We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball  by Kadir Nelson

We are the Ship is the true story of the Negro Baseball league and their stories of triumph and defeat.  The book is a nonfiction book that depicts the times and struggles that the men involved were dealing and facing with on.  The book relates the stories of people such as Bud Fowler, Ben Taylor, and Brant Johnson just to name a few.  We follow along during their journey to make a name for themselves and the league.  The book is divided into innings instead of chapters which each inning taking on a different topic.  We are exposed to racial discrimination, league owners, amazing all-star players, playing in Latin America and the difference between the negro league and their white counterpart.  The illustrations in this nonfiction picture book are amazing and depict the accomplishments, and triumphs that these men so well earned and deserved.  The book concludes with the end of the Negro Leagues, with most of its players ending up playing overseas or ending up playing in the now integrated Major Leagues.  This book is a great one for baseball fans. and for any one that is doing research regarding baseball or African Ameican history.

A book trailer can be found at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ3NANR101w

Teachers can find ideas to incorporate this book in their lessons at http://www.storyboardthat.com/teacher-guide/we-are-the-ship--the-story-of-the-negro-league-baseball-by-kadir-nelson

Readers also enjoyed  Jazz by Walter Dean Myers and Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas.

Other books by Kadir Nelson include Baby Bear and If you plant a seed

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.