Caryll Houselander is best known for the intensity of her vision of the suffering Christ and His immeasurable love for us, a theme that she frequently spoke of with breathtaking luminosity in her many books about Him.

Few know, however, of the many remarkable stories she wrote for Catholic children -- delightful tales that are simple but not shallow. Indeed, like her books for adults, they manifest a tender love of Christ and His little ones not commonly found among us these days.

Here are twelve of Houselander's best tales, charmingly illustrated with Renée George's lively drawings of pirates and princesses, castles and kings.

Through the tale of Jack and Jim, even young children will grasp the meaning of Christ's suffering; in Racla the Gypsy, they'll discover the charity which is at the heart of the Eucharist; in the The Curé's Guest, they'll see how Christ makes up for the sins of others.

All the stories touch on Catholic themes, but these tales are not really catechetical. Yes, they do take for granted that Catholicism -- especially prayer and the Mass -- plays a large role in the lives of these children, but they do something more . . . and more important.

Tale after tale introduces children to the tender love that Jesus has for each of them, and to the fire of love for Him that can burn in the hearts of Catholics -- even in the hearts of little ones like themselves.

There is no better gift you can give to a young child.