September 10, 2018
A large variegated ball of yarn lands at a child’s feet. First, it seems to entangle her, but the girl quickly figures out what to do: she flings it out lariat style, and it begins to thread together children around the globe, offering a visual celebration of how they care for the planet and each other. All of this unfolds to the lyrics of the classic hymn of unity, against which bright mixed-media art by López (Drum Dream Girl) makes it easy for readers to grasp the yarn as a metaphor for “the whole world” that they steward and share. In one spread (“We’ve got everybody here in our hands”), the ball and yarn pass over a sea of outstretched hands in different skin tones. On the next (“We’ve got the whole world in our hands”), the yarn has formed crisscrossing tight wires, enabling a dark-skinned boy who’s wearing shorts to greet a white-skinned, bundled-up girl from a snowy climate. Earnest and openhearted, it’s the kind of book in which every inhabitant wears a big smile, happy and inspired by the knowledge that each one matters to the others. Ages 3–5.
October 1, 2018
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. L�pez 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 L�pez 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
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