We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands

by Rafael López

Award-winning illustrator Rafael López brings new life with his adaptation of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," saluting the lives of all young people. The rhythmic verse and repetitive emphasis on "we" and "our" encourages inclusive communities and the celebration of unity and diverse friendships all around the world.
i"We've got you and you got me in our hands.
We have the whole world in our hands."/i
Come and read along and sing along as we celebrate the magic of unity. From the rivers to the mountains to the oceans and to the sea -- we've got the whole world in our hands.
As an added bonus the sheet music is included in the back of the book for piano, guitar, and recorder for classroom, library, and home sing-alongs.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Cultural, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Rafael López has received three Pura Belpré Award medals from the American Library Association for Dancing Hands, Drum Dream Girl and Book Fiesta! The illustrations created by López bring diverse characters to children’s books and he works to produce and promote books that reflect and honor the lives of all young people.

His 2018 picture book release, The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson was a New York Times #1 Children’s Picture Books Bestseller and the recipient of the 2019 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor focuses on differently abled kids working together to create a garden. The book is a #1 New York Times Children’s Picture Books Bestseller and won the American Library Association's 2020 Schneider Family Book Award.

His illustrations for Bravo! Poems about Amazing Hispanics was honored with the Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators New York Original Art Exhibition. The book Maybe Something Beautiful based on his own work reclaiming neighborhoods with community murals secured the Tomás Rivera Book Award. Additional children's books have received three Pura Belpré honors and two Américas Book Awards for illustration.

He created a series of 54 portraits for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. In 2012 he was asked by the Library of Congress to create the National Book Festival Poster featuring best-selling authors, poets and illustrators on the National Mall in Washington D.C. He has created thirteen stamps for the United States Postal Service.

To learn more visit rafaellopez.com

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is filled with the joy of our deep connection to the world and everyone in it.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the sentiment, AND, the author's stunning artwork.



A lovely reminder to children everywhere that they are indeed the caretakers of this planet since we adults can't seem to get off our asses and save it. Hallelujah for Greta Thunberg and her ilk! It makes me think that there might actually be a future after all!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The purpose of this colorful picture book is obviously to sing the praises of community by changing the pronouns in the classic spiritual ballad. personally, I'd rather the world was in the hands of God than mere humans. We don't have such a stellar track record. Nice idea but I'll stick with the original.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book featuring kids from all world cultures. The song has been rewritten to focus more on all the beauty and responsibility of nature and life falling on us. I think it is a positive message to kids that they must not only embrace our planet but also protect it. This is a bilingual book. Highly recommended for Grades K-5.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author/artist Rafael Lopez uses the classic American spiritual, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" as the starting point for this lovely new picture-book, offering a charming visual depiction of the world's diverse children, all working and playing together. His message, that we've all collectively got the world in our hands, jumps off of every page...

I found We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands just beautiful, from a visual perspective, and loved the artwork on every single page. There were moments when I thought the text stumbled a bit - the refrain, "We've got you and you've got me in our hands," doesn't quite work, with the distracting disconnect between the first personal plural in the first part, and the first person singular in the second - but otherwise this adaptation reads quite well. I did wish that Lopez had mentioned, in his brief afterword, that many believe the song to have been written by Obie Edwin Philpot. I also found it odd that he described the essential message of the song as being one of "unity," when the nature of God's all-encompassing love seems like the central idea of the original. Perhaps some people see that love as a form of unity. Leaving those issues aside, I appreciated the back matter, which includes the musical notation for the song. Recommended to fans of Rafael Lopez' artwork, and to anyone looking for picture-book revisions of this well-loved song.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, bright, colourful illustrations! They definitely remind me of Mexico (where the illustrator is from). Lots of ethnic and racial diversity in the kids illustrated, as well as some other representation (a kids using a wheelchair, a girl in a hijab)--the only thing I noticed is it'd be nice to have some different body types.

The lyrics are slightly changed to be inclusive ('we' and 'our' instead of he/etc.) and are presented in English and Spanish (in different colours but equal font sizes, with English at the top). I'm always on the lookout for good bilingual English/Spanish kids books and this is definitely a good one. Author bio info and the information about the song and the illustrations at the back are also in both languages. Also includes the piano music for the song at the back!

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and lovely updated verse of the spiritual "He's got the whole world in his hands." This will be so joyful to sing and read with little ones. Delightful, inclusive illustrations full of color and joy--they'll work perfectly for a group story time.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this today for playgroup for babies & toddlers and it was FANTASTIC. For the first session, I kind of just sang through which worked ok. I'm not sure why I decided to read it like that; because if the lyrics are changing every line with no repetition, it's hard to sing along! For the second session (and after a cup of coffee), I sang each page as its own verse, which gave folks the opportunity to join in! I also paused after each verse so we could talk about all the animals and interesting things in the illustrations. I didn't sing every page, and skipped a few towards the end, but overall it was fantastic.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can spend hours absorbing the illustrations Rafael López has drawn for this book. It is simply beautiful. (I received a soft cover review copy - thank you Scholastic!) #txla18

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out I didn't know the lyrics to this song at all but whatever. Lopez's illustration are gorgeous and colorful with a vibrant group of children populating the pages and lots of wildlife as well.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Personally, I tire of reading my child what I call "ensemble" books, or those books that are illustrated with a wide diversity of children as background characters without any of them having a character or opportunity to express themselves or a story to experience. This book is such a wonderful exception in that it is set to a song with the message of taking care of our planet, so an ensemble approach is very fitting. I sought out this book because I love Rafael López's illustration style and was pleased and impressed as always, and appreciated that he included a variety of landscapes and animals for children to engage with, too. It was a hit with my child and I'd recommend it.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Been there done that not sure we needed to go again. Nothing new or original.

[Kennedy Close · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a unique representation of a classical song. It promotes diversity and understanding through a metaphorical ball of colorful yarn. Nice artistry, no new story.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely rendition of this song.
Emphasis is on community and being together.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adaptation of “He’s got the whole world in his hands” is a visual delight. The illustrations are stunning! I love Rafael López’ art.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reworking of song that children may or may not know so the back matter of the book which includes the original spiritual is helpful to readers. Lots of representation throughout to match the message of the song. The illustrations are beautiful throughout and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final copy (raised titling and papers felt good even with the ARC of the book).

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this beautiful hardcover book on a Good read giveaway. This is my own personal opinion of the book. Based on the song of the same title as the book, this is a beautifully designed and written book for young children. Anyone that has a small child would certainly enjoy the book, the colors are bright and jump off the pages of the book which I'm sure would caught the attention of even very young children. The wording is simple enough that young children can follow along with the words on the page. I would give this book a 4.5 rating out of a scale of 5. I would certainly recommend to any parent searching for a beautiful book for their child.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lopez's art and love how he brings alive this old spiritual.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the changed lyric, from "He" to "We," is a great way to subtly let children know early on that the world is something that needs to be taken care of and that they have the power to do it. The illustrations are noting short of amazing - the colors are vibrant and fun to look at, and I love how there are kids of all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities included in this book! Also, the ball of yarn symbolizing the earth, with its string unraveling to connect not just people with each other, but with the planet, too, is not only a perfect metaphor, but is a great way to help kids follow along as they read (or have it read to them)! It'll be a few years until I have children of my own, but this is one book I am incredibly excited to share with them!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book, inside and out. Changing the lyrics of the spiritual folk song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" to "We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands," reminds us that it is our responsibility to take care of everything and everyone around us. With gorgeous illustrations and simple, but strong, lyrics this book is all about inclusivity, diversity, and the power that each and every one of us holds in our hands.

The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that it doesn't follow the form of the original song, so it trips you up when trying to sing it out loud as you are reading it.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

[Nicole Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t read this book, you sing it.

Set to the tune of “we’ve got the whooooole world- in our hands” it is a beautiful song about how we’re all connected, with gorgeous illustrations to communicate that sentiment so completely. This is truly a beautiful, feel good book.

My kid and I both love it.

Honestly can’t emphasize enough how much I love this book.

[Mr Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really care for the trend of taking God out of everything plus this book doesn't even follow the tune to the original song which was also a disappointment.

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here is a joyful, colorful new release, full of humanistic optimism. The pictures represent unity that crosses ethnic bounds and spans the globe. Author illustrator, Rafael Lopez puts a spin on historic spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” by swapping pronouns and announcing “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands.”

Is the change in this historic text significant? A look at the original song can prove helpful. According to hymnary.org, this piece began as a confession of the cosmic rule of the God of the Bible (“He” being “God”). Like other songs from the ‘Spirituals” genre of music, the original is likely from an oral tradition expressing Christian spirituality during the hardships of slavery.

Modifying the wording does indeed change the meaning of the text. More accurately, it reverses the meaning of the text. The original lyrics express that God is in control while our modern rewrite states we are in control. To be fair, let’s not pick strictly on Lopez’s 2018 release; a rewritten version was documented as early as the 1970’s. However, I would critique Lopez’s statement in the afterward of his book claiming that while the words have been changed, they still manage to capture an expression of unity that was integral to the original song.

I’m afraid Lopez has been caught putting words in someone else’s mouth. An expression of global unity transcending racial divides is not found in the original lyrics. The “whole world” of the spiritual writers was a broken, dysfunctional place, miles and years from “Humanity working together with everything under control.” Have you ever been in over your head and found great comfort in hearing a trusted friend whisper, “I’ve got your back?” It’s this kind of comfort “He’s got the whole world in his hands” would have communicated to a disempowered slave population with very little recourse, and likely very little optimism in the unity of all people.

Regardless of whether we believe in the Christian God, I urge us as readers to be thoughtful about overlaying modern values on historical texts. There’s a lot we can learn from history, and a lot to celebrate about where we are today, but let’s not get them mixed up.

And for those who want to explore more behind the perspective that looks to God as the one in control of all things, the Bible is a text worth studying. I love how the biblical writing of Job chapter 38 records God’s voice bellowing this sentiment: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?” I imagine our place should be, with the character Job to respond: Let’s face it, we do not have the wind and the rain in our hands. “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

~Jen

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5 for me. Taking slight liberties with the spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Rafael Lopez crafts stunning illustrations that help readers see just how much responsibility they have for each other and the world around them. His colors are bright and filled with texture and life, and I loved his use of watercolor, pen and ink, and Adobe Photoshop to bring this song to life. Not only do the children depicted in this picture book represent various abilities and ethnicities, but they come together to see that they are stronger together than apart. I loved how the artist used a ball of yarn throughout the entire book and how respectfully the youngsters approach nature. My favorite illustration has to be the double-page spread of a boy gently holding a snail in the palm of his hand, each of them--boy and snail--taking a curious look at one another. The message here is subtle but quite important. We are the caretakers of this good, green Earth and its creatures, and we must take better care of it and those around us, no matter how small those creatures might be.

[Mrs. Robertson Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elements of Poetry:
*The overall mood conveyed in Rafael Lopez's poem “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” (2018) is one of happiness, hope, and unity. The brightly colored yarn that flows throughout the illustrations is a metaphor for togetherness no matter our differences and amplifies the poem's mood. The recurring use of the words “we” and “our” further underscores the theme of togetherness and unity, giving the reader a sense of hope.
*The rhythm of “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” (Lopez, 2018) is lively and fast-paced, contributing to the poem’s upbeat nature. Short and Cueto suggest that “a fast rhythm can provide the listener with feelings of happiness, excitement, drama, and even tension and suspense” (2022). The verse allows the reader to feel the excitement.
*The poem “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” (Lopez, 2018) is based on the well-known spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” There is a distinct beat and meter to the verse. The sound patterns are made by a repeated phrase, “in our hands,” at the end of each verse. Lopez uses alliteration when using the word “whole word” as another repeated sound device.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

A rainbow-colored ball of yarn unspools in happy curlicues across and around the world, connecting children everywhere. Many colors, cultures, climates, and critters appear in the illustrations, including a boy in a wheelchair. Some of the children recur in multiple pages, although the boy in the wheelchair only appears on the first couple of pages.

The words of the book are from the title song, and you could almost sing the book instead of reading it, if you plan ahead so you know which lines to repeat. It’s hard not to sing, in fact! But lines like, “We’ve got you and you’ve got me in our hands!” made my tongue stumble a bit, so rehearsal is strongly recommended.

I especially love the visual message of interconnectedness, harmony, and playful joy in nature

Full disclosure: I received a free, no-strings-attached copy of the book from the publisher (Scholastic) at ALA-Midwinter2019.

[Maddie Adams]

We've got the Whole World in our Hands by Rafael Lopez is a fiction book that celebrates and encourages the idea that we are all in this together. Showcasing all the diverse friendships around the world. It is written with the literal rhythmic song "We've got the whole world in our hands", while theres many different variations of the songs, they all have the theme of unity.

This book is rather simple, with no story line. It's also too repetitive for me personally. Though I understand what he was going for when relating it to the song, and the message of the book is clearly understood. And its a message I find encouraging. The illustrations are colorful and creative though.

Im honestly not very sure how this could be used in the classroom. I can really only think of encouraging cultural respect and a love for humanity. Which both are both very important. But I think that theme would have to be explained several times to a classroom of 1st graders.

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – I have always been a fan of the song “We’ve got the whole world in our Hands.” This book is the lyrics of the song put to a story. It is incredible to see how the illustrator had interpreted the song and made the illustrations that go along with it.

You have the option to read this book or you can sing it. I always enjoy books like this that have a multipurpose because they help to keep a child interested in the book and the story. Once you finish with the actual story you have the song and the music to go along with it in the back of the book, which gives it even more purpose.

I really think that this book can make a great addition to any child’s bookshelf. It has the potential to become a loved favorite!

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated book utilizes the words to the old spiritual song which gives the book its title shows children of all sorts engaged in various activities. The point is made that we are all live on the same world and are part of the same world. The words and music to the song are included in the back of the book. This would make a great sing-along while showing the pictures to children as they go through the song. Various other living creatures are also included in the illustrations, again, showing they are also residents, and a part of our world. Beautiful book for very young children.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this beautiful book from Goodreads. Thank you. I think most of us know the song, but I wanted to win for my great niece in the UK. This book is large and really beautifully illustrated, wonderful pictures of children playing and singing from all over the world. I am hoping, that when my great niece crawls up on my brother in laws lap, for her grandad to read to her, her Nan will stop by, and start singing the story to her, as we use to sing it together when we were small. Yes, of course, I sung it all the way through, as I was enjoying the photos.

So thank you Rafael Lopez for bringing back memories, and also for a lovely book, that I am sure, will be enjoyed for years to come.