A silly superhero tale showcasing a tasty, healthy berry.
Sheldon Bilberry, also known as Blueberry Boy, is a nutritional superhero in this outside-the-box children’s series starter by debut author Jones.
The titular hero wears a cape dyed with blueberry juice because, as he tells his best friend, Lou, it “represents antioxidant protection.” As the duo make their way to their favorite blueberry market—there are several in their hometown of Jaloonsville—they’re greeted by Viney, another friend, who reminds Sheldon to bring a favorite homemade blueberry treat to school. All seems well until store owner Mr. G. shares a terrible secret: his market may have to close because the new delivery truck driver is bringing him only junk food. What will Jaloonsville do without its blueberry deliveries? Rather than follow the obvious course of action—uncovering why the junk food is being delivered—Sheldon devises a grander plan: he and his parents will buy several acres of land to start their own blueberry farm. His parents agree, and they strike a deal with the neighboring town of Buron Park. But the plot soon thickens: the driver of the delivery truck, Lazy Lars, is also from Buron Park, and he’s determined to keep Sheldon’s healthy treats out of his hometown, where junk food reigns supreme. Readers will never doubt Sheldon’s eventual success. The characters’ constant love of blueberries, along with the book’s whimsical cartoon illustrations, give the story a lighthearted flavor. The health food aspect is less pronounced than in similarly themed books but it’s still strongly present; readers will know that the only supervillains Sheldon will face will be candy bars and other sweets. Although both Sheldon and the delivery driver are Caucasian, the illustrations show Jaloonsville to be delightfully diverse, proving that everyone can share a love for blueberries.
A silly superhero tale showcasing a tasty, healthy berry.Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-615-68425-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Melissa's Book Publishing LLC
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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