The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei

Gr 2-5–The author of poetic picture book biographies on artists, such as Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, about another Asian American architect of a well-known monument, turns to Chinese American I.M. Pei for her latest work. Pei was already an acclaimed architect when he was tapped by the president of France to redesign the Louvre, home of the famous Mona Lisa. The text focuses on his creative process and how he was inspired by the bamboo trees and rocky retreats of his native country and the majestic pyramids of Egypt. The narrative is both lyrical and economical, every word carefully chosen. The digital illustrations are done in mostly neutral tones of browns, grays, and blues with pops of yellow and red. They sometimes feel staid and cold, but the clean lines are reminiscent of the beloved building and pair well with the text. An author’s note includes a short description on what architects do; a brief biography of Pei; and the different STEM connections that can be made to details in the narrative, such as how a historic French glass company had to develop a way to manufacture a special glass for the beloved structure. The selected sources list and online videos offer additional research opportunities for students, but the most recent source is almost 15 years old.