Boopable! is a cute, rhyming picture book that asks readers to imagine “boop”ing various animals.

The narrative dives in with no preamble, asking, “Would you be shocked if you booped a fox?” and continues asking similar rhyming questions about seven other animals. Each question is accompanied by a full-page illustration of the face of the animal in question, and the words that rhyme are highlighted with the use of colored letters. The book closes by focusing on young readers, telling them that they are the “most lovable, boopable/Creature of all.”

The book lacks an explanation for what “boop”ing means in the narrative and supporting text, but one would assume a ”boop” is the act of lovingly tapping the nose of a person or pet with one’s finger. However, it’s an act learned through cultural context and may not be understood this way by those without deep fluency in English, or who come from cultures in which touching another person’s face isn’t acceptable.

Putting aside this potential problem, the illustrations are lovely and soft, both in color and technique, creating an intimate atmosphere with a focus on the large, luminous eyes of many animals. The rhymes work well for the most part, enhancing the narrative without becoming distracting, and the selected animals are diverse if somewhat random.

The questions that frame the narrative are easy to digest, but with little beyond the surface silliness to capture youngsters, the book is unlikely to become a memorable must-read.

Boopable! would benefit from a definition of “boop” that would help all readers feel in the know. Still, it offers a sweet series of rhyming questions with captivating illustrations.