We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

1. Bibliography:

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808322

2. Plot Summary: Kadir Nelson uses a 96 page book to illustrate in both words and pictures, the history of Negro League Baseball. From the reasons behind starting their own league to the hardships and injustices players faced while traveling and playing in an all black league, We Are the Ship takes the reader along with the players, managers and owners who helped shaped the future of baseball.

3. Critical Analysis:

The progression of We Are the Ship is very thorough and detailed. The use of innings to break up chapters lends itself well to the theme of the story. The beautifully illustrated pictures elevate the informational text above others of its kind, thanks to the artistic skills of author and illustrator Kadir Nelson.

Notes within the text authenticate the stories being told as the history of Negro baseball unfolds. Illustrations of players and managers are realistically depicted, lending a special quality to this book.

Using a first person point of view, readers are drawn in immediately, as if the book were autobiographical. The style Nelson uses in writing and illustrating are unique and graceful, even when detailing subjects and events that are harsh, ugly and cruel.

4. Awards and/or Review Excerpts:

· 2009-2010 Bluebonnet Nominee

· 2009 Coretta Scott King Award winner

· From Library School Journal: “A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players.”

5. Connections:

· Read other books by Kadir Nelson such as He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands and Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit. Comparison of the illustrations between We Are the Ship and Change Has Come should provide an interesting discussion as the techniques are so different.

· Students can follow up with biographies of individual people mentioned in the We Are the Ship.

· Books illustrated by Nelson, like Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange would make great additions to any Black History month unit.

6. Personal Response: Wow the illustrations are breathtaking! I have read biographies on Jackie Robinson and from those stories had a small glimpse inside the world of negro league baseball but never knew that most of baseball’s safety equipment, like shin guards and helmets, were the result of Negro players and their attempts to stay safe while playing against white ball players. Over everything else, the illustrations make this book worthwhile.

1. Bibliography:

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808322

2. Plot Summary: Kadir Nelson uses a 96 page book to illustrate in both words and pictures, the history of Negro League Baseball. From the reasons behind starting their own league to the hardships and injustices players faced while traveling and playing in an all black league, We Are the Ship takes the reader along with the players, managers and owners who helped shaped the future of baseball.

3. Critical Analysis:

The progression of We Are the Ship is very thorough and detailed. The use of innings to break up chapters lends itself well to the theme of the story. The beautifully illustrated pictures elevate the informational text above others of its kind, thanks to the artistic skills of author and illustrator Kadir Nelson.

Notes within the text authenticate the stories being told as the history of Negro baseball unfolds. Illustrations of players and managers are realistically depicted, lending a special quality to this book.

Using a first person point of view, readers are drawn in immediately, as if the book were autobiographical. The style Nelson uses in writing and illustrating are unique and graceful, even when detailing subjects and events that are harsh, ugly and cruel.

4. Awards and/or Review Excerpts:

· 2009-2010 Bluebonnet Nominee

· 2009 Coretta Scott King Award winner

· From Library School Journal: “A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players.”

5. Connections:

· Read other books by Kadir Nelson such as He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands and Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit. Comparison of the illustrations between We Are the Ship and Change Has Come should provide an interesting discussion as the techniques are so different.

· Students can follow up with biographies of individual people mentioned in the We Are the Ship.

· Books illustrated by Nelson, like Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange would make great additions to any Black History month unit.

6. Personal Response: Wow the illustrations are breathtaking! I have read biographies on Jackie Robinson and from those stories had a small glimpse inside the world of negro league baseball but never knew that most of baseball’s safety equipment, like shin guards and helmets, were the result of Negro players and their attempts to stay safe while playing against white ball players. Over everything else, the illustrations make this book worthwhile.