Module 3 We Are the Ship

Title of Book: We Are the Ship The Story of Negro League Baseball; Author: Kadir Nelson; ISBN: 9780786808328; Published by Hyperion Books for Children: Available in Spanish

Summary:
This book recounts the history of Negro League baseball. The foreword is by Hank Aaron. Rube Foster was the first manager to run his Negro League ball team like the professional white counterparts and it is from his quote, “We are the ship, all else the sea.” that the book derives its title. There are chapters about Life in the Negro Leagues, Negro League Owners, Negro League All-Stars, Baseball in Latin America, World War II, Jackie Robinson, and The End of the Negro Leagues. The large volume is replete with paintings including a two page fold out that looks like a ticket for the First Colored World Series which opens to reveal an impressive painting of the players who played that October 11, 1924. There is a good sized bibliography for those whishing to do further research.

My Impressions:
I was utterly fascinated; and I know nothing about baseball! If one were familiar with all the names, and I do mean all, I can’t even imagine how much more pleasurable the reading of this book would be. I learned so much. I did not realize that until the 1800’s, black players could play on professional white teams. I did not realize that shin guards, helmets and lighting for night games were all used first in the Negro Leagues. I learned that a frozen baseball will not go as far when it is hit. Some of the Negro teams were called clown teams and from the description, their style of play reminded me of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews and Awards:
Winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King author Award

Winner of the Sibert Medal Home Page Award 2009

The New York Times - Kevin Baker (From Barnes and Noble)
The painter Kadir Nelson has illustrated several award-winning children's books, including some on black history. This is the first book he has both illustrated and written, and it's absolutely gorgeous. He uses the conversational, first-person voice of a fictional, anonymous player. It's a device that generally works well and allows him to include many of the great old tales of the Negro Leagues; he conveys the humor, showmanship and joy that were an integral part of the game, without soft-soaping how hard it all was…Nelson's visual narrative is nothing short of magnificent.

School Library Journal (reviewing the audio version) Gr 3 Up A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history (Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, 2008) of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players. The history of the Leagues echoes the social and political struggles of black America during the first half of the 20th century. There were scores of ballplayers who never became as famous as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb and were almost lost in obscurity because of segregation-and Nelson recreates their history here. The narrative is divided into nine innings, beginning with Rube Foster and his formation of the first Negro League in 1920 and closing with Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier into white major league baseball. In between are fascinating snippets of the events and men who formed the Negro Leagues. Listeners glimpse the pain black Americans endured because of bigotry and segregation, but the true center of this story is the joy of baseball and the joy men felt at being able to play the game. Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who began playing with the Negro Leagues, provides the foreword. Eloquent narration is performed by actor Dion Graham, and a bluesy guitar introduction and conclusion is reminiscent of the time period. Nelson's stunning oil paintings are included on a CD-but make sure to have the book available as well. Social studies teachers and baseball fans of all ages will covet this delightful winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King author award and illustrator Honor award.-Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK

Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Have baseball theme day in the library. Staff members can wear baseball jerseys and hats and encourage the kids to dress up as well. Allow them to bring their favorite baseball cards for a show and tell time. Ask Wal-Mart or Sports Academy to donate some packages of baseball cards, a ball, glove and bat to be used as door prizes to your story time. Snack on peanuts and popcorn during story time.

Pull other books that were illustrated by Kadir Nelson and compare the style of those books to We Are the Ship. Here are a few to choose from: Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Ellington Was Not a Street, All God's Critters Dancing in the Wings, Hewitt Anderson's Great Big Life, Thunder Rose, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, Brothers of the Knight, and Henry’s Freedom Box