Sheldon, The Antioxidant Super Hero of Jaloonsville

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.