BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Nelson, Kadir. c2008. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808322
PLOT SUMMARY:
Kadir Nelson is not only the author ofthe book, but he also illustrates his story through his own paintings of baseball scenes and portraits of specific historical baseball figures. Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its start in the 1920's to its end after Jackie Robinson left and went into the majors in 1947. WE ARE THE SHIP tells an important story that chronicles the struggle of great athletes to become players and their struggles and trials with discrimination of negroes in the 1900s. Readers will gain insite into what it must have been like to be a negro who could not play with white people.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
WE ARE THE SHIP is superbly written as Kadir Nelson narrates the story and has created paintings to go with each Inning, which was his creative way to name the chapters. In the 9 Innings, he brings to life the battles these baseball palyers faced when trying to do something they loved, play baseball. Readers will love this book because of its story and sensitivity given to the sport and players. The paintings that go with the story give it life and more credibility. While reading, you will get to meet the players and empathize with what they went through to play a sport they loved. Historically, readers will get a real sense of baseball and how it evolved. The large portraits and one fold out ticket replica for the 1st Colored World Series will capture your attention and give a different dimension to your reading. Baseball fanatics, as well as others will not be able to put the book down. Highly Recommened.
AWARDS/REVIEW EXCERPTS:
CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD, 2009 Honor Book Illustrator United States
CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD, 2009 Winner Author United States
ORBUS PICTUS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NONFICTION FOR CHILDREN, 2009 Honor Book United States
ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK MEDAL, 2009 Winner United States
* 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."
*KIRKUS REVIEWS Starred Review - "Nelson continues to top himself with each new book. Here, working solo for the first time, he pays tribute to the hardy African-American players of baseball's first century with a reminiscence written in a collective voice-" " Alomg with being absolutely riveted by the art, readers will come away with a good picture of the Negro Leaguers' distinctive style of play, as well as an idea of how their excellence challenged the racial attitudes of both their sport and their times."
*VOYA - "Gorgeous, larger-than-life oil paintings and a Negro League composite narrator, who reflects on the players' second-class-citizen lives filled with wit, melancholy, and determination, bring a historic battle against prejudice to life."
CONNECTIONS:
* Students can find out more about WE ARE THE SHIP by visiting the website http://www.wearetheship.com Learn about the book, author, making the book(with phots and videos) and traveling exhibits.
*Art- Studetns create baseball cards for 3 players from the Negro League. (5th Inning)
*Writing - Write a news report about Rube Foster. (1st Inning)
*Language Arts - Use a venn diagram to compare and contrast the Latin Leagues and the Negro Legues.(6th Inning)
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