Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read)

IMHO, I prefer music together singalong storybooks over raffi songs to read because of the fun ways to sing each Music Together song i.e. "Hello, Everybody-The Music Together Hello Song" has lyrics to change like "Hello, it's Superman-I'm glad to save you!"

We all loved the cute baby whale and sing its delightful song every day, as we are awaiting the delivery of our own little baby. From age 10 down to almost 2. It’s our new favorite.

The book itself is great, but the format was not what I ordered. A bit disappointed

"Baby Beluga" tells the story of a little Beluga Whales daily adventures in the "deep blue sea." The beautiful illustrations and charming story captured my attention instantly. Not familiar with Raffi, and his music, I was unaware of the popularity of the song, by the same title, until noticing the back cover, where it is mentioned. I have since purchased the CD, and CAN NO LONGER read this book; I have to SING it! "Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea, swim so wild and you swim so free. Heaven above and the sea below, and a little white whale on the go."The editorial comments regarding Ashley Wolff's illustrations are harsh. As an artist, I regard the work to be first-rate! The mostly analogous color palette (ocean blues and greens) is bright and true to life, while the expressions are communicative and warm. Perhaps, a little more contrast between the Beluga Whales and the sea is in order, but that is a personal preference. Besides, compared to ANY of the severely cold computer-generated images available in books today, the illustrations in this book are superior. "Baby Beluga" is a delightful book independently, although, combined with the music; it is IRRESISTIBLE! One-year and up.

Whether you know Raffi's music or not, this is a great little book. My children love it. We have had it long enough that our oldest now reads it to the younger ones.There seems to be a natural interest among many children about things that live in the ocean. This book fuels that interest.The book is fun, well illustrated, and a joy to read. Do your children ask you to read them some books over and over again? Mine do, and this is one that has had the covers nearly read off of it! If you haven't seen this book, give it a try. It's also a good book for beginning readers to work on.Top notch! 5 stars!

My fourteen month old "sings" the title when she wants me to read it to her. The illustrations captivate her and are helping to expand her animal vocabulary.

I have been teaching Head Start for 6 years and one of my lesson plans is based on the book and music of Baby Beluga. The book has many teaching points such as night and day, living in a cold environment, naming and counting animals. The children love it. We make a bottle with blue water and a white balloon turns into a whale and while the music plays the children make waves with the bottle. I've never found a child who didn't like this activity.

The illustrations are beautiful; the song is very simple and gentle. When the music and the book are used together, it drives my 8 month old daughter crazy with delight. She loves the colorful animals, and can barely contain her excitement at the turning of each page.