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We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. Illustrations from oil paintings by the author.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2008
About the author
Kadir Nelson
56 books309 followersKadir Nelson is a Los Angeles–based painter, illustrator, and author who is best known for his paintings often featured on the covers of The New Yorker magazine, and album covers for Michael Jackson and Drake. His work is focused on African-American culture and history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 692 reviews
July 6, 2009
i already know all about the negro baseball league from that x-files episode with jesse l martin. this book seems to skip over all those parts. however, it would be a good read for baseball history fans, and the voice of the narrator made it very immediate and enjoyable.
July 9, 2008
Rube Foster was the founder of the Negro National League. Said he of his men, "We are the ship: all else the sea." As long as there has been baseball in America there have been African-American ballplayers. Men like Sol White and Bud Fowler. Before Rube Foster, however, there was no organized professional league. Then, on February 20, 1920, Rube called together owners of black baseball teams, like himself, and the Negro National League began. Through the collective voice of the players, we hear about these years and these men who played together. We hear about amazing plays, crazy rules, outright characters, and the greats. We hear about the hardships of being a player, including the low pay and the dangers of playing in the South. Finally, the book ends with Jackie Robinson, the integration into Major League Baseball, and end of the Negro Leagues themselves. With footnotes, a mass of factual information, a disarmingly engaging style, and portraits that'll blow you away, Kadir Nelson has produced his opus and we're all invited to watch.
This being his first full-length written work, you might think that Mr. Nelson would be uncomfortable with text. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Chapters follow the history of the leagues in a chronological fashion, with breaks for facts about playing in Cuba or dealing with the Second World War. It's clear that the author also knows how uptight people can be when it comes to illustrations of real people. In his Author's Note, Mr. Nelson mentions that he employed some artistic license in this novel. This line in particular cracked me up. "I am fully aware that Cool Papa played center field, but the right-field wall is so visually interesting that I used a bit of license and placed him in front of it. Perhaps he was playing right field that day or he just chased a fly ball to right and stopped for a photo." In other words, quit your jabber jawing, people! The man knows his facts, and if he wants to move someone around the field, let him!
If I were to compare Kadir Nelson's work here to Norman Rockwell, a lot of people might get mad. To them, Rockwell represents a kind of twee Americana, heavy on the saccharine, light on the artistic merit. But Rockwell had an ability to capture a person or moment in time. Nelson's work is very different from Rockwell's, but he also knows how to capture a person's soul in a portrait. The men you see in this book are both weighed down by the events in their lives, and yet are buoyed by the very job they do. Wilber "Bullet" Rogan sits heavy on a bench, his eyes almost entirely hidden under the shadow from his cap. "Satchel" Paige stands loose and lanky and long, mere seconds before throwing a trademark pitch. I cannot even begin to imagine how to draw portraits these intense without having the subjects there before you. Photographs, particularly those of the old and grainy variety, can only tell you so much. And then there are the moments of relaxation. Rube Foster and his Chicago American Giants disembark from a train as two boys look on in wonder. Newark Eagles owners Abe and Effa Manley sit in front of a group of men singing as their bus hurtles them to their next game. Nelson shakes things up, showing the men staring directly at the viewer or in the midst of the game one minute and then riding high on the shoulders of fans another, you never know what to expect.
I seriously doubt that Hank Aaron writes a Foreword for every book proposal he receives. Seems to me that he'd do relatively few. Yet with this book Aaron writes at the beginning, "When I read these stories and look at the artwork, I am flooded by memories of years past and grateful for Kadir's fresh approach to the subject." Children now have a chance to pay homage to heroes with cool names like Cumberland Posey and "Cool Papa" Bell. It's a one-of-a-kind book, the like of which you have not seen, nor ever will see again. A triumph.
This being his first full-length written work, you might think that Mr. Nelson would be uncomfortable with text. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Chapters follow the history of the leagues in a chronological fashion, with breaks for facts about playing in Cuba or dealing with the Second World War. It's clear that the author also knows how uptight people can be when it comes to illustrations of real people. In his Author's Note, Mr. Nelson mentions that he employed some artistic license in this novel. This line in particular cracked me up. "I am fully aware that Cool Papa played center field, but the right-field wall is so visually interesting that I used a bit of license and placed him in front of it. Perhaps he was playing right field that day or he just chased a fly ball to right and stopped for a photo." In other words, quit your jabber jawing, people! The man knows his facts, and if he wants to move someone around the field, let him!
If I were to compare Kadir Nelson's work here to Norman Rockwell, a lot of people might get mad. To them, Rockwell represents a kind of twee Americana, heavy on the saccharine, light on the artistic merit. But Rockwell had an ability to capture a person or moment in time. Nelson's work is very different from Rockwell's, but he also knows how to capture a person's soul in a portrait. The men you see in this book are both weighed down by the events in their lives, and yet are buoyed by the very job they do. Wilber "Bullet" Rogan sits heavy on a bench, his eyes almost entirely hidden under the shadow from his cap. "Satchel" Paige stands loose and lanky and long, mere seconds before throwing a trademark pitch. I cannot even begin to imagine how to draw portraits these intense without having the subjects there before you. Photographs, particularly those of the old and grainy variety, can only tell you so much. And then there are the moments of relaxation. Rube Foster and his Chicago American Giants disembark from a train as two boys look on in wonder. Newark Eagles owners Abe and Effa Manley sit in front of a group of men singing as their bus hurtles them to their next game. Nelson shakes things up, showing the men staring directly at the viewer or in the midst of the game one minute and then riding high on the shoulders of fans another, you never know what to expect.
I seriously doubt that Hank Aaron writes a Foreword for every book proposal he receives. Seems to me that he'd do relatively few. Yet with this book Aaron writes at the beginning, "When I read these stories and look at the artwork, I am flooded by memories of years past and grateful for Kadir's fresh approach to the subject." Children now have a chance to pay homage to heroes with cool names like Cumberland Posey and "Cool Papa" Bell. It's a one-of-a-kind book, the like of which you have not seen, nor ever will see again. A triumph.
July 5, 2009
I agree with Karen's reviews from this morning. Reading these non-fiction children's books has been eye-opening.
This is a great book. Objectively it's probably a five star book, it only gets four stars from me because my interest in baseball isn't that great, that's not the books fault though. At first I was afraid the book would fall apart under its language, the author uses a rhythm that is kind of old fashioned and stereotypically a rural African American. Instead of ever crossing the line into being either a mockery or calling too much attention to the language and away from the material the language actually adds an 'authentic' feel to the story being told.
Much of the material here I knew nothing about. I had no idea about the Negro Baseball League, or any of the other non-white baseball organizations that existed until integration in the late 1940's. If only I'd been more interested in baseball this book probably would have been very fascinating, and I probably would have wanted to delve into the material that Nelson had used as his source material. I'm pretty sure that if I had read this book when I was ten years old (and when I actually did care about Baseball) I would have loved it, read it over and over again, memorized every great painting in the book and to this day been able to tell you all the facts given about the baseball players described in this story.
This is a great book. Objectively it's probably a five star book, it only gets four stars from me because my interest in baseball isn't that great, that's not the books fault though. At first I was afraid the book would fall apart under its language, the author uses a rhythm that is kind of old fashioned and stereotypically a rural African American. Instead of ever crossing the line into being either a mockery or calling too much attention to the language and away from the material the language actually adds an 'authentic' feel to the story being told.
Much of the material here I knew nothing about. I had no idea about the Negro Baseball League, or any of the other non-white baseball organizations that existed until integration in the late 1940's. If only I'd been more interested in baseball this book probably would have been very fascinating, and I probably would have wanted to delve into the material that Nelson had used as his source material. I'm pretty sure that if I had read this book when I was ten years old (and when I actually did care about Baseball) I would have loved it, read it over and over again, memorized every great painting in the book and to this day been able to tell you all the facts given about the baseball players described in this story.
December 4, 2013
Last school year, we had the opportunity to welcome author/illustrator Kadir Nelson as a speaker. He put on an assembly for our students as well as signed copies of his books. The book I choose to get was We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. This book was one that I had never read or had experience with. Additionally, I didn’t know much about Kadir Nelson’s books.
The book was a telling of the history of Negro League baseball. Detailing the successes the players had and the struggles as they tried to make their dreams come to by making into the Major Leagues or just known in the face of baseball. The players played in multiple games each day, traveled on buses through bumpy roads, were told they couldn’t eat or sleep in many places due to their color. There were many players in the Negro league that played just as well as those in the White major leagues, but weren’t allowed to play.
Some interesting aspects of the book were hearing about the Negro teams and what cities had teams. As well as the athletes and how they got their names in the area of baseball. It’s sad though too that you don’t hear about these athletes as much as you did Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig growing up. The only ones that are better known that are talked about in the book was Jackie Robinson.
Kadir Nelson wrote and illustrated this book. The voice that you felt when reading this story, made you feel that you were right there in the story, hearing it from a their own point of view/language. The illustrations in the story were so realistic and gave a firsthand glimpse into the world of the Negro League Baseball.
The story was set up in the way that each chapter was an inning in baseball, separated to show the progression of the Negro League. In this way, the students could create a time line of the league. Another option would be to compare and contrast the Negro League and the White League by pulling other resources. Also, this book could be a follow up to the Civil War unit to demonstrate that even though blacks were free, they still faced hardships.
The book was a telling of the history of Negro League baseball. Detailing the successes the players had and the struggles as they tried to make their dreams come to by making into the Major Leagues or just known in the face of baseball. The players played in multiple games each day, traveled on buses through bumpy roads, were told they couldn’t eat or sleep in many places due to their color. There were many players in the Negro league that played just as well as those in the White major leagues, but weren’t allowed to play.
Some interesting aspects of the book were hearing about the Negro teams and what cities had teams. As well as the athletes and how they got their names in the area of baseball. It’s sad though too that you don’t hear about these athletes as much as you did Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig growing up. The only ones that are better known that are talked about in the book was Jackie Robinson.
Kadir Nelson wrote and illustrated this book. The voice that you felt when reading this story, made you feel that you were right there in the story, hearing it from a their own point of view/language. The illustrations in the story were so realistic and gave a firsthand glimpse into the world of the Negro League Baseball.
The story was set up in the way that each chapter was an inning in baseball, separated to show the progression of the Negro League. In this way, the students could create a time line of the league. Another option would be to compare and contrast the Negro League and the White League by pulling other resources. Also, this book could be a follow up to the Civil War unit to demonstrate that even though blacks were free, they still faced hardships.
April 7, 2008
This beautifully illustrated book chronicles the rise and fall of Negro League Baseball. Full-page paintings give you a real look at some of the most talented baseball players of their time (and possibly of any time). The writing is also awesome. Using a collective "we", Kadir Nelson speaks with the voice of all Negro League players, like he's been there and seen everything that he talks about. He uses a very conversational tone, like you were sitting on the back porch with any one of the players and talking about the things he'd seen. Unfortunately, many of the Negro League players seem to have been lost over the passage of time. That makes this a very important book, a look at a neglected history.
And that's why it surprised me so much that the women who played in the Negro League were not mentioned at all. I would have given this book a much higher rating, but it seems a glaring omission to me. Albeit, most of the action wraps up around 1945 when Jackie Robinson signed with the Major Leagues. And Mamie Johnson, Toni Stone, and Connie Morgan didn't join the league until somewhere around 1953. But it still seems like Nelson is doing to the women players what white people did to the African-American players... by neglecting to mention them, he's effectively erasing them from history. The subtitle of the book proclaims it to be "the story of Negro League Baseball". Why aren't women a part of that story?
And that's why it surprised me so much that the women who played in the Negro League were not mentioned at all. I would have given this book a much higher rating, but it seems a glaring omission to me. Albeit, most of the action wraps up around 1945 when Jackie Robinson signed with the Major Leagues. And Mamie Johnson, Toni Stone, and Connie Morgan didn't join the league until somewhere around 1953. But it still seems like Nelson is doing to the women players what white people did to the African-American players... by neglecting to mention them, he's effectively erasing them from history. The subtitle of the book proclaims it to be "the story of Negro League Baseball". Why aren't women a part of that story?
January 25, 2020
An outstanding book, with an informative and immensely readable narrative, and gorgeous illustrations, Kadir Nelson's We Are the Ship is a work that draws the reader in, even if she (like myself) has little interest in baseball. The story of African-Americans in the sport - the title comes from a quote from Rube Foster, who founded the Negro National League - prior to the admittance of Jackie Robinson into the Major Leagues in 1947, it is a celebration of the perseverance and independence of spirit that allowed so many athletes to continue in the face of limited opportunities, and discriminatory policies. It is also an enlightening examination of American history, exploring how racial segregation was enacted, not just in sport, but in everything from hotel accommodation to military service.
I learned quite a bit from this book - I'd never known, for instance, that African Americans played baseball with everyone else, until around 1887, when team owners stopped hiring them - and enjoyed it far more than I expected to. The artwork was simply breathtaking (that I did expect!), with Kadir Nelson's typically brilliant use of light, and his expressive figures. Somehow, his paintings just seem to shine! There were some references to chasing girls (and a comment about Latin women) that I could have lived without, but otherwise, I appreciated everything about We Are the Ship. It's more text-heavy than a standard picture-book, so I think it is better suited to upper elementary-school and middle school readers. All in all, a wonderful book, one I would recommend to young readers interested in baseball, or American history, and to fans of the author/artist.
I learned quite a bit from this book - I'd never known, for instance, that African Americans played baseball with everyone else, until around 1887, when team owners stopped hiring them - and enjoyed it far more than I expected to. The artwork was simply breathtaking (that I did expect!), with Kadir Nelson's typically brilliant use of light, and his expressive figures. Somehow, his paintings just seem to shine! There were some references to chasing girls (and a comment about Latin women) that I could have lived without, but otherwise, I appreciated everything about We Are the Ship. It's more text-heavy than a standard picture-book, so I think it is better suited to upper elementary-school and middle school readers. All in all, a wonderful book, one I would recommend to young readers interested in baseball, or American history, and to fans of the author/artist.
June 18, 2008
If this doesn't win an award of some kind it will be a tragedy. The artwork alone is enough to make this book a hit. But Kadir Nelson's storytelling ability draws in the reader and keeps us wanting to know more. As I read, I felt like I was sitting and listening to someone like Buck O'Neill talking about the old days. He traces the history of the Negro Leagues from its inception through its heyday. We not only learn about the skills of some of the more famous players, but we also learn about what life was like on the road and in the ballparks.
I may be a little prejudiced because I grew up in Kansas City, home of the Monarchs. Even though I never saw them play their influence was still palpable as their players aged. I remember when Satchel Paige died and recently mourned the passing of Buck O'Neill, a legend in Kansas City. But I learned a lot from this book that I never knew or thought much about. The chapter on playing baseball in Cuba and Mexico was an eye-opener.
The artwork in this books deserves a special mention. I could feel the heat of the ball parks while looking at these pictures. Nelson captures both the power and dignity of his subjects as well as their grace while they played. Both kids and adults will learn a lot from this book either through the storytelling or through the artwork. It is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
I may be a little prejudiced because I grew up in Kansas City, home of the Monarchs. Even though I never saw them play their influence was still palpable as their players aged. I remember when Satchel Paige died and recently mourned the passing of Buck O'Neill, a legend in Kansas City. But I learned a lot from this book that I never knew or thought much about. The chapter on playing baseball in Cuba and Mexico was an eye-opener.
The artwork in this books deserves a special mention. I could feel the heat of the ball parks while looking at these pictures. Nelson captures both the power and dignity of his subjects as well as their grace while they played. Both kids and adults will learn a lot from this book either through the storytelling or through the artwork. It is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
March 17, 2020
What this book does well is capture the feeling of the players in the Negro league. It is told with a collective "we" voice, which honestly irked me as I read the book; however, in the author's note, Kadir Nelson stated that he made that choice in order to show the unity. It was only then that I truly grasped the quote from the beginning: "We are the ship; all else the sea." Overall, Nelson conveyed a sense of perseverance and courage and lightheartedness through this book.
It was a little difficult to follow. The people were introduced and then brought back again and again, but there were so many ball players I couldn't keep track of them. It was informative about the general history of the Negro League and why it was created. The paintings were obviously a highlight—the book itself is beautiful.
I would recommend this if you are looking to learn a new tidbit, if you really like baseball, or if you are looking for accessible nonfiction. I can definitely see this book attracting some of the more reluctant readers.
It was a little difficult to follow. The people were introduced and then brought back again and again, but there were so many ball players I couldn't keep track of them. It was informative about the general history of the Negro League and why it was created. The paintings were obviously a highlight—the book itself is beautiful.
I would recommend this if you are looking to learn a new tidbit, if you really like baseball, or if you are looking for accessible nonfiction. I can definitely see this book attracting some of the more reluctant readers.
May 20, 2023
Excellent, long picture book with beautiful paintings. I read this in preparation for a Kansas City trip where we plan to visit the Negro Leagues Museum. I'm planning to have my 12 and 14 year olds read it.
April 4, 2019
GoodRead
April 18, 2009
Okay, ready to be jealous? Kadir Nelson is here in Springfield at the Illinois Reading Council Conference. I spoke to him after his presentation on his art. He is soft spoken, as Junko knows, and incredibly talented with oils and ethical when it comes to authenticity in his works.
We Are the Ship
Sibert Award 2009
I went to one of Kadir Nelson’s sessions at IRC today. This very soft spoken man had us on the edge of our seats, moving in closer to get a glimpse of the boy who has been drawing since he was three years old, and the quiet, thoughtful, scholarly man whose oil paintings are strong with color, reflective light, elongated lines, and almost photographic reality.
The layout of the book, from the chocolate brown end papers, to the light gray quotes from baseball’s ghosts, to the double-page spreads, and fold out ticket opening to the First Colored World Series, makes the reader want to explore the illustrations. The use of earth tones that blend reality and imagination mimics the dusty, earthy baseball field and captures the tone and passion for the games.
These paintings ooze dignity, strength, emotion, and of course, the love of the game. The lists of Negro players, endnotes, author’s note, acknowledgments, index, and sources add to the authenticity of the work.
The elongated arms and legs work well for the game of baseball where the pitchers especially look like nothing but arms and legs. The attention to the way the cloth of the uniforms fold and pick up light is masterful. The light bouncing off the faces of the players is rich and adds to Nelson’s visualization of baseball players’ attitudes and emotions.
I found Nelson’s explanation of the models he used to be, I don’t want to say “interesting” because that word is used too much, but I can say he definitely held our attention as he explained how he used himself as a model because models are expensive. Besides, if he had an idea late at night, it is hard to get a model when he needed one.
To a baseball fan and history fanatic, the attention Nelson paid to accuracy makes this nonfiction picture book one to read, read, visit, and revisit every baseball season.
The Higher Power of Lucky
For children the questions of, “Who am I?” and “Am I loved are constant. I think ______ has presented a story about Lucky growing up with these questions, pondering them
We Are the Ship
Sibert Award 2009
I went to one of Kadir Nelson’s sessions at IRC today. This very soft spoken man had us on the edge of our seats, moving in closer to get a glimpse of the boy who has been drawing since he was three years old, and the quiet, thoughtful, scholarly man whose oil paintings are strong with color, reflective light, elongated lines, and almost photographic reality.
The layout of the book, from the chocolate brown end papers, to the light gray quotes from baseball’s ghosts, to the double-page spreads, and fold out ticket opening to the First Colored World Series, makes the reader want to explore the illustrations. The use of earth tones that blend reality and imagination mimics the dusty, earthy baseball field and captures the tone and passion for the games.
These paintings ooze dignity, strength, emotion, and of course, the love of the game. The lists of Negro players, endnotes, author’s note, acknowledgments, index, and sources add to the authenticity of the work.
The elongated arms and legs work well for the game of baseball where the pitchers especially look like nothing but arms and legs. The attention to the way the cloth of the uniforms fold and pick up light is masterful. The light bouncing off the faces of the players is rich and adds to Nelson’s visualization of baseball players’ attitudes and emotions.
I found Nelson’s explanation of the models he used to be, I don’t want to say “interesting” because that word is used too much, but I can say he definitely held our attention as he explained how he used himself as a model because models are expensive. Besides, if he had an idea late at night, it is hard to get a model when he needed one.
To a baseball fan and history fanatic, the attention Nelson paid to accuracy makes this nonfiction picture book one to read, read, visit, and revisit every baseball season.
The Higher Power of Lucky
For children the questions of, “Who am I?” and “Am I loved are constant. I think ______ has presented a story about Lucky growing up with these questions, pondering them
March 7, 2014
We Are The Ship – The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
This book is the general history of Negro League Baseball from the beginning when African-Americans left professional baseball due to all the physical and mental hatred they had to endure from White players to when Jackie Robinson broke the “color barrier” of Major League Baseball thus ushering in the end of the Negro Leagues as Major League Baseball owners began to sign Negro League players. Famous Negro League players, teams, and owners are highlighted during the story, and important Negro League games and cities are also discussed during this very interesting read. Other important topics such as the life a Negro League player, the Negro League All-Star Game, and Latin American players are also shared during the story. This is simply a great book that gives a child great knowledge about Negro League Baseball and the hardships African-Americans had to endure just to play the game they loved.
There are great, full-paged detailed paintings throughout the book that truly depicts the life and times of the players. The paintings are well done, and really puts the reader back in the early 1900’s. Special features include a foreword by Major League Baseball’s great Hank Aaron, and a four page fold-out painting of the two teams that played in the first Colored World Series on October 11, 1924. This is a very well written and illustrated book. History teachers could use this book to teach American History, race relations in the United States, segregation, and American sports. It is a more advanced read centering on a more complex topic for a children’s book, so I would use this book from 3rd to 5th grades. Some words to focus on are: Negro League Baseball, segregation, Rube Foster, Jackie Robinson, Kansas City Monarchs, Branch Rickey, “color barrier”, uniforms, organize, contracts.
This book is the general history of Negro League Baseball from the beginning when African-Americans left professional baseball due to all the physical and mental hatred they had to endure from White players to when Jackie Robinson broke the “color barrier” of Major League Baseball thus ushering in the end of the Negro Leagues as Major League Baseball owners began to sign Negro League players. Famous Negro League players, teams, and owners are highlighted during the story, and important Negro League games and cities are also discussed during this very interesting read. Other important topics such as the life a Negro League player, the Negro League All-Star Game, and Latin American players are also shared during the story. This is simply a great book that gives a child great knowledge about Negro League Baseball and the hardships African-Americans had to endure just to play the game they loved.
There are great, full-paged detailed paintings throughout the book that truly depicts the life and times of the players. The paintings are well done, and really puts the reader back in the early 1900’s. Special features include a foreword by Major League Baseball’s great Hank Aaron, and a four page fold-out painting of the two teams that played in the first Colored World Series on October 11, 1924. This is a very well written and illustrated book. History teachers could use this book to teach American History, race relations in the United States, segregation, and American sports. It is a more advanced read centering on a more complex topic for a children’s book, so I would use this book from 3rd to 5th grades. Some words to focus on are: Negro League Baseball, segregation, Rube Foster, Jackie Robinson, Kansas City Monarchs, Branch Rickey, “color barrier”, uniforms, organize, contracts.
February 23, 2009
Turns out Nelson is a respectable writer, in addition to being an amazing illustrator. Some folks get ALL the talent :p Definitely gave me a lil' more respect for the game- cool idea to name the chapters "innings"
March 3, 2020
Absolutely fantastic!!! Dion Graham was a wonderfully passionate narrator who brought this story to life. I learned so much and being a novice of both baseball history and the sport itself this was thoroughly enjoying. I was not overwhelmed or frustrated with the content covered. Highly recommend.
May 18, 2017
We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Copyright: 2008
Genre: Informational, Historical fiction
Literature Requirement: Required Book to Read
I think that We are the Ship is one of the best books about baseball that I have ever read. I am not a huge fan of sports to begin with, but I thought We are the Ship was a great book about the Negro baseball league ( I am only using Negro because that is the term used for African-Americans when the League was in function). I really like how the author chose to have the narrator speak from a plural point of view. I thing that allowed the readers to feel that the book was the collective voices of all the baseball players who played in the Negro leagues. I also really liked this book because it talked about an aspect of baseball that is easily forgotten and just as important to modern day baseball. I felt like all the different hardships that the African-American players had to go through helped put into perspective how the much hardship these players had to overcame versus the white baseball league players. The players had trouble finding lodging and had to deal with the Ku Klux Klan. I really thing that Kadir Nelson’s paintings helped add a depth to the whole story. I felt the paintings made the story realistic and relatable to readers. I would recommend this book for fourth graders and up because this book has a lot of text that younger students might find difficult. I would give this book five out of five stars because We Are the Ship made me interested in baseball.
Copyright: 2008
Genre: Informational, Historical fiction
Literature Requirement: Required Book to Read
I think that We are the Ship is one of the best books about baseball that I have ever read. I am not a huge fan of sports to begin with, but I thought We are the Ship was a great book about the Negro baseball league ( I am only using Negro because that is the term used for African-Americans when the League was in function). I really like how the author chose to have the narrator speak from a plural point of view. I thing that allowed the readers to feel that the book was the collective voices of all the baseball players who played in the Negro leagues. I also really liked this book because it talked about an aspect of baseball that is easily forgotten and just as important to modern day baseball. I felt like all the different hardships that the African-American players had to go through helped put into perspective how the much hardship these players had to overcame versus the white baseball league players. The players had trouble finding lodging and had to deal with the Ku Klux Klan. I really thing that Kadir Nelson’s paintings helped add a depth to the whole story. I felt the paintings made the story realistic and relatable to readers. I would recommend this book for fourth graders and up because this book has a lot of text that younger students might find difficult. I would give this book five out of five stars because We Are the Ship made me interested in baseball.
March 3, 2018
The Baseball Book Club decided for February to read a book concerning Baseball and African-Americans. Having come into the game in the late innings, so to speak, I chose this book from our regional library's juvenile section. I am glad I did.
The book is written in the first person, as if being told by someone who had played in the Negro Leagues. This gives the reader the impression that the author is writing from experience not research. Although meant as an introduction to the Negro Leagues I still learned some things, and I am sure that will be the case for many other readers. There is a nice bibliography at the back for further reading. There are also two lists, one of Negro Leaguers who played in either the AL or the NL, and the other of Hall of Famers who spent at least some of their career in the Negro Leagues.
One thing that must be mentioned is the illustrations, and there are a lot of them. Instead of photographs or drawings these are oil paintings. They are magnificent, and a reason for my rating for this book. One of them is a four-page foldout of the starting lineups for the first Colored World Series, as it was called in 1924. A ticket for the opening game was $1.56 (including tax).
All in all a really good book. If you have a youngster interested in baseball this volume will be an excellent introduction to the old Negro Leagues.
The book is written in the first person, as if being told by someone who had played in the Negro Leagues. This gives the reader the impression that the author is writing from experience not research. Although meant as an introduction to the Negro Leagues I still learned some things, and I am sure that will be the case for many other readers. There is a nice bibliography at the back for further reading. There are also two lists, one of Negro Leaguers who played in either the AL or the NL, and the other of Hall of Famers who spent at least some of their career in the Negro Leagues.
One thing that must be mentioned is the illustrations, and there are a lot of them. Instead of photographs or drawings these are oil paintings. They are magnificent, and a reason for my rating for this book. One of them is a four-page foldout of the starting lineups for the first Colored World Series, as it was called in 1924. A ticket for the opening game was $1.56 (including tax).
All in all a really good book. If you have a youngster interested in baseball this volume will be an excellent introduction to the old Negro Leagues.
November 30, 2019
We Are The Ship The story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson is a nonfiction text about the history of the Negro League Baseball in the United State. The book talks about the full history of the Negro League from start to end and also spends time recognizing significant players. The story also illustrates the challenges African Americans faced when playing baseball and the difference of experiences they had then the white baseball leagues. The structure of the story is told in a narrative form, which is the voice of all of the players of the team. This structure allows for an easy and engaging read about a very interesting history. The painting of the book is extraordinary and add significantly to the story being told. The book was highly researched and is very authentic in its quality.
All reader's grades 3-middle school will enjoy reading this book. The narrative form of the nonfiction text is engaging and makes the nonfiction information easy to read. Additionally, the back of the book contains elements of a nonfiction text with an author's note, index, and bibliography Kadir Nelson has won several awards including the Coretta Scott King Award and The Robert F. Sibert Medal.
All reader's grades 3-middle school will enjoy reading this book. The narrative form of the nonfiction text is engaging and makes the nonfiction information easy to read. Additionally, the back of the book contains elements of a nonfiction text with an author's note, index, and bibliography Kadir Nelson has won several awards including the Coretta Scott King Award and The Robert F. Sibert Medal.
February 26, 2018
I actually read this book for a previous class and fell in love with it. You can tell Kadir Nelson has a passion for this topic with how he portrays the characters and scenarios with his words and illustrations. I especially like how he draws most of these historic figures from a bottom up approach to make them appear almost as if they were larger than life. That approach in a way captures the view of these men from a child's perspective. The book shines a great light on Negro league baseball and encourages young readers to be inspired by the few brave men that are depicted in the book.
August 24, 2022
I listened to the audio version of this book before I knew anything about it. That was unfortunate, because I didn't know that it is written by an artist and his oil paintings are a big part of the book. The audiobook (I got the CDs from the library) included a disk with the paintings, but they were in a Flash presentation, so I couldn't see them. I was able to find a few online and they are very impressive.
Because I wasn't able to see the book, I was expecting more of a definitive history of the Negro Leagues. Of course, that's not what this was. Once I figured it out, I was able to enjoy the stories. I am a baseball fan and I learned some very interesting things about the history of my favorite sport.
Because I wasn't able to see the book, I was expecting more of a definitive history of the Negro Leagues. Of course, that's not what this was. Once I figured it out, I was able to enjoy the stories. I am a baseball fan and I learned some very interesting things about the history of my favorite sport.
December 16, 2018
A great read about how the Negro Leagues got started and absolutely beautiful illustrations to go along with it. Though they say this is a children's book, it doesn't read like one at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 6, 2023
Kadir Nelson just has a unique way of telling the story in his illustrations! This tells the non-fiction story of African American baseball players in the Negro League baseball. This picture book is so engaging for young minds, they are being informed through art and literature. The characters in this book face conflict, person vs society because of segregation. Such a powerful book to have in the classroom library or home library.
March 6, 2020
Basically a long-form introduction to the Negro Leagues and some of the better-known players, as well as some of the injustices experienced during the era of segregation. The kind of book that you hope a younger person will read and then decide to investigate deeper into the history of both the sport and times.
December 4, 2021
We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson is not only a wonderful non-fiction book, but it is also a winner of the Sibert book award. This chapter book details the successes and struggles of players on the first negro baseball team. What is super cool about this book is that instead of having chapters, Nelson made them "innings" instead! Very clever. His illustrations are also spot on and detailed. Kadir Nelson leaves a very informational author's note at the back of the book. Overall this is a great read and I highly suggest everyone go grab a copy of We are the Ship for your own library!
December 6, 2021
This Robert Siebert Award winner is a great nonfiction piece that tells the story of Negro League Baseball. The illustrator uses paintings in this book that are based off photographs from the time period. Author Kadir Nelson writes in his author’s note how he became fascinated with Negro League Baseball and how he was inspired to write this story with the help of many others. I highly recommend this book, especially to those that love sports and how they came to be.
December 3, 2021
This is an awesome picture book! This is a non-fiction book that has some great illustrations. The book has received the Robert F. Siebert award. This is book was very informative, I learned lots from this book and about some amazing African-American Baseball players and their journey in the baseball league. I would definitely recommend this for your non-fiction section in your school libraries or classroom libraries for higher elementary and middle school.
November 11, 2015
This was a book that should be passed down to young children. If you are a baseball fan this is a must read for sure! Growing up my family always went to baseball games. When you are a fan you never really get to see what goes on near the plate, in the dugouts, or even in the locker room or club house. This book talked about the Negro Baseball League. It was inspirational and sad at the same time to hear what the players had to go through. It took years for them to be able to play in the Major Leagues. Due to this, they created their own leagues that contained some famous people in baseball who are now in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson was the first Black baseball player to enter into the major leagues. Others unfortunately, by the time this all came about and segregation was over had died or were to old to play the game. 58 out of 200 made it into the major leagues which isn't that many. There were some outstanding guys who were better than some of the players today but because of how they were treated and the time period they never got to live their fullest dream.
The author and illustrator tried to capture the essence and lives of those who had to suffer and be looked down upon because of their color. The book talked about the hardships of being on a traveling team, making little money and being black which brought on battles all by itself. At one point in the story, it said that even though the players offered to pay money for water which was free anyways they were denied. Because of segregation, they weren't allowed to be in the same places as whites and didn't have the same privileges. The story goes onto explain some of the players and how they got their nicknames.
It is a good book with so much detail. The author has a great way of writing the words. I could almost hear the fans and see myself in those stands it was so realistic. For some if they aren't into baseball I can see this being a boring read because it explains a lot about various baseball terms and stats which may not be interesting to some. The illustrations alone are breathtaking and very realistic. I know the author described some of them as the placement of players wasn't real but to capture the overall appeal this is how he portrayed the characters which were all real people. It's funny how I read this book and my favorite team the Cardinals are in the playoffs to go to the World Series. I am just thinking that they wouldn't be such a great team if segregation were still happening. I can't imagine going to a game back then it would have been so different.
Even today without segregation I feel there is still a sort of segregation among fans in a different way.
I would use this book for 5/6th graders to teach about segregation, baseball, family, vocabulary, religion if you are in a school that allows this, and rights. I can think of so many fun activities as well such as playing baseball, eating foods that are typically found in the ball park and pairing the words with it. Doing a baseball search where children find which towns teams belong to. There are so many things to do with this. I might also try segregation in the classroom for a day and assign groups. Those who are in a certain group wouldn't be allowed to do things. After half a day, we would switch roles. At the end of the day, the students could report on how they felt and we would discuss how that relates to the story as a whole.
Awards won:
California Book Award Gold Medal for Juvenile (2008), Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Honor (2010), Sibert Medal (2009), Coretta Scott King Award for Author, Illustrator Honor (2009), Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (2009)
The author and illustrator tried to capture the essence and lives of those who had to suffer and be looked down upon because of their color. The book talked about the hardships of being on a traveling team, making little money and being black which brought on battles all by itself. At one point in the story, it said that even though the players offered to pay money for water which was free anyways they were denied. Because of segregation, they weren't allowed to be in the same places as whites and didn't have the same privileges. The story goes onto explain some of the players and how they got their nicknames.
It is a good book with so much detail. The author has a great way of writing the words. I could almost hear the fans and see myself in those stands it was so realistic. For some if they aren't into baseball I can see this being a boring read because it explains a lot about various baseball terms and stats which may not be interesting to some. The illustrations alone are breathtaking and very realistic. I know the author described some of them as the placement of players wasn't real but to capture the overall appeal this is how he portrayed the characters which were all real people. It's funny how I read this book and my favorite team the Cardinals are in the playoffs to go to the World Series. I am just thinking that they wouldn't be such a great team if segregation were still happening. I can't imagine going to a game back then it would have been so different.
Even today without segregation I feel there is still a sort of segregation among fans in a different way.
I would use this book for 5/6th graders to teach about segregation, baseball, family, vocabulary, religion if you are in a school that allows this, and rights. I can think of so many fun activities as well such as playing baseball, eating foods that are typically found in the ball park and pairing the words with it. Doing a baseball search where children find which towns teams belong to. There are so many things to do with this. I might also try segregation in the classroom for a day and assign groups. Those who are in a certain group wouldn't be allowed to do things. After half a day, we would switch roles. At the end of the day, the students could report on how they felt and we would discuss how that relates to the story as a whole.
Awards won:
California Book Award Gold Medal for Juvenile (2008), Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Honor (2010), Sibert Medal (2009), Coretta Scott King Award for Author, Illustrator Honor (2009), Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (2009)
June 11, 2012
I am amazed by the paintings by Kadir Nelson. He truly makes you feel that you are looking out of a window into a scene when you read this book. The expressions on the faces of the men who worked tirelessly to play baseball because of the love of the game made you feel you were right there with them. Their eyes, mouth and tilt of their heads were very real to me. The marriage of the text with the illustrations were amazing. The book took me much longer to read because of the illustrations - I wanted to study them to be able to read more into what was going on in them(the pictures and more specifically the people).
I am a baseball fan and have grown up seeing men and women of all races play together. I knew that segregation was a part of everything people did - but in the back of my mind - I guess I just saw athletes playing together thinking about the game - not about the color of their skin or where they came from. Maybe in my own little world baseball was a way to get away from differences and work together. This book showed me the reality of baseball. The differences in the life of the Negro ball player and his white counterpart. It wasn't set in a sad tone at all - just told the story - the way of life and showed the love of the game. On every page you could hear Nelson's words coming alive really sounding like Satchel Paige or Cool Papa Bell. Though the voice was really a collective "we" throughout the book - you could pinpoint one player at times. This story of sacrifice and dedication from the Negro baseball players and managers, shows how those gentlemen paved the way for some of our great players today in the major leagues - people like Bob Gibson and Ken Griffey, Jr. No more hot bumpy bus rides that go for days, or motels that you wouldn't want your dog to go into. This book gave me a greater appreciation for the many Negro men and women, that played or supported a player and the conditions they worked in to do what they love. The resounding theme in "We are the Ship" really is about loving what you do. These pioneers did not play because they needed to - they played because they loved to play - they had the passion, talent, drive and competitive nature that drove them to the ball field. What a wonderful story to share with your students. I would even read this aloud a chapter at a time for my first graders to encourage persistence and dedication. To show our kids today that people before our time worked to make our lives better in so many ways. Not just in government and schools, but also in our hobbies, sports, pastimes and leisure activities. How can we help to make a better life for our friends and family? - for people who don't have what we have? Awesome book!
I just finished listening to the audio version - also terrific. The only problem is the lack of illustrations. They include the pictures on an additional CD - however - I enjoyed flipping through the book better. If possible, listen to the audio and have the book to look through. (Just my personal opinion - I like to hold a photo in my hand rather than look at them on a CD also).
I am a baseball fan and have grown up seeing men and women of all races play together. I knew that segregation was a part of everything people did - but in the back of my mind - I guess I just saw athletes playing together thinking about the game - not about the color of their skin or where they came from. Maybe in my own little world baseball was a way to get away from differences and work together. This book showed me the reality of baseball. The differences in the life of the Negro ball player and his white counterpart. It wasn't set in a sad tone at all - just told the story - the way of life and showed the love of the game. On every page you could hear Nelson's words coming alive really sounding like Satchel Paige or Cool Papa Bell. Though the voice was really a collective "we" throughout the book - you could pinpoint one player at times. This story of sacrifice and dedication from the Negro baseball players and managers, shows how those gentlemen paved the way for some of our great players today in the major leagues - people like Bob Gibson and Ken Griffey, Jr. No more hot bumpy bus rides that go for days, or motels that you wouldn't want your dog to go into. This book gave me a greater appreciation for the many Negro men and women, that played or supported a player and the conditions they worked in to do what they love. The resounding theme in "We are the Ship" really is about loving what you do. These pioneers did not play because they needed to - they played because they loved to play - they had the passion, talent, drive and competitive nature that drove them to the ball field. What a wonderful story to share with your students. I would even read this aloud a chapter at a time for my first graders to encourage persistence and dedication. To show our kids today that people before our time worked to make our lives better in so many ways. Not just in government and schools, but also in our hobbies, sports, pastimes and leisure activities. How can we help to make a better life for our friends and family? - for people who don't have what we have? Awesome book!
I just finished listening to the audio version - also terrific. The only problem is the lack of illustrations. They include the pictures on an additional CD - however - I enjoyed flipping through the book better. If possible, listen to the audio and have the book to look through. (Just my personal opinion - I like to hold a photo in my hand rather than look at them on a CD also).
November 19, 2012
Did you know that the first pair of cleats were made by Bud Fowler because he got sick of white baseball players kicking him in the shin with their spiked cleats? I did not know this either and I would not have known if I did not read We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson. This book goes through the history of the Negro Baseball League and all of the players that played within the Negro Baseball League. In this history of the Negro Baseball League, there are also many biographies of players within the League and also stories of how players went to the MLB, such as Jackie Robinson. This book tells you a lot about the players, whether it be their lives off of the field or about how they felt about not being allowed to play together with the white players in the MLB.
Before picking up this book I had no interest in the sport of baseball, I thought it was a boring game where people get paid to hit a ball with a stick. But now that I know some of the history behind the Negro League, as an African American I am now interested in the game of baseball now. Not only did the history and biographies in this book draw me to begin to like the game of baseball, but also the excellent drawing of Negro baseball players and managers. The drawings in the book make it seem as though the players are standing right in front of you and as if you can reach out and touch them. This book is great for children who are not necessarily interested in reading, but love to read anything about sports, especially baseball! This book will entice any reader to want to little more reading about baseball and encourage even a critic like me to watch a game or two of baseball this season. Baseball lover or not, this book is a great read!
Before picking up this book I had no interest in the sport of baseball, I thought it was a boring game where people get paid to hit a ball with a stick. But now that I know some of the history behind the Negro League, as an African American I am now interested in the game of baseball now. Not only did the history and biographies in this book draw me to begin to like the game of baseball, but also the excellent drawing of Negro baseball players and managers. The drawings in the book make it seem as though the players are standing right in front of you and as if you can reach out and touch them. This book is great for children who are not necessarily interested in reading, but love to read anything about sports, especially baseball! This book will entice any reader to want to little more reading about baseball and encourage even a critic like me to watch a game or two of baseball this season. Baseball lover or not, this book is a great read!
September 7, 2009
Genre: Biography
Copyright: 2008
"Makes you mad to hear players today squawk about jet lag, and all of this. Try sleeping in a car with your knees to your chest, crammed with eight other guys, only to play a game the next day."
"Players today just don't know how bad it could be. We look back and wonder, "How did we do all of that?" It's simple. We loved the game so much, we just looked past everything else."
Today, we idolize baseball players like C.C. Sabathia, Ryan Howard, Ken Griffey Jr., and Jermaine Dye, all who are black baseball players. These players are considered to be great baseball players, but how many people have heard of Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, or Cool Papa Bell? "We are the Ship" showcases the lives and talents of the baseball players who paved the way for some of today's biggest stars in baseball.
"We are the Ship" was written by Kadir Nelson, and focuses on Negro League baseball. It gives the reader a sense of how things were for African American baseball players in a time where color did matter, and segregation was strong.
I had no idea how hard life in the Negro Leagues could be until I read this book. It shows how strong the human spirit is, and what hardships it must endure just for the love of the game. The illustrations are powerful and Kadir's writing serves them well. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy baseball and history. This book may be too advanced for younger readers, however, young adults should be able to read this.
Copyright: 2008
"Makes you mad to hear players today squawk about jet lag, and all of this. Try sleeping in a car with your knees to your chest, crammed with eight other guys, only to play a game the next day."
"Players today just don't know how bad it could be. We look back and wonder, "How did we do all of that?" It's simple. We loved the game so much, we just looked past everything else."
Today, we idolize baseball players like C.C. Sabathia, Ryan Howard, Ken Griffey Jr., and Jermaine Dye, all who are black baseball players. These players are considered to be great baseball players, but how many people have heard of Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, or Cool Papa Bell? "We are the Ship" showcases the lives and talents of the baseball players who paved the way for some of today's biggest stars in baseball.
"We are the Ship" was written by Kadir Nelson, and focuses on Negro League baseball. It gives the reader a sense of how things were for African American baseball players in a time where color did matter, and segregation was strong.
I had no idea how hard life in the Negro Leagues could be until I read this book. It shows how strong the human spirit is, and what hardships it must endure just for the love of the game. The illustrations are powerful and Kadir's writing serves them well. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy baseball and history. This book may be too advanced for younger readers, however, young adults should be able to read this.
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