect world as a sign of God's great love. This is an important lesson for parents as well as children to remember. I wouldn't purchase it as a Christmas gift, however; it would best be used as Advent begins, to help the family focus on what Christmas means. This story is an excellent way to kick off the Advent season. Originality: 2 of 5 stars Humor: 4 of 5 stars Illustrations: 5 of 5 stars [*Order The Perfect Christmas Pageant and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031072354X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=031072354X&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom) **Copyright 2013 Barb Szyszkiewicz**** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F10%2Fthe-perfect-christmas-pageant%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F10%2Fthe-perfect-christmas-pageant%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F10%2Fthe-perfect-christmas-pageant%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Perfect%20Christmas%20Pageant) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F10%2Fthe-perfect-christmas-pageant%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F10%2Fthe-perfect-christmas-pageant%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Book Notes: The Gift Counselor Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/11/19/book-notes-the-gift-counselor) [ Meatless Friday: Snick-Snack Special Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-snick-snack-special) [ 3 Books to Read by the Light of the Christmas Tree Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/3-books-to-read-by-the-light-of-the-christmas-tree) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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