Stories are the backbone of our holiday gatherings. This is the time when we trade childhood stories with our families, work stories with our colleagues and family stories with our friends. For some, the holidays are incomplete without a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” or a viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life. We here at I AM Modern, decided to compile a list of top books and movies for the holiday season. Arranged with various age groups in mind so you don’t have to worry about the repercussions of showing your sister-in-law’s kids Bad Santa by mistake, this list has a classic I AM Modern presentation − big helpings of enjoyable fare with a twist of irreverence.

MOVIES

Young children
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Many of us, in those dark pre-DVD days of our childhood, waited impatiently for the night that this holiday special would air on television. We liked it as kids and we like it for our kids. Between a benevolent storyline and characters that any kid can relate to, this show will appeal to viewers of all ages.

Older children
Elf
This show is on a perpetual loop at our house during the holiday season and we use lines from it throughout the year. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised by Christmas elves. When he discovers that his real father lives in New York, he decides to leave the North Pole to find him. Ferrell has a tremendous capacity for warmth in addition to his comedic genius and the movie’s script showcases this without sacrificing the story.

Teens
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
This has long been a favorite of mine and my husband’s, but we only shared it with our kids once they hit middle-school age and could handle the language and mild sexual innuendo. The Griswold family is determined to throw a good, old-fashioned family Christmas; however, events and doddering distant relatives conspire against them. Classic bits include the father’s over-the-top lighting scheme and the arrival of uninvited guests.

Christmas Story
This classic fl ick, shown regularly each season on the cable network, TNT, goes in the teen category only because of its subtle plotting and emphasis on Christmas as it was in the forties. This is the story of Ralphie, a young boy from a mid-western town who only wants a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. His parents and teacher dismiss the idea because, as they say repeatedly, “you will shoot your eye out.” While trying to counter their bad opinion of the gun, Ralphie has to contend with neighborhood bullies, an aunt who sends gift s based on the idea that he is a three-year-old girl, and a roving pack of bloodhounds who love a good, unattended Christmas turkey.

Adults
Love Actually
Some may argue that this movie is not necessarily a Christmas fl ick and, aside from the fact that it takes place during Christmas, they may be right. I include it, though, because it makes Christmas a reason for taking a chance on love even in the face of rejection, betrayal or impossibility. The ensemble cast includes some of Britain’s best actors − Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kiera Knightley − and each actor has its own chapter that contributes to the whole. A fi ne way to settle in on a holiday evening aft er the kids have finally gone to bed.

BOOKS

Picture
Christmas Day in the Morning
By Pearl S. Buck with illustrations by Mark Buehner
Buck’s story of a teenage farmhand’s gift to his father shows that sometimes the best gift s are simple acts of service. The main character feels like his usual gift to his father−a tie bought in town−is inadequate. Searching for something inexpensive and meaningful, the boy comes up with the idea of getting up to milk the cows by with his father. Th e drawings of Buehner, best known for illustrating the popular Snowmen at Night, amplify the story’s innate warmth.

Chapter
The Last Holiday Concert
By Andrew Clements
Clements is a prolific childrens’ author whose many best-sellers include Frindle and Lunch Money. Here, he writes about Hart Evans and his complicated relationship with his chorus teacher, Mr. Meinert. Frustrated with his unruly choir, Mr. Meinert allows the kids to elect one of their own to direct the holiday musical; they, of course, pick Hart. Like many of Clements’ other works, this story thoughtfully weighs many issues familiar to kids−peer relationships, unfair stereotypes−while introducing the idea that adults sometimes have unseen problems of their own.

Teen
The Truth about Santa: Wormholes, Robots and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve
By Gregory Mone
This facetious exploration, according to Mone, of the preponderance of evidence in favor of Santa is perfect for those teenagers who believe they are too mature to believe. Mone uses real scientific and economic concepts to provide “the basic knowledge of the universe required for a true understanding of Santa.”

Adult
Holidays on Ice
By David Sedaris
When you think of the title, you probably envision ice skaters taking their turns around a frozen lake, occasionally stopping for a cup of hot chocolate. Let me redirect you. Think of this title in the same way you take your scotch. Sedaris, author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, possesses a wicked sarcasm and a crooked sense of humor. He also has a trove of stories about his dysfunctional family that he can pull out when he needs them. These are laugh-out-loud, share-withyour- friends, keep-away-from-your-kids-and-prim- relatives stories.

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JESSAMYN AYERS
Jessamyn AYERS writes and lives in Loudoun County with her husband and two children. The perfect day for her includes some combination of reading, writing, running, working with her dogs and baseball. She is currently working on a novel.