Rating: 
Summary: Delightful book, but combined with music, its IRRESISTIBLE!
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful book, but combined with music, its IRRESISTIBLE!
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful intro to ocean wildlife
Review: A simple beautiful tale of the magnificent beluga whale. You just don't find very many young childrens books involving a beluga. We went on a visit to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Seattle, Washington where they have real white beluga whales in full display at the underground aquarium. My children began singing the song, remembering one of their favorite songs and books. The pictures are simple and uncluttered. Children will focus on the story, song and cute little white whale. Another excellent Raffi production. Great for reading or singing. A very peaceful, natural feel and connection to the water. It makes a grand bedtime moment.
Rating: 
Summary: Even my husband sings this song
Review: Before we even knew of this book we had been playing Raffi's "Baby Beluga" CD for our small boy. I had noticed the book in stores but thought it was silly to have a book for a song we already knew. And then we found the book in the public library. Hello! Our two year old was so excited. He adores sea creatures so he would have liked the book even if it were just illusrations of fish and whales, but it thrilled him to discover that his song was in this book! He often sings full phrases of the song to us. He has memorized many of the words and has for a long time been taken with the line "Moon is shining and the stars are out" which to him is THE correct way to discuss any night sky in any picture, even if no stars or moon are visible. I digress. The book is a hit. Last time we went to the library our son put in his order. He wanted "Baby Beluga" and "Caps for Sale". Unfortunately "Baby Beluga" was out, so we had to wait by the phone till it came in. This evening I went to say goodnight to our son while my husband was reading the bedtime stories, and I caught him singing "Baby Beluga" as they read the book together--a sweet sound in the ears of a wife who rarely hears her husband sing. The words are simple imagery; the pictures have introduced our youngster to other sealife, like seals, walruses, narwhals (the ones with the unicorn tusk)... but we like the book mainly because of our son's enjoyment. It's simple to sing, and it's a sweet lullaby full of joy. I'm sure our little guy imagines himself to be the little beluga whale in the song. After all what toddler doesn't love to be surrounded by those who hold him dear? We can all use a little dose of adoration.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended by Grandma
Review: Beluga whales are beautiful creatures and, sure enough, they do seem to always smile. Raffi has introduced little children to the arts & humanities in a gentle and easy way. We all know his song and the illustrations of the happy beluga and other sea animals help to make the big world a bit more friendly. Baby Beluga lives in a happy space--we hope the same for our own babies!
Rating:
Summary: Love this!
Review: Got this and the CD as a gift and we all sing along. Very sweet - and now I'm back for more Raffi CDs and books!
Rating:
Summary: Baby Beluga is the little white whale on the go
Review: I came across this book appropriately enough at an aquarium which is definitely an appropriate place to find this book. The illustrations in this book are engaging. I am not an art critic, but children under 5 will be captivated by the drawings. I was glad that they mentioned on the back of the book that Raffi also did Wheels on the Bus or I probably would not have had a clear tune in my head. Once I put the tune in my head, I liked the book even more. My oldest nephew liked it, so next time I'll have to show it to my youngest nephew to see if he likes the little white whale on the go.
Rating:
Summary: Baby Beluga is the little white whale on the go
Review: I came across this book appropriately enough at an aquarium which is definitely an appropriate place to find this book. The illustrations in this book are engaging. I am not an art critic, but children under 5 will be captivated by the drawings. I was glad that they mentioned on the back of the book that Raffi also did Wheels on the Bus or I probably would not have had a clear tune in my head. Once I put the tune in my head, I liked the book even more. My oldest nephew liked it, so next time I'll have to show it to my youngest nephew to see if he likes the little white whale on the go.
Rating:
Summary: Head Start teacher loves to do activities using Baby Beluga
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: so-so artwork but you can't beat the song
Review: I think that I have sung Baby Beluga over a thousand times since my eldest was born 4 years ago. Both she and her younger sister love the song. I agree that the artwork is mediocre, but if you use the book as an accompaniment to the song, then it works.
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