Down by the Bay (Raffi Songs to Read)

This was a Christmas gift for our 16 month old daughter who was not really into reading books with us. She loves this one though; I think because we sing to it. My oldest daughter, a 3 year old, loves it also. She sings along and tries to make up rhymes. I definitely recommend this book!!

What a wonderfull book. Filled with lots of color and rhyme. The children and I sing the song along with the DVD, then we read the book; the children are inspired to create their own rhymes. Its a fundamental tool in my classroom and a source of enjoyment and inspiration to my students.

I love the idea of making books to songs! We can sing the story, she knows the tune and some of the words and it makes it feel like she's reading too. But I was diappointed in the illustrations. The pages are really busy, it's difficult for my 16 month old to identify the animals because they are not drawn to stand out. She doesn't seem that interested in looking at the pages, but she does like that she recognizes the song when we 'read' it together.

The story itself was fine. But the book was not made well. The last page came apart the second time I opened the book. Very disappointed that this book did not and will not last. I am going to have to try and glue the back page together most likely.

I really wanted this book. The bizarre thing is that the cover is the same but the book inside is "Five Little Ducks". I will be sending it back for exchange and will update this. Does anyone think the one I got might be collectible? Update: I have received this book and am pleased with the store's promptness in replacing the defective one. Thanks

This is a silly, entirely enjoyable and lighthearted singing book, illustrated with two children trading turns to introduce the verses of this popular Raffi song (score included). Each verse is illustrated with the animal in the child's home. The song is particularly upbeat and fun for children, who can memorize the lyrics and sing it themselves; but the illustrations, while funny, are fairly average.

I especially enjoy this book paired with the version of the song performed by Eric Heatherly on Country Goes Raffi (although this album contains some other songs that are so annoying I burned an edited copy to play in our home). Another good transition-to-reading book.

Bought as a present for a cousin's impending child. One of my favorites popularized by the awesome Raffi, and fun to read/sing to a youngster from infant to preschooler! Pictures are perfect for those ages, and a great way to get children to connect the word symbols with the sounds. Thanks!

This is a silly, entirely enjoyable and lighthearted singing book, illustrated with two children trading turns to introduce the verses of this popular Raffi song (score included). Each verse is illustrated with the animal in the child's home. The song is particularly upbeat and fun for children, who can memorize the lyrics and sing it themselves; but the illustrations, while funny, are fairly average.

I especially enjoy this book paired with the version of the song performed by Eric Heatherly on Country Goes Raffi (although this album contains some other songs that are so annoying I burned an edited copy to play in our home). Another good transition-to-reading book.

Bought as a present for a cousin's impending child. One of my favorites popularized by the awesome Raffi, and fun to read/sing to a youngster from infant to preschooler! Pictures are perfect for those ages, and a great way to get children to connect the word symbols with the sounds. Thanks!

Again, here is another great Read/Sing book. If you love to sing or are a music educator this book is for you. Rich in American folk heritage, this is one of the many songs MENC recommends that all children know. This song can be sung in echo format or as written in the back. My students constantly want me to read it again. They think the verses are hilarious! As I have said in other reviews of books like this, it gets you away from the piano so you can focus on your students' vocal development!
A very easy sing along!

This classic, catchy, silly rhyme is so fun for kids - my infant daughter has loved this book since she was about 2 months old. She always smiles and is excited when we 'read' it and it is an obvious favorite of hers. You can read it - but of course part of the fun is singing it! In reading another person's comment that they didn't read this book to their child because they did not like to sing...you do not have to be a good singer...I am not, but my daughter thinks it is great anyhow. It is an easy tone and song to sing, even for those of us who are vocally challenged ;) But you could easily just read it in a silly voice and have it be just as fun. Really great addition to our library.

My daughter is 2. She received the Raffi CD for Christmas and LOVED it. She danced and sang to the music. I ran across the "Down By the Bay" book at the store and picked it up. Her and this book are inseperable. She even takes it to bed with her. She loves that her favorite song has a book with pictures. She wants my husband and I to sing the song over and over and she knows enough of the words now to sing with us.
If your child is a little older, this book includes a simple music sheet with the notes and words at the back.
I highly recommend this book.

This book is so much fun. At first I just read it because I didn't realize it was a song. Then I noticed it was a song and I played it and got the hang of it so I started to sing it to my daughter. She loves it. She laughs at the silliness of it and we sing it when we are out. I make up my own verses and made it into a game of rhyming. It is such a fun little book.

I grew up singing a version fo this song at camp, and the book doesn't disappoint. Even if you've never heard the raffi version, the music as it the end of the book so you cna learn the tune. My kiddos love this book!

This was my first song book and a gift to my child, and it is a wonderful book. What a great gift! Really recommend for the youngest babies learning to love books. I think we will be reading this book over and over for a long time. Listen online for how to sing the song, or make up your own way!

As a child this was one of my favorites and now am excited that I have a little one of my own to sing it to. My husband is in the Army and actually calls me from work to tell me he cant get it out of his head. As for my daughter, she is 19 months and really likes looking at the book and dancing to us singing it. This is the same author as Baby Beluga which is just as much a favorite as this one.

I bought this book for my daughter to take to my mother's house. I can't sing and so the book isn't much fun when I read it. My daughter loves to hear my mother sing though. She will ask my mother to read the book several times a day when she is visiting.

This is a very fun book for all. When I was younger I could remember my aunt teaching my sister and I the song, and I was glad when I went to the library and seen that it was a book. I think that if you get this book you will have lots of fun.

What a wonderful book! Any child who has sung "Down By The Bay" will be thrilled with the opportunity to visualize the subjects in the song,for example, a whale with a polka-dotted tale. The illustrations bring these images to life for our little readers. Raffi is talented in helping kids learn to rhyme and just be silly and happy. I would recommend this book to anyone with kids or to those who simply buy for others.

I love anything to do with Raffi. I raised my children singing his wonderful songs and now I am beginning to share them with my granddaughter. I am never disappointed with anything that Raffi produces. Thank you for having his collection available on the store.

I grew up singing a version fo this song at camp, and the book doesn't disappoint. Even if you've never heard the raffi version, the music as it the end of the book so you cna learn the tune. My kiddos love this book!