Coretta Scott King Award

"It was a dark and stormy night.' No, not the beginning of a mystery thriller but rather the beginning of my evening. Since a dreary drizzle of rain kept me inside instead of enjoying a nice summer's evening, I abandoned plans to go for a run. Instead, I settled down with a nice book in one hand and a glass of ice water in the other. I don't know which was more refreshing--the book or the water.

The book I chose to read was a nice contrast to the evening's dark and damp. We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson was the winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King Author Award and an Illustrator Award Honor book. Bestowed annually by the American Library Association, the Coretta Scott King Award honors African-American authors and illustrators who offer outstanding and educational contributions to literature. Both this award and We Are the Ship offered a look at the bright spot of Negro League baseball to show how players took adversity and turned it into a strong program.

Kadir Nelson's book is a well-written account of the life of ballplayers in the Negro Leagues, as well as an overview of the history of those leagues. After interviewing several players from the Negro Leagues and conducting thorough research, the author chose to write the book in a first-person narrative. With slang and dialect that is appropriate for the time period and the people, the narrative instantly grabs the reader and makes them feel as if they are witnessing the action of these games. Starting with a brief history of the events that led to the formation of Negro Leagues, the author provides the readers with a foundation for understanding the importance of the leagues to the players and to modern-day baseball. This foundation is repeated throughout the book as the author examines famous players, equipment, and games that affect how the modern game is played. A nice touch to the writing of the book is how the author refers to each chapter as an "inning."

The illustrations and design layout of the book also make it intriguing and appealing for the readers. Since the author also illustrated the book, he was able to create illustrations that invited the reader into the text and provide a visual of the game or player. The illustrations were designed to look like old photographs, baseball cards, and other memorabilia, which added to the feel of the book. The font of chapter headings and quotes from players were done in to resemble the font you might see on baseball cards, programs, and pennants.

This book is an educational read that would make a great discussion starter for children. It offers a perspective of segregation that children can comprehend, since most understand baseball. Through that common interest, they will be able to learn more about this time in history and better feel other viewpoints about history. In addition, this book will teach students about perseverance, optimism, and facing adversity bravely. From the outstanding illustrations to the engaging text, this book is an excellent read.