The Glass Pyramid - by Jeanne Walker Harvey (Hardcover)

About the Book

Despite discrimination and other challenges, architect I.M. Pei works on a secret mission to redesign the Louvre Museum and transform it into a welcoming place.

Book Synopsis

Two starred reviews!

In this "stunning" (Booklist, starred review) picture book, award-winning picture book biographer Jeanne Walker Harvey tells the story of the renowned architect I. M. Pei and his triumph in redesigning the Louvre through problem-solving and persistence.

In 1981, I. M. Pei was on a mission. A successful architect known for his modern designs, Pei was asked by the French president to redesign the Louvre Museum in Paris, home to the Mona Lisa and now famous for the glass pyramid at its center. At the time, the Louvre had many problems and no pyramid.

Pei faced many obstacles, including discrimination because he was Chinese American. Determined to succeed and make the Louvre a welcome place for all, Pei worked hard--and sometimes in secret. This is the story of a visionary who worked patiently and persistently to solve problems and achieve his goals: to plant and grow a glass pyramid.

Review Quotes

"The narrative is both lyrical and economical, every word carefully chosen. . . the clean lines [of the digital illustrations] are reminiscent of the beloved building and pair well with the text."--School Library Journal

★ "In spare, rhythmic prose and digital illustrations that combine architectural elements with vector-like precision, Walker Harvey and Le weave together Pei's biography and the pyramid's creation story." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

★ "Harvey adds another stunning title to her body of work in this lyrical picture book of an iconic piece of architecture. . . The digitally painted illustrations mimic the architecture beautifully, appearing as weightless as the pyramid itself while artfully highlighting the places and ideas that came together in Pei's ultimate design. With helpful back matter offering even more context, this is a worthwhile addition to any picture-book collection." --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

*JLG Gold Selection*

"Harvey's narrative features clear exposition, interspersing intriguing details . . . Le's illustrations deftly juxtapose old and new . . . A clear view into an extraordinary achievement from a legendary architect." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Jeanne Walker Harvey studied literature and psychology at Stanford University and has worn many job hats, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney, a middle school language arts teacher, and a long-time docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture book biographies Dressing up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head, Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, and The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei. Jeanne lives in Northern California. Visit her online at JeanneHarvey.com.

Khoa Le is an illustrator from Vietnam, who graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts. She has dedicated most of her professional life to working in publishing, illustrating numerous books that have been published in Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Currently, she works and lives with her cats.