We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

5Q 4P (actual VOYA codes)
Light and shadow, dynamic composition, impressive scope and scale, vivid portraits...the descriptors could go on and on for Kadir Nelson's paintings in this book. And each painting speaks volumes, pulling readers in to linger over every detail. Told in first person, this is the story of the Negro Baseball Leagues against the backdrop of historical events that impacted the leagues. The writing style is staccato and punctuated with simple declarative sentences that evoke the crack and thump of the game. A nonfiction resource unlike many others, packed with information, heart, and exciting narrative.

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 show more 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. show less

We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, with words and paintings by Kadir Nelson, is a unique and praiseworthy book. Nelson’s choice to make the voice of the narrator as a collective voice, the voice of we, the voice of all the players of the Negro Leagues, provides an instant immediacy for the reader. And the illustrations are simply beautiful works of art, capturing the power, pride, and dignity of the Negro League players.

We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball is a moving and fascinating look at the history of black baseball, especially focusing on the "golden age" of the Negro League to just beyond integration of the majors. Author and illustrator Kadir Nelson supplements his artfully written text with beautiful paintings depicting the men and events in question. This chapter book features a forward by Hank Aaron, an author's note, additional information on exceptional Negro League players, a bibliography, an index, endnotes, and a filmography. The text is clear with a highly conversational tone, and could be appreciated by older elementary aged children through adults. That said, the vivid paintings are enough to draw in younger readers - show more even my infant was interested.

The book is written from the fascinating perspective of the entire cohort of all Negro League players ever, and at the risk of being redundant, I cannot emphasis enough the artfulness of Nelson's writing. The paintings and text are also deeply researched, literally down to the stitching on the uniforms. Readers learn about timeless heroes like Satchel Paige, brilliant owners like Negro League architect Rube Foster, and the cast of money men and owners (including Louis Armstrong) who made the Negro League what it was. The book assumes no background knowledge, besides perhaps a general understanding that baseball exists.

We Are The Ship also provides an unflinching and no-holds-barred look at segregation, and its impact on black and white players alike, not to mention brown players. Nelson also pulls us into the world of Latin American baseball, where African American players were paid and revered as white players were in the United States, and doesn't shy away from tackling the difficult question of why so many men nonetheless opted to primarily play in the segregated leagues back home.

The history of baseball is inextricably intertwined with the history and character of the United States, yet it often receives short shrift, if it is even discussed at all. It has been over 20 years (!) since Ken Burns' documentary came out, but the power and importance of baseball continues. This book is a wonderful examination of many subjects, from civil rights, to the history of sport, to the very nature of American consciousness. show less

This book was amazing! The way it was written as if there was one guy telling the story of when he played captivated me. The facts and names he brought out were amazing. He even pointed out the extreme negatives (both from segregation and from Negro League team owners taking advantage of their players) judicially and with no need to hide their actions. They were just presented as a fact of the time.
After reading how Kadir Nelson tried to be faithful to his paintings, but couldn't always because of the lack of pictures or even accurate written descriptions of people and places he sometimes had to guess, I love the paintings even more. They are beautiful and look like they could be pictures on baseball cards I collected growing up. show more Naturally a perfect design idea for a book on baseball.
The way this book teaches about baseball and racial segregation seamlessly is stunning. I would read this book in class to my students and we would talk about it. show less

Kadir Nelson, award-winning illustrator of children’s books, takes his first crack at writing one with We are the Ship. The result is impressive. Of course, as would be expected from Nelson, the illustrations are phenomenal – beautifully depicted realistic paintings with almost three-dimensional subjects. The book is a well-researched narrative of the Negro Leagues -- baseball teams formed, owned, and populated with African-Americans who were denied access to major league baseball because of racial segregation. This narrative is divided into ten sections – nine “innings” plus a final short chapter called “extra innings.” Nelson narrates using “we,” as if he stood shoulder to shoulder with these ball players, to make show more this history feel intimate and personal. He includes interesting tidbits, such as personal details about players, to make the tale even more engaging and lively. He backs everything up with an extensive bibliography and end notes. My only caveat is that there is a lot of text in what looks a picture book, so this book isn’t appropriate for very young children with short attention spans. However, older children and even adults will enjoy this book. show less

I don't know which I enjoyed more in this book, the evocative voice, or the vivid artwork. Nelson chose to tell the story of Nego league baseball using an every-player voice, instead of a dry history you're listening to a player telling stories about the people he met and things he saw while playing with the legends of the Negro league.
But the paintings have such a sense of richness and personality - even in team portraits individuals jump off the page with liveliness.
I'd give this book to someone interested in baseball, civil rights, or art.