"Christmas Is" - not as this animated TV short portrays it. But that's okay, because this 1970 film was probably meant as a sort of educational piece to encourage the children who always get the lesser parts in the Christmas play. Most live action movies about Christmas pageants show kids as the star, sheep and other animals, and shepherds - rather than the leading roles of Mary and Joseph and the magi. And, those kids are usually quite happy or okay with their roles.
Well, in this animated tale, Benji is a boy who's upset about having to be the second shepherd two years in a row. The school is at its last rehearsal and his big dog, Waldo, is at the rehearsal and makes a little mess. On his way home, Benji tells his neighbor, Jimmy, who thinks it's funny that he will be playing a shepherd.
But at home, Benji starts reading about the first Christmas. It must be a story book, because it differs from the Bible with lots of busy-ness from extra people. Pretty soon, Benji and Waldo become part of the story he's reading and he finds them there. As the nativity scene unfolds, he has a conversation with the second shepherd and discovers that his role was important in the story. Then back at home Benji is all excited and runs out to hurry back for the play that night. He runs into Jimmy and tells him he must go see it.
The film ends with the school children presenting the play and Benji reciting his line as the second shepherd.