Informational Text

We Are the Ship

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. WE ARE THE SHIP. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. Hyperian Books for Children: New York. ISBN: 9780786808328.

PLOT SUMMARY:
"We are the ship, all else are the sea." This quote by Rube Foster, creator of the Negro National League, epitomizes this book. From the original teams before the league was created to the organization of some of the sport's greatest players, this book tells the story of the struggle for equality in America's favorite pastime.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Written with the title quote in mind, Kadir Nelson tells the story of the Negro League Baseball as if he was in the dugouts, meetings, and on the busses with the players. Not only are several of the players described in short but meaningful paragraphs, the reader is also given the visual treat of Kadir Nelson's amazing artwork. The drawings truly look like photographs taken of these key players of the game and of the struggle for equality. The most striking aspect of the drawings is perhaps the ability of the illustrator to capture the look of sunlight glinting off of a player's dark skin and the look of determination captured in the eyes of these brave men. The story itself is one that even a rookie to the pastime can appreciate. Thrown into the mix are funny quotations and stories that make the characters and situations relatable to the reader. One such story tells of Satchel Paige's visit to a judge after speeding through a small town. The judge fined the player $25 for his violation, but Satchel paid him $50 because he would be "coming back through tomorrow." Upon envisioning this, the reader cannot help but smile and wish Mr. Paige was still around.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Coretta Scott King Award
The Robert Siebert Medal
CASEY Award
"Nelson's soulful work about this long-neglected brand of our national pastime deserves- nay, demands - an all-ages audience." --David Davis, LA Times Book Review

CONNECTIONS:
This story is an excellent read aloud on its own, but would make a very interesting addition to a unit on the struggle for equality (possibly during Black History Month). It may be read in conjunction with "The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963", "Birmingham, 1963", "My Brother Martin", or any other book that relates stories of people fighting for freedom (text-to-text connections). Many students will find text-to-self connections (if they are players of baseball) and text-to-world connections (if they are watchers of the sport).