This time on The Children’s Hour we’re learning about the largest animal to ever live on Earth, which still roams the oceans today: whales.

Underwater photo of a grey whale mother and baby
Photo by Swanson Chan on Unsplash

Once hunted to near extinction, some whales are making a comeback. While others remain critically endangered. These are photos of critically endangered whales.

Meet Melania Guerra, a marine biologist who researched whale songs and background noise interference in San Ignacio Lagoon, the birthing waters of Gray Whales. Melania wants to know if croaker fish songs each afternoon are limiting communication in the lagoon.

Dr. Melania Guerra by Melissa Fernández

We also hear the story The Whale and the Snail by Julia Donaldson, published by Puffin Books, and performed by the Kids Crew.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

Katie also talks with a Mexican pongero, or boat driver who teaches kids and adults about the friendly whales in his backyard. 

A pongero with whale eco-tourists in San Ignacio Lagoon

Take a trip under the sea with The Children’s Hour this week to learn about whales!

Learn even more about whales and how you can help save them from extinction!

Image by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash
titleartistalbumlabelduration
Sing a Whale SongTom ChapinMoonboat2009 Gadfly Records02:46
Apopo O Na Kamali'iSam KamaFor the Love of Hawaii (Songs for the Young At Heart)2007 Linda Yapp01:22
MigrationDanaA Place to Call Home2020 Dana Cohenour04:29
Slow ToeBlue Dot SessionsK42016 Blue Dot Sessions01:02
NightSerge QuadradoSlow Film2019 DDmyzik01:00
Something scary is behind usPawel Feszczuksingle2020 Pawel Feszczuk00:13
InfinitySerge QuadradoSlow Film2019 DDmyzik00:33
Surface Tension 2Podington BearPiano I2018 HUSH00:47
Feel Good (Instrumental)Broke For FreePetal2014 Broke For Free01:45
Kohola's Song (Song of the Humpback, Verse 23)Linda YappFor the Love of Hawaii (Songs for the Young At Heart)2007 Linda Yapp02:09
Ocean BreezeKetsaSingle2021 Ketsa Reiki Music01:24
Watching the WhalesSteve Pullara & His Cool Beans BandKitty Cat Under My Wheelchair2018 Steve Pullara02:29
Learning From KidsBlear MoonExpanding Lands2020 secret press03:21
One Man BookNative Oceansingle2022 Native Ocean01:04
Blue WhaleThe Whizpops!Sea Blue Sea2014 The Whizpops LLC03:04
Well Oh WhaleThe Saw Doctors, Jason RingenbergNature Jams2012 Jason Ringenberg04:22
Following the WhaleLevity BeetSingle Following the Whale2022 Wildbeet Records02:06
Baby BelugaRaffiBaby Beluga1996 Rounder Records Manufactured and distributed by Concord Music Group02:39
Ballena Va Llena (feat. Daniel Roa)Colectivo AnimalUn Bosque Encantado 22017 Colectivo Animal03:50
Gentle Sea SwellDaniel BirchAmbient Experiments With a Yamaha PortaSound PSS-1402018 Daniel Birch01:14
Why Does the Right Whale Cry?SwitchOn Global Telethon & LenaThe SwitchOn Global Telethon Charity Album2021 SwitchOn Global Telethon03:37
Baby Blue WhaleClaudia Robin GunnSing For The Sea - Little Wild Ocean Friends2022 Little Wild Music01:15