Chloe (left) is a month old today so I've been perusing the new board books for some likely presents. I'm thinking she might (eventually) like two new Noodle books by Marion Billet, Noodle Loves to Eat and Noodle Loves the Beach, both published by Nosy Crow/Candlewick this month. Noodle is an ungendered panda-toddler who in each ten-page board book gets to experience some really nice things: food in Eat and seaside frolic plus food in Beach. Along with the baby-friendly contrast supplied by the black-and-white Noodles and his/her family, the digital illustrations also sport some attractively demure touch-and-feel effects (bumpy peas, soft bread, a little sandpaper) and each book ends with a shiny Mylar mirror so Baby can get into the action. Beach features a touchable peach (must have needed the rhyme) that is, weirdly, not fuzzy but sticky, an element I know will be appreciated by big brother Miles and dad Dorian. Try this at home!: