Play Audiobook Sample
The Best School Year Ever Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 944 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Buckle up for a wild ride involving a missing gerbil, a crazy cat, and a tattooed baby that will have readers of all ages laughing!
This hilarious novel stars the Herdmans, the worst kids in the world, who made their first appearance in author Barbara Robinson's classic The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
In The Best School Year Ever, Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman haven’t changed a bit. They still set things on fire and knock the other kids black and blue.
One day the teachers ask all the students to think of compliments for their classmates, and Beth Bradley picks Imogene Herdman’s name. At first, Beth can’t think of anything good, but soon she begins to see Imogene in a new light.
Maybe behind all of the outrageous pranks, there is something good about the Herdmans?
Download and start listening now!
"I thought this book was a fascinating story. You can really picture everything that is going on in the story. there was so much going on with the Herdmans. The Herdmans are a family that do a lot of bad things. this book is a fun and exciting book! hope you like it!!!!!"
— Rosaleen (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“The many readers who have laughed out loud at Robinson’s uproarious 1972 novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, will enthusiastically welcome the return of the six cigar-smoking Herdman kids…A broader focus [paves] the way for more varied misadventures, virtually all of which the Herdmans craftily orchestrate.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“[The Best School Year Ever will] have children laughing out loud at the Herdmans’ antics and believing that even such remarkably bad kids have some good qualities…Yet Robinson doesn’t just play the Herdmans for laughs. Beth’s identification of Imogene’s strengths gives the book a level of humanity that makes the novel more than a series of humorous anecdotes. Readers can only hope that the Herdmans will not reform—at least not until after a few more sequels. Few characters in children’s fiction are so unredeemed, so uncivilized, and so out-and-out funny.”
— Booklist -
“The Herdmans are back in this audio version of Barbara Robinson’s riotous sequel to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever…The vignettes are hilarious. Actress Elaine Stritch’s earthy, worldly, almost boozy voice is perfect for Beth, the narrator. This audiobook is a must-have for school and public library collections. Listeners can only hope that it won’t take another twenty years for the Herdmans to return.”
— School Library Journal -
“Elaine Stritch lends her dry voice to this recording of the long-awaited sequel to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Although clearly not a child’s voice, Stritch’s raspy, sardonic tone suits the story well, giving the sense of a wry, old teacher recounting an exaggerated tale of her own school days. Listeners will enjoy hearing the continuing misadventures of the Herdmans so pluckily recounted.”
— AudioFile -
“Not just your average naughty children, the Herdmans occasionally step over the line into juvenile delinquency—but they do it with such panache that the reader cannot help but be impressed. The Herdmans will delight readers of this spirited sequel.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
-
Winner of the 1997 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award
The Best School Year Ever Listener Reviews
-
" Robinson keeps up the easy narrative style that made the first Herdman tale so readable and funny, but the story arc is forced and the individual stories are full of odd contradictions. Fun, but not a patch on Best Christmas Ever. "
— Kate, 2/4/2014 -
" haha. total bunch of laughs. if you have kids or have grown up with a bunch of brothers and sisters....well, pick up a copy! "
— Rain, 2/1/2014 -
" Sometimes these brothers and sisters remind me of my sisters. I love how they are crazy and do what they want, but in the end they always do the right thing no matter what =) "
— Nickcole, 1/23/2014 -
" A funny read, for children, but still fun to dapple in as an adult. "
— Bonnie, 1/9/2014 -
" I can't resist any book that makes me laugh out loud repeatedly. The irrepressible Herdmans, bane of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, are irresistible. "
— Susan, 12/28/2013 -
" I like "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" better, but this is a cute story about the same characters. "
— Lynzee, 12/20/2013 -
" Very funny but we liked "The best Christmas pageant ever" more. We always enjoy reading about the Herdmans and their many shinnanigans. I liked discovering, along with Beth the narrator, that Imogene Herdman was a much deeper character than simply a menace. "
— Wendi, 12/13/2013 -
" I just finished reading a book called, 'The Best School Year Ever'. I didn't care for this story, because everything in this book is about being bad. I don't know why this story couldn't have been more positive, since it is a kid's book. If you get this book, I hope you enjoy it more than I did. "
— Kaytie, 12/12/2013 -
" We listened to it on the way up north, but Disc #1 skipped, so we missed part of the story. It was cute, but didn't really seem to have a point. Nice ending, though. "
— Alora, 11/15/2013 -
" Good book, not quite as humorous as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (in my opinion). "
— Nancy, 11/14/2013 -
" I really liked this book in 4th and 5th grade. It's funny, witty, and you can really relate to the all the stuff that's going on when you're a kid. "
— Joseph, 11/10/2013 -
" crazy excitement coming up! "
— Supercoolcharlie, 11/7/2013 -
" I liked this book. It was very funny! :) The only thing is the Herdmans(people in the book)are kinda weird. Still read it though it is worth a try! If you didn't know Baraba Robinson is a great author! Her books are always goood!!! "
— Natalie, 9/20/2013 -
" This book is not what I was expecting at all!! "
— Catherine, 8/13/2013 -
" Another re-read with Hugh - I'm loving re-reading these great Barbara Robinson books and hearing them laugh in all the same spots I do. "
— Karen, 7/29/2013 -
" I liked it, because I read it to Lucy. Discovered on our Saturday day trip to Baltimore that I can read a chapter book to her from the front seat, and she doesn't get car sick! Now for what to read to her on our trip to PA in 3 weeks. Any suggestions? "
— Jenn, 6/16/2013 -
" This book is an entertaining sequel to the Best Christmas Pageant Ever - which I enjoyed. I kept wondering what the story would read like if it were told from Imogene's point of view. I love how her character is written. "
— Catherine, 5/2/2013 -
" it was very shot and intresting "
— Jennifer, 5/1/2013 -
" nothing well realy just to have fun "
— Megan, 4/9/2013 -
" I'll need to re-read the other Heardman book as I felt there was a little more character development that could have been brought in but maybe they are relying on you having recently read the first book. "
— Terri, 3/10/2013 -
" This was nowhere near as great as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. "
— Jennifer, 3/8/2013 -
" The Herdmans kill me! Do you know a family like this? I think I was raised with them! "
— Mary, 12/17/2012 -
" This one is good also...but Halloween and Christmas are better. "
— ruth, 8/22/2012 -
" it was entertaing.....not my fav.....i wouldnt have read it if i didnt have to for battle of the books "
— Kailey, 6/2/2012 -
" same as the Christmas Pageant. Touching, funny, and impressive! :) "
— Sharon, 4/28/2012 -
" I love reading this to my class! "
— JoAnn, 3/19/2012 -
" This is one of my favorite kid books EVER. I keep picking it up and rereading it about once a year. I can't wait to read it to my kids. It's outrageous and funny and really well done. I can't recommend this one high enough. "
— Melynna, 12/19/2011 -
" THis book is pretty lame, even for a kids book. Elizabeth wanted to give up on it almost right away. the characters are boring and there really doesn't seem to be much of a plot, other than endless naughtiness. "
— Karla, 5/29/2011 -
" it was very shot and intresting <br/> "
— Jennifer, 5/24/2011 -
" This was nowhere near as great as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. "
— Jennifer, 5/19/2011 -
" Very cute--but not as good as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. "
— Jill, 5/6/2011 -
" I like "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" better, but this is a cute story about the same characters. "
— Lynzee, 3/23/2011 -
" The Herdmans kill me! Do you know a family like this? I think I was raised with them! "
— Mary, 3/21/2011 -
" I liked it, because I read it to Lucy. Discovered on our Saturday day trip to Baltimore that I can read a chapter book to her from the front seat, and she doesn't get car sick! Now for what to read to her on our trip to PA in 3 weeks. Any suggestions? "
— Jenn, 3/1/2011 -
" it was entertaing.....not my fav.....i wouldnt have read it if i didnt have to for battle of the books "
— Kailey, 2/16/2011 -
" Fun series. Some of the humor is far too sophisticated for young children, but that makes it an interesting book for adults to listen to as well. My son really likes these books and I'd love to find more in this style for him. "
— Ellen, 2/12/2011 -
" I just finished reading a book called, 'The Best School Year Ever'. I didn't care for this story, because everything in this book is about being bad. I don't know why this story couldn't have been more positive, since it is a kid's book. If you get this book, I hope you enjoy it more than I did. "
— Kaytie, 2/3/2011
About Barbara Robinson
Barbara Robinson has written several popular books for children, including My Brother Louis Measures Worms, The Best School Year Ever, The Best Halloween Ever, and the enormously popular bestselling novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, first published in 1972 and made into a classic television movie. The play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is produced annually in theaters, schools, and churches all over the world. Ms. Robinson has two daughters and three grandchildren.