We Are The Ship

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. Rube Foster, founder of the Negro National League, along with the Negro baseball players defied all odds for the love of the game. They faced segregation, discrimination, and the Great Depression and overcame their odds until the finally got Negro players like Jackie Robinson to play with whites in the Major Leagues. They paved the way for future generations of black baseball players. The theme of perseverance can resonate with readers of all ages. The setting permits the readers to see what it was like to be a black baseball player traveling and facing severe discrimination. If you enjoyed this book, also look for Negro Leagues: All-Black Baseball by Laura Driscoll.