The Horn Book Guide

SPORTS

Nelson, Kadir

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

88 pp. | Hyperion/Jump | January, 2008 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7868-0832-8 $18.99

(1) 4-6 Imagine listening to Willie Mays and Ernie Banks swapping tales. That easygoing, conversational storytelling is what Nelson achieves in this pitch-perfect history of Negro League baseball. His extensive research yields loads of attention-grabbing details. The 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. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008