Introducing Inspector Smart

Children are full of questions. Sometimes their questions are endearing; often they’re annoying. But when it comes to the Bible, our children’s questions should encourage us; it shows they’re thinking. Maybe Easter is a time of year that gets children you know asking: How do we know Jesus really rose from the dead? It’s an important question. After all, Paul wrote that “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

It’s a question that Inspector Smart, detective with the Jerusalem Bureau of Investigation, sets out to answer in two exciting new storybooks for children, written by Tim Chester and Michael Tinker.

Inspector Smart and the case of the Empty Tomb by Michael J Tinker is a colourful illustrated book for 4-7 year-olds. Inspector Smart is given a puzzling new case; Jesus has died and been buried in a cave, but now his body has gone. Smart sets out to find out what’s happened by interviewing Bible characters such as the Roman Centurion, Mary Magdalene and Thomas.

Older children will enjoy Inspector Smart and the case of the Empty Tomb Case File by Tim Chester. Readers can open up Inspector Smart’s case file and think through the mystery for themselves. Interviews, witness statements and newspaper reports are woven into the narrative, making this a fun and engaging book. What’s striking is the way Chester is able to take grown-up apologetics—such as the unlikelihood that a resurrection conspiracy would use women as witnesses—and present them in a way that children can understand.

Of course, Smart comes to the same thrilling conclusion in both books; Jesus really died, really came back to life again, and it really is worth us responding, like Thomas, by saying: “My Lord and my God”.

You can also join Inspector Smart and his sidekick, Mikey, on a new CD: The Rock went a Rolling. Smart and Mikey introduce 10 fun songs about a wide range of Bible topics; and fortunately for parents, they’re sung in an even wider variety of styles. So the parable of the hidden treasure is retold as a pirate sea-shanty; discontentment explained by a barbershop quartet; the book of Revelation is rapped; and Jesus’ command to “do not worry” is given reggae vibes that Bob Marley would be proud of.

With Easter only a few days away, the Inspector Smart books and CD are a great way of getting children thinking about the death and resurrection of Jesus.