Down By the Bay

Title: Down By the Bay
Author: No Author (Traditional Song)
Illustrated: Robin Oz
Published: D.C. Health, A Raytheon Company, Massachusetts
Date: 1995
Summary: This is a traditional song where two kids go down by the bay where the watermelons grow and encounter weird but silly things.
Age Level: Primary (Kindergarten to 2nd grade)
Strengths: I love the water colors which makes the scene very colorful and I like how the illustrator used the pages to spread her creations. I love how the song and the pictures interconnected with one another. The animals in this story are very silly. There is a moose, kissing a goose, a fly with a tie, a bear combing his hair and a whale with a polka dot tale. I also like how the different animals the children encounter follow them where the watermelon grows and as the song goes on, more animals follow them! However, they all have a good time.
Concerns: It's silly to hear a moose, kissing a goose, but I have a feeling many people would not like that becuase they are two different species. Perhaps the song had a message about the impossible, or even the real world. Also, you would never see a bear in a leather jacket, combing his hair, or a fly with a tie, but since this is for younger children, it's ok to believe it. I also would like to know if the whale is on land or in the water because it looks like the water is surrounding the whale, but it doesn't look like it's under water.
Comments: This is a great song and story to sing with younger children. If you had an audio tape of it, the students will love to follow along with the words. Music and this story is a great way to interact with the students.