Normally, I don’t consider kids’ books for the Bookshelf, but once in awhile one comes along that is so well done, in theme and execution, that it deserves kudos.
Kadir Nelson’s We are the Ship, about the Negro Leagues, falls into this category. Nelson 
was recently interviewed by Publisher’s Weekly.
Although he has produced a few children’s titles, the artists told PW he doesn’t consider himself a writer. but he felt the story was an important one to tell, to not let fall into the realm of insignifica.
“One of the great things that came out of the Negro Leagues is that they created something beautiful out of something that was negative,” he said. “Instead of giving up and throwing their hands in the air, and not be able to play baseball on the grander stage, they decided to create their own grand stage. It’s something that I inspire to do in my artwork, to leave something in better shape than I found it.”
From the author’s Web site:
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. But what makes this book so outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page oil paintings, breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game.
The Amazon Report: We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
is available on Amazon.com,
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }