NOODLE LOVES THE BEACH

Noodle's five senses explore the seashore in this touch-and-feel outing.

Under his mama's watchful eye, this young panda enjoys traditional activities during his beach vacation. Manipulative elements follow on the brief text. In one scene, Mom and tyke approach a boat: "Noodle loves the boat." A flip of the "sail" reveals a hidden rabbit traveler; the fabric flaps like a sail in the wind. Noodle Loves Food showcases the toddler satisfying his healthy appetite with a similar structure and visual design. Both conclusions utilize a mirror to stimulate interest, though the final, superficial statement falls flat. “And just like Noodle, / you like the beach!” Clean, geometric shapes serve as building blocks for the characters, who are placed within bright, airy scenes. Noodle's oversized head and teetering, disproportionate limbs are unassumingly babylike. Textured objects prove substantial enough for small hands to explore and highlight ordinary objects familiar to most children. Varying the type of texture (sticky peach, scratchy sandcastle) carries the interactive experience from the cover through to the final page.

Obvious rhyming pairings (peach, beach) may not thrill, but familiar behaviors and solid tactile features make for a fairly enjoyable destination.