We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands: Tenemos El Mundo Entero En Las Manos (Bilingual English/Spanish)

PreS-Gr 1--A beloved spiritual gets an imaginative and anthropocentric rendering in this vibrant picture book celebrating unity. The story opens with a little girl finding a colorful ball of yarn. She hugs it and then throws a thread in the air and starts to follow it. In each successive page, readers see various children as the thread winds its way through the scenes. The children march from sunny deserts to rainy pastures with the lyrics at the top of the pages. Different people and landscapes are introduced in addition to a wide variety of animals. Eventually, this multicolored ball of yarn morphs into a gorgeous hot-air balloon that resembles the globe. The balloon basket is replete with several of the children and animals readers have met along the way, and they are smiling as the book ends with the song's refrain. The conclusion that Earth is a beautiful and multihued place and we are all a part of it is unmistakable. López adeptly brings these modified lyrics to life in an approachable and engaging way for a young audience. The book includes a musical score, a brief history of the song, and a very interesting paragraph on how López creates his art. VERDICT This is an ideal choice for storytime or classroom reading. A must-purchase for most collections.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI