We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball

Publisher Marketing: The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball. Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences. "We Are the Ship" is a tour de force for baseball lovers of all ages. Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award 2009 author award and illustrator honor; Winner of the Sibert Medal Home Page Award 2009" Review Citations: ALA Audiobooks for YA 03/01/2010 pg. 32 (EAN 9781423375364, Compact Disc) School Library Journal 05/01/2009 pg. 60 (EAN 9781423375371, Compact Disc) - *Starred Review Booklist Editors Choice/Media 01/01/2010 pg. 16 (EAN 9781423375371, Compact Disc) Kirkus Review - Children 12/01/2007 pg. 1249 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) - *Starred Review School Library Journal 01/01/2008 pg. 145 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Publishers Weekly 01/07/2008 pg. 56 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Entertainment Weekly 01/25/2008 pg. 51 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Booklist 02/01/2008 pg. 50 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Essence 04/01/2008 pg. 84 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Voice of Youth Advocates 04/01/2008 pg. 78 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2008 pg. 347 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2008 pg. 338 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) - *Starred Review New York Times Book Review 06/15/2008 pg. 14 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) New York Times Book Review 06/22/2008 pg. 18 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Multicultural Review 09/01/2008 pg. 81 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2008 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Publishers Weekly Best Books 11/03/2008 pg. 34 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Kirkus Best Children's Books 11/15/2008 pg. 17 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 10/01/2008 pg. 440 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2008 pg. 37 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Booklist Ed Choice Youth 01/01/2009 pg. 15 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) ALA Notable Children's Books 03/15/2009 pg. 25 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Wilson Children's Catalog 01/01/2010 pg. 639 (EAN 9780786808328, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Nelson, Kadir Kadir Nelson began his professional career as an artist, publishing his work and receiving commissions from publishers and production studios such as Dreamworks, where he served as the lead conceptual artist for Steven Spielberg s Amistad and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Sports Illustrated, Coca-Cola, The United States Postal Service and Major League Baseball, among others. Presently, almost twenty illustrated books are in print, including Debbie Allen's DANCING IN THE WINGS, Ntozake Shange s Coretta Scott King Award-winning book, and Carol Boston Weatherford s MOSES: When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom, for which Nelson won a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, a Caldecott Honor and an NAACP Image Award. Most recently, Nelson released his authorial debut, WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball (Jump at the Sun/Disney), a New York Times best-seller. Contributor Bio:  Graham, Dion DION GRAHAM currently appears on "The Wire" on HBO. He also narrates "The First 48" on A & E. He has performed on and Off-Broadway, internationally, in films, and in several hit television series. Award winning and critically acclaimed, his performances and narration have been praised as thoughtful and compelling, vivid and full of life.