The best thing about these books is the (often slightly absurd) 19th-century black and white illustrations. Yes, they are Christian novels and short stories designed to guide young people toward greater virtue and faith, but you'll have to see these drawings and engravings to see what we're talking about.

A.B. Books are a collection of mostly Victorian Era books by British authors (some of them anonymous). These are some of the most popular of the character building stories, many of the titles showing up in similar series from other publishers. The heroes and heroines are nearly always children, nearly always in dire straits, and nearly perfect in their dealings with God and man.

What makes some of these tales different from others like them is their more realistic and honest discussions of sin. This is more true of the A.B. Books short stories than the novels, but the results of sin are shown, as well as the fact that Christians are born sinners and remain so, though they strive to imitate Christ.

These are easy to read, though the dialogue is dated and sometimesrings phony to our cynical modern ears. For students who need wholesome reading material and aren't ready for more advanced theological or devotional works, A.B. Books make a good choice, though you'll probably want to talk to your kids about each story after they've finished reading.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.