DOWN BY THE BAY, a traditional song illustrated by Sylvia Ion, is a playful, traditional song and this version is special in several ways. Firstly, the ethnicicity of the child is marvelously ambiguous. Asian? Native American? Caucasian? Indian? African American? Any child can identify with this character. Secondly, Any mother who is so jolly as to say such silly things would probably be full of surprises with interesting animal friends. Try making up some of your own silly sayings.