We Are the Ship

ORGANIZATION

Nelson’s book explores the history of the Negro National League.  This book introduces readers to great baseball legends like Oscar “Cyclone”

Charleston and “Smokey” Joe Williams.   Nelson organizes the book into 9 “innings” that are accompanied by an “extra innings” page that talks briefly about the end of the league.  It is a history book, jam-packed with information, but it doesn’t read like a boring textbook.  This is partly because of Nelson’s narrative and the other because of his beautiful oil paintings.

Nelson, K. (2008). We Are the Ship: The story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.