Noah's Ark

This pleasant Peek-Through-the-Window Book is glib and moderately tongue- in-cheek, taking a fair amount of license with the tale of Noah. While he is decked out in flowing biblical garb, Mrs. Noah brings in tea on a china set and dresses in gowns of the ear ly 20th century. When he demands a boat because it's going to rain, she wonders out loud if an umbrella wouldn't be better. A traditional gathering of ani mals takes place, and they all eat well, for Mrs. Noah's food stores include plenty of greens, canned goods and cupcakes. Celebrating the finding of land at a swimming hole, Noah still wears a biblical headdress but he and his wife are both decked out in striped bathing suits. And Mrs. Noah gets the last word: ``We must never risk losing the world again.'' The last page shows the couple with a baby (forget the children of the Old TestamentShem, Ham, etc. are not included in this version). The peek-through holes offer interesting perspectives of future illustrations, and Windham, who provided readers with an enchanting Twelve Days of Christmas in the same format, creates lovely interiors replete with carefulif idiosyncraticdetails. Ages 2-6. (Jan.)