Tabitha Heathcote thinks that the animated adventures, interactive games, and British Sign Language make Superbook a dynamic, accessible tool for helping children explore faith, ask questions, and grow in Jesus
Superbook provides children with a vibrant opportunity to encounter biblical stories anew through an animated series, topical games, character profiles, Bible superheroes, quizzes, and quests. And it’s all free! You can find all this and more either through their website: or by downloading their app.
As part of CBN’s (Christian Broadcasting Network) vision to “preach the gospel and prepare disicples”, in 1981 they launched Superbook to reach the people of Japan. It began as an animated series (which you can still watch), and since then, the series has been broadcast in over 106 countries, viewed by more than 500 million people worldwide having been translated into 43 languages. Superbook continues to grow, develop and reshape itself, continually developing new ways of reaching children with the message of Jesus. From full TV episodes to mini clips, interactive games, and immersive quests, Superbook offers an incredible range of ways for children of all interests and abilities to hear the gospel and grow in faith.
Superbook provides a world where children can ask questions, seek truth, and explore answers in the midst of a culture that often offers them very little clarity
CBN UK has just reached a significant milestone, having just completed the full translation of Season 1 of Superbook into British sign language (BSL), marking a significant step forward in making the Gospel accessible to deaf children and families across the UK and further!
The animated series
I first encountered Superbook through the animated series over ten years ago, whilst volunteering with an inner-city children’s group. The animated retelling of Jesus’ death completely captured the attention of a room full of 8–11-year-old boys. What followed was a profound discussion about death, sacrifice, the afterlife, and the devil. Superbook opened the door for meaningful engagement with big theological questions.
The world of Superbook centres around the main characters Chris, his robot Gizmo, and his best friend Joy. When a question or problem arises in their present-day lives, the Superbook portal transports them into the past to discover truth and wisdom from Bible stories.
Can you spare 5 minutes to help Premier NexGen? Answering this short survey will help us make our great content for Christian parents even better
The children become part of the story itself, asking questions, seeking understanding, and being challenged in what they believe, how they view the world, and how they respond to the issues that led them there. Rather than simply watching events unfold, Chris, Joy, and Gizmo actively engage with biblical characters, sometimes joining the main figures and other times meeting a peripheral character who guides them through the story from a fresh perspective.
Gizmo, the robot, often provides helpful explanations of where they are, clarifying cultural and historical differences in ways that are accessible to young viewers. He also brings plenty of humour to the story through his out-of-place inventions and unintentionally embarrassing comments.
Read more:
Two books that will help you and your family know, love and act like Jesus
If your children leave the church, there is hope
Help your children navigate a sexually confusing world with gospel confidence
For the sci-fi lovers among us, the series also creates opportunities to explore the impact and implications of stepping into the past. What would happen if a robot and two children in jeans suddenly appeared in first-century Nazareth? The very premise prompts thoughtful questions about time, culture, and how truth transcends generations.
The app
The newest version of the Superbook came out in November 2025, it is well designed and easy to navigate. Parents and children can create individual profiles and even customise their own characters. The app has been thoughtfully structured to help parents monitor and limit their children’s access. Through a feature called ‘Parent Gate’, certain content can be restricted, including images or videos that depict crucifixion, demonic activity, or Satan.
The app uses SuperPoints and Experience Points to enable progression. These are not purchased but earned through daily quests, games, and activities. They function as a familiar motivational tool, similar to those used in many children’s games, encouraging children to continue exploring and engaging more deeply with the content.
One limitation is that beyond the daily quest, additional quests require points to unlock, which requires more time spent in the app. However, this can be seen and used as a positive without increasing screen time, it teaches children patience!
as a tool to help families develop faith and deepen understanding together, Superbook is a valuable and engaging resource
Daily quests focus on a specific Bible verse, and with various activities each quest helps children commit the verse to memory. Completing quests also rewards you SuperPoints.
The games are all biblically themed and lead you back to the biblical story. These range from putting ‘fish and bread’ in baskets, to helping ‘The great fish’ navigate the waters on the way to Nineva, from ‘serpent smash’, to ‘David: Sheep protector’. There are also wordsearches, Bible trivia and verse scramble.
The Q&A section is brilliant for helping parents to answer some of the more challenging questions that children can come out with. But also provides an opportunity for children to consider questions they hadn’t thought of before. Again, all the questions lead to passages from the Bible, and have helpful links to related topics and videos to help everyone explore deeper.
It’s a Bible App. A lot of adults now have Bibles on their phones; this app provides a way for children to do just the same. It has the same features of highlighting and making notes, with the added benefit of integrated links to related games and FAQs when users reach connected sections of Scripture.
Superbook offers a variety of engaging ways to create space for questions and provide answers through text, animation, and games. There is so much more on offer, so check it out for yourself.
Final thoughts:
Superbook provides a world where children can ask questions, seek truth, and explore answers in the midst of a culture that often offers them very little clarity. It is not perfect, there are flaws, and parents and children should always return to Scripture itself as their foundation. However, as a tool to help families develop faith and deepen understanding together, Superbook is a valuable and engaging resource.
