Module 5(A) - We Are the Ship

Book
We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Words and paintings by Kadir Nelson

Citation
Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary
Kadir Nelson takes the reader on a history lesson, tripping through time, back when baseball was king - a black king, at that. Nelson's conversation-style writing and breathtaking artwork allows the reader a glimpse into one of the most profitable venues for the African American community and the most powerfully-missed opportunity because of racial stupidity for the white man running major league baseball back in the day. Readers are introduced to big house players such as "Cool Papa" Bell and "Turkey" Stearnes and painted a picture of what it was like to play in the negro leagues. Nelson highlights the timeline to integration, climaxing with Jackie Robinson breaking through the color barrier in 1945 by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thanks to the eye-catching illustrations and personal interest of the events, this book is an All-Star for children.

Reviews
Horn Book (May/June 2008): Imagine listening to baseball legends Willie Mays and Ernie Banks swapping stories about their Negro League days as they sit in the stands, munching on peanuts and watching Ken Griffey Jr. launch a curve ball into the stratosphere. That kind of easygoing, conversational storytelling is exactly what Kadir Nelson achieves in this pitch-perfect history of Negro League baseball. "Seems like we've been playing baseball for a mighty long time. At least as long as we've been free," the narrator says. Nelson's collective "we" honors "the voice of every player," as he explains in an author's note, and it also works to draw readers into and through the text's nine "innings." Nelson's extensive research (including interviews with former players) yields loads of attention-grabbing details: how much money players made; where, when, and how often games took place; who the standout owners, managers, and players were; and so on. And not surprisingly, he often returns to the impact of racism on the leagues, teams, and individual athletes. His grand slam, though, is the art: Nelson's oil paintings have a steely dignity, and his from-the-ground perspectives make the players look larger than life. The book also includes a foreword by Hank Aaron, an Extra Innings section identifying Hall-of-Fame Negro Leaguers, a bibliography, endnotes, and an index.

Library Media Connection (February 2008): Through text and artwork that pulses with life, Nelson has created a book that brings personality to the Negro Baseball League. Using the voice of "Everyman" in the league, this book will attract readers because of the full and double-page vibrant, realistic oil paintings, and immerse the reader in the compelling story being told. The author brings out interesting details about the league such as bus trips where players would relieve a sleepy driver and players would entertain their teammates. The reader meets famous players, like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, and the equally talented lesser known players. One enters the world of joy in the game of baseball and the hurt of segregation through stories that take place away from the ballpark as well as on the field. One need not be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, because it's more than a sports story. It's a story of real people enduring more than many of us can imagine, playing a game they love. The book's title comes from "We are the ship; all else is the sea" a quote from Rube Foster, the founder of the Negro National League. Highly Recommended.

Suggested Use
Teachers can use the inning sections, as Kadir Nelson did, to illustrate a timeline writing. Using We are the Ship as scaffolding, students can take a major event in history, for instance, the Holocaust, and break it into nine "innings" or sections for writing. Using a timeline and these sections, students will write about the major points of the event, research-style. The finish writing piece will be in chronological order and readable sections.

Impression
Having a personal interest in the Negro Baseball Leagues for some years now, I was particularly taken with Mr. Nelson's artwork throughout this book. They helped capture the determination and perseverance of an entire league of overlooked athletes. I appreciated Mr. Nelson's choice in writing style, that of conversation style, which helped make the book come alive and more real than an essay-type book. Using specific "innings" of this book seems the best choice for using it within the library. I can imagine many of my young athlete-students enjoying the tale and illustrations that is within.