List Price: $20.99 Details

Save: $4.93 (23%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Thursday, February 9 if you spend $25 on items shipped by Amazon. Order within 3 hrs 48 mins

In Stock.

[{"displayPrice":"$16.06","priceAmount":16.06,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"06","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"AH%2FyYfnnTBa1IxhQmtnI1VI1utSi8j0QwuYKQFVfhZGqtEhnfQv68V1%2BbLaPlHwxPbzycHisIzhZkaY7txqLkKMS3UN9W2hHyevARhEkY1ywauZHhdTBi59jQLa3iVsc1KLvdf5QMkY%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"},{"displayPrice":"$10.98","priceAmount":10.98,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"98","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"ZrdtoGLzjr3JaM%2Fk3pUMzyqHzz0Fk5ADfHKBY0sch1gsV2sgozeFfkgZ6xuo2aJeCjYxo9MrR7oBFR7j%2F2gURGA6c0bWtwdqHZKPE713dHyj1e8Cb2fgM7jNMA3KG5555ZI3j825vxYzgw%2BvSKP2jhXqHVDoRptvXypKXQnsTfaxDKMWj0L6%2Bn%2Fl5Mq6oYe%2F","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED"}]

$$16.06 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Secure transaction

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Return policy: Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Friday, February 10 if you spend $25 on items shipped by Amazon

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by PAGE TURNER BOOOKS

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$16.06
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: Juliette's Place

Added

Not added

$10.23
+ $8.56 shipping

Sold by: Natanya's Books

Added

Not added

$16.57
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: indoobestsellers

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Name: We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball: Kadir Nelson: 9781437969535: Amazon.com: Books
Price: 16.06 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (435 reviews)

Kadir Nelson

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball Hardcover – Picture Book, January 8, 2008

by Kadir Nelson (Author)

435 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Hardcover, Picture Book

"Please retry"

$16.06

$10.23

$2.12

MP3 CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$10.99

—

Enhance your purchase

In this New York Times bestselling classic, Caldecott Medal-winning artist Kadir Nelson tells the incredible story of baseball's unsung heroes -- perfect for celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Negro Leagues! Winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King Author Award * Winner of the 2009 Sibert Medal

Featuring nearly fifty iconic oil paintings and a dramatic double-page fold-out, an award-winning narrative, a gorgeous design and rich backmatter, We Are the Ship is a sumptuous, oversize volume for all ages that no baseball fan should be without. Using an inviting first-person voice, Kadir Nelson shares the engaging story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its evolution, until after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947.

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 one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball.

Reading age

8 - 12 years
Print length

96 pages
Language

English
Grade level

3 - 7
Lexile measure

900L
Dimensions

11.5 x 0.5 x 11.33 inches
Publisher

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date

January 8, 2008
ISBN-10

0786808322
ISBN-13

978-1437969535
See all details

Buy it with

+

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Choose items to buy together.

by Kadir Nelson Hardcover
$16.06
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Get it as soon as Thursday, Feb 9
by Richard Peck Paperback
$8.99
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Get it as soon as Thursday, Feb 9

Jim Murphy
177
Paperback
142 offers from $1.07
Scott O'Dell
466
Paperback
127 offers from $1.15
Richard Peck
296
Paperback
148 offers from $1.30
Phillip Hoose
600
Paperback
147 offers from $1.58
Rita Williams-Garcia
4,004
Paperback
217 offers from $1.50
Ezra Jack Keats
1,040
Paperback
148 offers from $1.37

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut. The narrative showcases the pride and comradery of the Negro Leagues, celebrates triumphing on one’s own terms and embracing adversity, even as it clearly shows the “us” and “them” mentality bred by segregation. If the story is the pitch, though, it’s the artwork that blasts the book into the stands. Nelson often works from a straight-on vantage point, as if the players took time out of the action to peer at the viewer from history, eyes leveled and challenging, before turning back to the field of play. With enormous blue skies and jam-packed grandstands backing them, these players look like the giants they are. The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball’s history shelves. For students and fans (and those even older than the suggested grade level), this is the book to accomplish just that. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman

Review

"Nelson continues to top himself with each new book...Along with being absolutely riveted by the art, readers will come away with a good picture of the Negro Leaguers' distinctive style of play, as well as an idea of how their excellence challenged the racial attitudes of both their sport and their times."―Kirkus Reviews

"Easygoing, conversational storytelling is exactly what Kadir Nelson achieves in this pitch-perfect history of Negro League Baseball....His grand slam, though, is the art: Nelson's oil paintings have a steely dignity, and his from-the-ground perspectives make the players look larger than life."―The Horn Book

"The stories and artwork contained here are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers who created much more than an also-ran and deserve a more prominent place on baseball's history shelves. For students and fans (and those even older than the suggested grade level), this is the book to accomplish just that."―Booklist

"Adopting the perspective and voice of an elderly ballplayer, [Nelson] offers a readable account that is infused with an air of nostalgic oral history....Nelson's brilliant, almost iconic paintings vividly complement his account.... An engaging tribute that should resonate with a wide audience and delight baseball fans of all ages."―School Library Journal

"Through text and artwork that pulses with life, Nelson has created a book that brings personality to the Negro Baseball League... One need not be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, because it's more than a sports story. It's a story of real people enduring more than many of us can imagine, playing a game they love."―Library Media Connection

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (January 8, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786808322
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1437969535
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 900L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.5 x 0.5 x 11.33 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #103,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #99 in Children's Baseball Books (Books)
- #480 in Children's Multicultural Biographies
- #691 in Children's Black & African American Story Books

Customer Reviews:
435 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Kadir Nelson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Kadir Nelson is a two-time Caldecott Honor Award recipient. He has received an NAACP Image Award, a CASEY Award, the 2009 and 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award. Among Mr. Nelson's other awards are gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. Learn more about Kadir Nelson at www.kadirnelson.com.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5

435 global ratings

5 star		93%
4 star		5%
3 star		2%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all customer images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Great histories illustrated beautifully

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 14, 2008

Verified Purchase

I heard an interview with the author on the radio a few months ago and kind of tucked this book into the back of my mind as possibly interesting. Then when I ran across it in the bookstore I had to buy it. Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball in a wonderful way that highlights both the joys the players had in playing as well as the challenges they faced - everything from lumpy ballparks and crowded team buses to the difficulties imposed by segregation and prejudice. He tells it from the "we" perspective that gives it an atmosphere of a voice speaking from the past but also makes it sound personal. He introduces us to many of the greats, men who would have been stars in any league, like Satchel Paige, "Cool Papa" Bell, "Judy" Johnson, Josh Gibson - the "black Babe Ruth" (or was Babe the "white Josh Gibson?") - and many, many others. He includes information on those who made the Negro League possible, like Rube Foster, and some of the team owners. I also thought numbering the chapters as Innings (with "Extra Innings" for the final chapter) was a clever touch.

But the text alone isn't what makes this book so great. The artwork is stunning in this oversize book, and hardly a page goes by that doesn't have a full page painting (including one fold-out). Some are simple poses of the men on the field and a few show them getting off trains or riding on the bus, but my favorites are the ones that show the action of the game. Several would be good enough to hang on the wall (as reprints, of course, not cut from the book). It has a look and style of the old depression-era artwork that was used in murals and public places.

My little-league son and I have been reading the book and have both learned a lot. Of course, segregation is a recurrent theme, and it's embarrassing to me that this is how things used to be, but I think it's important that my children understand how it affected real people. But we both enjoy reading not only of the challenges faced, but also the joys they had in playing the game we both love and their triumphs. The forward by Hank Aaron and the part about Jackie Robinson are nice in that regard. This is a beautiful book that baseball fans of any color will enjoy.

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

J Hawk

Stunning Art. Must have.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 14, 2021

Verified Purchase

Absolutly stunning art that will make everyone's heart swell with pride when they see these mighty men on the field. To read their stories adds richness to our knowledge of history. My kids love this book. I highly recommend it as a part of any home library. You'll look at it again and again. Great as a gift too!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 23, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is simply gorgeous. And I mean that in the truest sense of the words. It is simply written, and the artwork is gorgeous. I read it in one sitting,not difficult. The pictures are more telling than the text. Of course, learning about Rube and the business of "Negro League" baseball were interesting, but there are many more in-depth accounts if that is what you are after. The same goes for the players. Stories about Josh and Satchel are funny, sad, and endless. But again, it is the artwork that sets this book apart from the other histories of this time in the game's history.

One of the unique aspects of this book is that it avoids the hyperbole so common as regards the truly great players who were denied their rightful place in the Bigs. However, one account from a white umpire did strike me. He said that if the players in the (white) major leagues played like this, they would have to make the parks and stadiums bigger, so many more people would come out to see the games. Not an exact quote, but that was the gist of it, and it rings true. Pete Rose was known for hustle, but he would have been just another player in these leagues, because they all played their heart out. And for not much money. It has the appearance of a coffee table book, but it is so much more. It is a work of art. For any true fan of the game, it is a must-own.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

M. Wigdahl

Incredible.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 27, 2008

Verified Purchase

In We Are the Ship, the story of the Negro Baseball League is told through the eyes of one who lived it. It has all the facts and figures to surely be a historical baseball book. It also has all the stories and personalities to be a very personable and emotional read. The voice of "We" tells the story from the very conception of Negro League baseball through Jackie Robinson's joining the Braves. The author takes care to describe all the important characters - building their legends with vivid language.
If this book were its story alone, it would be fascinating. But it is also filled - and I do mean filled - with paintings of the league and its players, owners, umps, and bus trips. The paintings are GORGEOUS. I don't remember any children's book that had illustrations that made me stop to study them for so long. The portraits are so intense - Nelson has most of the subjects looking right at you - THROUGH you - and I felt drawn in to look at them as hard as they were looking at me.
As a book club book, I think Negro League Baseball would be a wonderful subject to study and discuss as a club. There are many situations in this book that would be wonderful discussion - even debate - material. It would be interesting to figure out how to read it together, due to its length and the fact that it is so gripping it demands to be read straight through. It is so good I will absolutely HAVE to share it with my students.
This is sure to be at the top of the list of Newbery contenders for 2008!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

Arrived about quicker than initially expected. However, the book came without a cover and looks like it may have been used. But my son has seen and is excited, so I guess we will keep it. Would have loved to receive the beautiful edition advertised.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

dominicandr

Amazing..!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

Not Just A Book About Baseball But About African American History is A Book That People Of All Ages Will Love

TR

Beautiful book about baseball history

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on February 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book is a great work of art, and one that I had been looking at for some time. Kadir Nelson's book is a real masterpiece, and a good story of such an important part of American history and the history of baseball. Highly recommended.

James Jarvis

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

All baseball fan needs this book.

See all reviews