We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
By: Kadir Nelson
Published by: Hyperion Books for Children
Winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King Author Award, Winner of the 2009 Sibert Award
Nonfiction
During a time in history, when Blacks were not equal to Whites, the Negro Baseball League was formed. Initially, Blacks were allowed to play in the major leagues, but were treated unfairly and finally forced out of the league. That was how the Negro League was started. The teams travelled around the country playing games, usually with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and of course their love for the game. In this story of overcoming so many hardships of segregation, hatred and horrible conditions, inspiration comes from the players in the Negro Baseball League who just loved the game.
Reading Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.2
Lexile Level: 900L
Suggested Delivery:
Individual Read, Small Group Read
Electronic Resources:
This is the official website for the book. There are links to a store, news about the book, about the author, about the book, making the book and more. Students and teachers can use this site as a resource before, during or after reading the story.
This is a video on the Scholastic site of the author, Kadir Nelson reading an excerpt of the book aloud. This would be a good video to show to students to introduce the story and the author.
This site would be a good resource for teachers and students. There is information about the book, research links for help with the story and links to other books about baseball.
Key Vocabulary:
commissioner, exhibition, rivals, roster, scout, racketeers
Comprehension Strategies:
Before Reading:
Put some focus questions on the board for students to discuss and think about while reading. Before reading, work with the students to discuss the questions and explain that they should continue to think about these questions as they read.
During Reading:
Have students write down the focus questions from the board. As they read, students can write down thoughts and ideas they have regarding the main idea questions. These can then be used after reading for a writing activity.
After Reading:
After students have finished the story, using the focus question ideas, they can make a concept map of the main ideas in the story. Sometimes by seeing all of the main ideas mapped out in front of them, students can better understand what they have read.
Writing Activity:
Students will choose an event or person from the story to further research. They will use different books and websites to learn more about their topic, and present it to the class. Students will have their choice of writing a report, making a poster or dressing up as their person to present to their peers.
Nelson, Kadir. We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. Print.
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