As an adult–and children’s Sunday School teacher–I look at the narrator’s mother in an entirely new and appreciate light. If a group of children like the Hendersons ever wanted to participate in our activities, I hope I would react the way the mother did–to understand and look at the Christmas story from their perspective–and from the narrator’s perspective as well. The scene in which the narrator reimagines the journey to Bethlehem when she sees Imogene and her brother (sorry–cannot remember who plays Joseph…was it Ralph?) arrive bewildered and out of sorts….and the wise men arriving with the gifts (well, ham in this case) and relaxing a bit (when they were supposed to leave according to the directions….of course they wouldn’t just hand over the gifts and be on their way…they would want to rest for a bit!) is just beautiful. This and the Nativity scene in Ramona and Her Father are the most beautiful, honest, realistic, and non-preachy depictions of Christmas that I’ve ever found. Just remarkable. They never fail to move me.