It’s that time of year. The children are excited about Christmas and, in some schools, they are learning the true meaning of Christmas. Many teachers are busy preparing the young people to put on plays and special events to entertain the parents. A Nativity play helps one group of children learn about the birth of Jesus. But, they do it in their own special way with their own unique qualities shining through. One of the angels suggests that Mary and Joseph take the bus to Bethlehem and the star that leads the wise men to the manger is dressed like a rock star superstar. And this superstar manages to lead the wise men all over the auditorium, almost running them into the Christmas tree. It doesn’t matter if the production isn't perfect. The parents will love it, just because their young people are performing. And the children will have fun, even if they forget their lines once in a while. The important thing is the lesson they learn about the true meaning of Christmas. Sue Wickstead’s picture book story, The Christmas Play Rehearsal, is full of light-hearted humor and good fun. With colorful illustrations and a genuine passion for the beauty of what children can do, the author presents us with a fun look at the behind-the-scenes drama of a school production. It’s all in good fun and the message is not just the story of Jesus’ birth, but also the camaraderie of the children and the dedication of the teacher that bring this all together. For better or worse, it’s a big day for children, parents and teachers alike. This would be a good story to share with a young reader who’s nervous about opening night of his or her Christmas play. It would also allow children to laugh, not only at the ingenuity of the children in the story, but also at some of the funny things that might occur in their own school production.

A fun-filled look behind the scenes of the school play! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2018 Every parent will be familiar with the Christmas Nativity, performed in schools across the country, but what about the parts you don't get to see? This wonderful children's book has shifted the focus from the (hopefully) polished performance we get to see to the dress rehearsal, the part that sends cold shivers down the spines of teachers everywhere! Offering a different take on traditional Nativity story books, Sue Wickstead has cleverly woven in the key details of the story amongst the anticipated hitches that invariably happen at the rehearsal. Every page brings a new mishap and plenty of giggles to be had for kids and parents alike. I've always admired the dedication of the teachers when it comes to the organisation of the Christmas play and with over twenty years of teaching experience under her belt author Sue will have done her fair share. I genuinely have no idea where they find the energy or patience required to direct and keep all the children in check - they should all be made saints! This story gives what I imagine is just a small insight into the things that can go wrong, however the show must go on and with a little gentle guidance from the teachers it all ends well. My son and I both loved this book and I felt the illustrations really added to our enjoyment of the story. Bright and colourful they depict the humour perfectly. giving us plenty to talk about as we read together. The book is 36 pages long, however there isn't much writing on each page which makes it ideal for those early readers with a little experience, especially with its large, clear font. This book would be ideal to share with children who have a Christmas play in the pipeline or would just make a wonderful festive read to share over the holiday season. If you're stuck on stocking filler ideas this fabulous tale would make the perfect gift - you can NEVER go wrong gifting a book!