We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808322

Summary:
In this social history, Kadir Nelson traces the history of African-American baseball players from the 19th century to the formation of Negro Leagues in 1920 to the breaking of the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947.  Written from a first person player/narrator perspective, the story highlights important managers and players, the unique playing style of the leagues, and the discrimination and hardships that were a part of segregated baseball.  The narrative is illustrated with Nelson's life-like paintings and peppered with quotes from Negro League players, managers, and owners.

Analysis:
The text is accompanied by a foreward from baseball legend Hank Aaron, endnote citations and bibliography/filmography of sources Nelson consulted, and an author's note detailing Nelson's inspiration and research process.  An index provides access points to players, teams, and illustrations throughout the book.  The book is organized into nine "inning" chapters plus a tenth "extra inning" that recounts the fate of the Negro Leagues after Jackie Robinson and other black players were allowed into the major leagues.  The full page paintings in Nelson's characteristic style are a rich, stately accompaniment to the text, placing the reader into the action, evoking the emotion and spectacle of the national pastime.  The narrative is heavily embellished with anecdotes that convey the history in a personal and conversational way.

Reviews & Awards:
2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
2009 Coretta Scott King Award, author
2009 Coretta Scott King Honor, illustrator
Booklist, starred review:  "The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball’s history shelves."
School Library Journal, starred review: "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."

Connections:

• Incorporate into seasonal displays or programming for Black History Month (February) or Jackie Robinson Day (April 15).
• Connect with related scenes/interviews of Ken Burns's documentary Baseball which features players from the Negro Leagues.
• Encourage readers to further explore Negro League players through biographies or websites.
• Explore Kadir Nelson's artwork on his website www.kadirnelson.com
• Other informational books written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir, and Martha Rago. 2011. Heart and soul: the story of America and African Americans. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 0061730742

Nelson Mandela biography to be released in 2013

• Informational books illustrated by Nelson:

Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. Moses: when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786851759

De la Peña, Matt. 2011. A nation's hope : the story of boxing legend Joe Louis. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803731671

Jordan, Roslyn and Deloris Jordan. 2000. Salt in his shoes: Michael Jordan in pursuit of a dream. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689833717