Before starting a level, the Player has to select a Baby Yoshi. Each Yoshi has different taste when it comes to Fruits and Shy Guys and will recover more health (and score more points) if it eats a Fruit or a Shy Guy that is of its own color. The top left corner of the screen has a flower which serves as the life bar; the flower's petals will fall off as Yoshi loses more health, and its facial expression will also change accordingly (happy when full, sad when dying). (mariowiki.com)