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Raffi Songs to Read
Baby Beluga
Raffi's most popular and beloved song about the "little white whale on the go" is available in a sturdy board book edition--just the right size for babies and toddlers!
Singing supports and encourages even the youngest child's speech and listening skills, which makes Baby Beluga perfect for early learning. Join this adorable baby whale in a busy day at sea, culminating in a warm mother-child bedtime ending. With its delightful illustrations, this is the ideal sing-along for a whole new generation of readers.
Singing supports and encourages even the youngest child's speech and listening skills, which makes Baby Beluga perfect for early learning. Join this adorable baby whale in a busy day at sea, culminating in a warm mother-child bedtime ending. With its delightful illustrations, this is the ideal sing-along for a whole new generation of readers.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
March 5, 2018
The Internet has a small-but-healthy movement called, "The Wholesome Meme". It's the idea that things we share, like, spread, upvote, twit, and post don't all have to be sarcastic, cutting, political, negative, or an ironic callback. It's okay for things to be "wholesome" again: kind, simple, sincere, and filled with whimsy, expressing a love for all existence, whispering "it's okay" before having a bite of amazing pie that was given to you out of kindness, and not sold to you for profit.
Raffi, and in particular Baby Beluga, are my wholesome meme. I never listened to Raffi as a child--it just missed us, I guess. I watched Sesame Street and my parents played Steeleye Span and Simon and Garfunkel-- plenty of wholesome, but not Raffi. Raffi came into my life with my own kids.
Baby Beluga is as wholesome as it gets--it's about a whale, but on page 4 you do not hear about the polluting humans or the oil barons or whaling. That's for a different book. It's about simple love between mother and child, but on page 5 you do not see the child resist or ask for reassurance that he will be loved even if he turns out to be a raccoon/republican/gay, or see the painful side of love or cruelty or intolerance. That's for a different book. It's about how wonderful the world and nature are, and on page 6 you do not need to be reminded that nature is competitive, or that nature is sick, or that we are distanced from nature by our ongoing effort to digitize our hearts. Baby Beluga is about bedtime, maybe, bedtime as a nice, warm and gentle time, not a time to have a system or to fight against a system.
Those other things are all important to say, and important that we talk about them in children's books too... but this book/song is not that. This poem uplifts, and defines joy as something to be enjoyed for its own sake. It is an unconditional hug. The sun is always there, the stars are your friends, forever and always. The waves roll in and the waves roll out.
Good night little whale, good night.
Raffi, and in particular Baby Beluga, are my wholesome meme. I never listened to Raffi as a child--it just missed us, I guess. I watched Sesame Street and my parents played Steeleye Span and Simon and Garfunkel-- plenty of wholesome, but not Raffi. Raffi came into my life with my own kids.
Baby Beluga is as wholesome as it gets--it's about a whale, but on page 4 you do not hear about the polluting humans or the oil barons or whaling. That's for a different book. It's about simple love between mother and child, but on page 5 you do not see the child resist or ask for reassurance that he will be loved even if he turns out to be a raccoon/republican/gay, or see the painful side of love or cruelty or intolerance. That's for a different book. It's about how wonderful the world and nature are, and on page 6 you do not need to be reminded that nature is competitive, or that nature is sick, or that we are distanced from nature by our ongoing effort to digitize our hearts. Baby Beluga is about bedtime, maybe, bedtime as a nice, warm and gentle time, not a time to have a system or to fight against a system.
Those other things are all important to say, and important that we talk about them in children's books too... but this book/song is not that. This poem uplifts, and defines joy as something to be enjoyed for its own sake. It is an unconditional hug. The sun is always there, the stars are your friends, forever and always. The waves roll in and the waves roll out.
Good night little whale, good night.
March 22, 2015
I LOVED Raffi as a kid (and as an adult as I introduced them to my kiddos). This book has wonderful illustrations to go along with one of Raffi's most loved songs.
December 27, 2025
به شعر و کتاب و نقاشی چهار ستاره میدم.
به خوانش و آهنگش پنج ستاره.
چقدر حس خوبی منتقل میکرد و آرامش ده بود.
بهمن ۱۴۰۳
به خوانش و آهنگش پنج ستاره.
چقدر حس خوبی منتقل میکرد و آرامش ده بود.
بهمن ۱۴۰۳
September 14, 2025
My nephew is obsessed with this book. I am a jukebox for baby beluga. 10/10 would recommend, singing it always.
November 30, 2023
So, my sense of truth is hotly offended by the fact that the illustrations depict polar bears being friendly to the titular baby beluga, when everyone knows polar bears see baby belugas as lunch. That being said, I do generally like that there's such a rich variety of Arctic-dwelling species included in the adorable illustrations. And the fact that this was a song before it was a book means the lines don't scan as execrably badly as most rhymed picture books for children do. The "water bed" verse makes the book particularly well-suited for bedtime sharing; the "sing your little song" stanza appropriately emphasizes to young people that their individual voices are valued.
(Part of my ongoing series of Goodreads reviews of children's picture books about whales.)
(Part of my ongoing series of Goodreads reviews of children's picture books about whales.)
February 13, 2021
Wonderful book based on Raffi's song.
January 3, 2026
He was SO in the deep blue sea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2015
I really liked it.
May 17, 2019
It bothered me how the words didn’t rhyme or match in syllables, but I adored the puffins and whales depicted in the illustrations.
February 13, 2024
A very cute illustration of the song! I often call my daughter Baby Beluga ❤️❤️
September 30, 2017
“Baby Beluga” By Raffi; published by Random House Children’s Books; United States; copyright 1992.
1. Awards the book has received: This book has not received any awards.
2. Appropriate grade level(s): This book is appropriate for children from Preschool-Kindergarten.
3. Summary: This song and book is about a white beluga whale who lives in the ocean. The whale lives with his mother and likes to sing and make new friends. The story is about these adventures in the form of song.
4. Review: I used to love this song and had this book as a kid. It was one of my favorites. It is great because you can read along in the book with beautiful illustrations and listen to the song. It helps build comprehension and word recognition. This song, along with other Raffi songs are great to play with little ones.
5. Uses in the classroom:
• Students can explore all of the animal ocean life mentioned in the book.
• They can use animal puppets to tell the story along with the song.
• The song can build word recognition as the students read the story.
• Students can do a mini-lesson on beluga whales and learn more about them and other ocean life.
1. Awards the book has received: This book has not received any awards.
2. Appropriate grade level(s): This book is appropriate for children from Preschool-Kindergarten.
3. Summary: This song and book is about a white beluga whale who lives in the ocean. The whale lives with his mother and likes to sing and make new friends. The story is about these adventures in the form of song.
4. Review: I used to love this song and had this book as a kid. It was one of my favorites. It is great because you can read along in the book with beautiful illustrations and listen to the song. It helps build comprehension and word recognition. This song, along with other Raffi songs are great to play with little ones.
5. Uses in the classroom:
• Students can explore all of the animal ocean life mentioned in the book.
• They can use animal puppets to tell the story along with the song.
• The song can build word recognition as the students read the story.
• Students can do a mini-lesson on beluga whales and learn more about them and other ocean life.
July 5, 2017
When I first got started with Baby Beluga it was since the song was thought to be one of Michelle Tanner's favorite song on the show. Of course as such it wasn't played the whole way through so I never knew how it went or if the lyrics were the right way or not. Still really don't know.
The illustrations are what has sold me on this book since they are brightly colored and realistic. Also unlike many other illustrations where penguins are included in the Arctic and polar bears in the Antarctic all the animals that were shown were of the right location even if they may not be buddies in the past it still allows the reader to get to know the beluga a bit more in their natural world, their traits and some of their neighbors while keeping out the not-so-children-friendly whom-eats-who.
All in all it is a delightful story to be enjoyed with young children and if you have a talent for singing you will find the notes as well as the lyrics together at the very end of the book.
The illustrations are what has sold me on this book since they are brightly colored and realistic. Also unlike many other illustrations where penguins are included in the Arctic and polar bears in the Antarctic all the animals that were shown were of the right location even if they may not be buddies in the past it still allows the reader to get to know the beluga a bit more in their natural world, their traits and some of their neighbors while keeping out the not-so-children-friendly whom-eats-who.
All in all it is a delightful story to be enjoyed with young children and if you have a talent for singing you will find the notes as well as the lyrics together at the very end of the book.
September 20, 2018
One day my oldest grandchild came home from pre-school singing Raffi's version of Baby Beluga, straining her voice to sing the refrain LOUDLY when the words of the verses got muddled. I just had to buy the board book when the rest of my grand-babies came along. They LOVE this one, so of COURSE it's fun to read (not to mention it tastes good & is nearly indestructible) ... tough to get that song out of my head though ...
August 8, 2018
A favorite of the 2-year-old in my life. It helps if you know the Raffi song and sing the words instead of reading them. Read the book with the little one in your lap and sway your bodies back and forth when you come to, "The waves roll in, and the waves roll out..."
And a board book is the perfect format.
And a board book is the perfect format.
May 17, 2009
Don't call me stupid, this book is awesome
May 16, 2016
Somewhat advanced for a board book, but still good!
January 16, 2018
One of David's favorite songs!
September 27, 2025
Tonight we read Ada "Baby Beluga" six times in a row. Every time we finish, she turns back to the first page and says "AAAAH" most emphatically.
October 28, 2025
i really wanted to hold this book myself
auntie em sang this to me today and it was hilarious! then i had my turn to flip pages and read out loud. i did a really good job
auntie em sang this to me today and it was hilarious! then i had my turn to flip pages and read out loud. i did a really good job
March 30, 2020
Great to read as a song for storytime.
August 24, 2023
Need to re-listen to the song so I can sing this—a little weird just reading it! 🐳🐋
January 29, 2024
The art is definitely the best part of this book
March 3, 2024
Obviously sang this one to C & R.
October 25, 2022
Still a bop.
March 1, 2023
Aleta gave me this book! I like to dance along :)
July 29, 2017
I wasn't very familiar with Raffi before now. I knew he was a prodigious children's music artist who was quite popular after I was a young child and before I had children, so I just didn't have much exposure to him. We picked up this book at the library. It is basically a book version of one of Raffi's songs. Our first reading was before we had heard the song that it goes with. Because of that, the words don't "read" well. Phrasing that works well in a song, and a cadence that isn't familiar without hearing the music doesn't translate very well to a read aloud. It just feels...awkward. However, once we also checked out a CD of Raffi's music that included this song, my almost-4-year-olds' favorite thing is to "sing" the book. We turn on the song and go through the book that way. Now, even without singing it, we can better use the cadence of the song to read it in a less awkward way. It's still not going to be a book *I* reach for, but it's clearly a hit with the preschool crowd in this household.
July 22, 2018
Raffi is pure nostalgia and his songs have endured. Some of his hits have been made into picture books as part of the Raffi Songs to Read series. I'd definitely recommend giving your kids the treat of listening to a Raffi album and then reading these books.
I recently had the magical experience of singing "Baby Beluga" in the ocean with my son Harry. I'll absolutely never forget it, and I have Baby Beluga to thank for making such magic possible.
This is one of those books that children who love animals can't stop looking at. There are lots of beautifully drawn ocean animals to look at and label, and the song is easy to learn, rhyming, lulling, and happy. A perfect bedtime closer.
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books about singalong books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/40-sin...
I recently had the magical experience of singing "Baby Beluga" in the ocean with my son Harry. I'll absolutely never forget it, and I have Baby Beluga to thank for making such magic possible.
This is one of those books that children who love animals can't stop looking at. There are lots of beautifully drawn ocean animals to look at and label, and the song is easy to learn, rhyming, lulling, and happy. A perfect bedtime closer.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books about singalong books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/40-sin...
November 19, 2018
1. This book has not received any awards.
2. This book is appropriate for PreK through 1st grade.
3. Summary- This book is about a baby beluga who is traveling in the ocean. It shows all the other sea animals he encounters, as well as a human that he encounters.
4. Review- This book is a fun way for children to read/listen to a story. Baby beluga is a well known children's book and it makes it even more interesting, as well as catchy, to have picture that go along with the words of the song. I really enjoy this book and would recommend using it in early childhood classrooms.
5. This book can be used in class in order to help children learn how to read. If they already know the words of the song, then it can be easy to match the words to the song when they are reading. It can also be used to teach rhyming in a classroom since a lot of the words do rhyme. Using a song can also be good to do close reading lessons with.
2. This book is appropriate for PreK through 1st grade.
3. Summary- This book is about a baby beluga who is traveling in the ocean. It shows all the other sea animals he encounters, as well as a human that he encounters.
4. Review- This book is a fun way for children to read/listen to a story. Baby beluga is a well known children's book and it makes it even more interesting, as well as catchy, to have picture that go along with the words of the song. I really enjoy this book and would recommend using it in early childhood classrooms.
5. This book can be used in class in order to help children learn how to read. If they already know the words of the song, then it can be easy to match the words to the song when they are reading. It can also be used to teach rhyming in a classroom since a lot of the words do rhyme. Using a song can also be good to do close reading lessons with.
April 19, 2018
1. Recording Industry Association of America Platinum Award, Canadian Recording Industry Association Double Platinum Award
2. Pre-K - 3
3. This is a story about a little baby Beluga whale. It describes all of the adventures the little whale takes on during the day like visiting its friends, and snuggling with family.
4. Baby Beluga is a very cute book for young children. Children would love this book and its personification of the young whale having fun with friends and family. It draws attention to sea animals and paints them in a loving light.
5. I would love to use this book in a water/sea unit in the classroom. I would give students the opportunity to study different aspects of sea life. This would be a great way to bring light to Beluga whales because they are often a forgotten sea creature.
2. Pre-K - 3
3. This is a story about a little baby Beluga whale. It describes all of the adventures the little whale takes on during the day like visiting its friends, and snuggling with family.
4. Baby Beluga is a very cute book for young children. Children would love this book and its personification of the young whale having fun with friends and family. It draws attention to sea animals and paints them in a loving light.
5. I would love to use this book in a water/sea unit in the classroom. I would give students the opportunity to study different aspects of sea life. This would be a great way to bring light to Beluga whales because they are often a forgotten sea creature.
November 18, 2018
Appropriate Grade Level: PreKindergarten-1st Grade
Summary: Baby Beluga is a little white whale who swims through the sea. He is happy when he is home with his mama. Baby Beluga swims free through the sea and meets many friends to whom the little whale sings to.
Review: Baby Beluga is a catchy and awesome songbook to sing with your younger students. Your students and/or children will love this songbook and you may even find yourself singing it too!
In Class Uses: This songbook can be used as a strategy to regain your young students' attention and focus.
Summary: Baby Beluga is a little white whale who swims through the sea. He is happy when he is home with his mama. Baby Beluga swims free through the sea and meets many friends to whom the little whale sings to.
Review: Baby Beluga is a catchy and awesome songbook to sing with your younger students. Your students and/or children will love this songbook and you may even find yourself singing it too!
In Class Uses: This songbook can be used as a strategy to regain your young students' attention and focus.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews