For the teacher Mrs Troyd, the pressure is on. Christmas is coming to the little parish of Oddleton, and for Mrs Troyd Christmas means the children's Nativity play, awaited with great anticipation (or in some cases, trepidation) by the whole congregation. This year, however, all is not going quite as planned. Joseph is too shy to speak out loud enough to be heard. The little angels are squabbling over which way up to hold the Baby Jesus, and to top it all, Mrs Troyd's nemesis, Arianna le Grand, has taken her children (the Angel Gabriel and the Third King) on an unexpected skiing holiday. Who will stand in for the Angel Gabriel? Was it an unwise move for the Shepherd to have eaten three packets of Sour Squigglers and a Whistling Dayglo-pop before the play? And did donkeys wear sombreros in Ancient Palestine? Whatever happens, this will be a Nativity the parishioners will remember for a very long time....