Erin Dealey

Today is the #BookBirthday of Jeanne Walker Harvey’s newest pb biography,

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

Illustrated by Khoa Le (Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster).

About the Book:

The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei tells the story of the renowned architect I. M. Pei and his triumph in redesigning the Louvre through problem-solving and persistence.

*JLG Gold Selection*

“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

About the Author:

Readers may remember meeting Jeanne Walker Harvey last year on the blog when we celebrated ELSE B. IN THE SEA , or you may know her for the fascinating picture book biographies she features on her own blog: A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP.

A long-time school group docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, she is an award-winning author whose books include fascinating picture book biographies about artists such as Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas (Illus. Loveis Wise/ Harper Collins); Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines (Illus. Dow Phumiruk / Henry Holt BFYR); Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep (illus: Melodie Stacey/Cameron Kids-Abrams); Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head (illus: Diana Toledano/Beach Lane-Simon & Schuster) and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey (Illus. Elizabeth Zunon / Two Lions –Marshall Cavendish).

Let’s ask some questions!

Q 1. If you could sit down and chat with architect I. M. Pei, what would you ask him? (We noticed his birthday is April 26, 1917, which would make him 108 years + 1 month + 1 day today!) 

JWH: What a wonderful question! Oh my! I have so many questions I’d like to ask him.  

I think I would want to begin by telling him how much I admire not only his stunning minimal, yet functional, design of the pyramid (which I first visited soon after it was constructed), but also his resilience and perseverance when faced with discrimination as a Chinese American and the many political challenges to his idea.

I would then like to ask him if he ever imagined that the glass pyramid would become such an iconic symbol of Paris itself?

Process – and Finding the Way In

Q 2. If you were to compare the daunting process of redesigning the Louvre, to the process of writing a nonfiction picture book like this one, how might they be similar or different? 

JWH: As you say, it was definitely a much more daunting process to redesign the Louvre (and then construct those changes), but I think there are some similarities to writing a nonfiction picture book biography.

In both cases, the subject must be thoroughly researched. And then Pei needed to determine a way into the Louvre (literally), and I needed to determine a way into the story of redesigning the Louvre. Both require the imagining of what will be the most approachable and hopefully engaging way to elicit connections with museum goers or young readers.

Present Tense

Q 3. Was there a reason you chose to write this book in present tense, whereas Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas; Else B. in the Sea; and Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head are written in past tense? 

JWH: The use of present tense evolved when I realized I wanted the reader to feel they were walking along “in the shoes” of I.M Pei as he explored the streets of Paris and the hallways of the Louvre, soaking up the culture and history and architecture, to see if he could solve the problems of the Louvre – an entrance that was difficult to find, a layout that made it cumbersome to find art, and not enough public and storage spaces.

Surprises, Favorites, and Discoveries

Q 4. What surprises did illustrator Khoa Le bring to the book?

JWH: Khoa created so many surprises in the book! I’m so impressed by the way she was able to deftly combine detailed architectural accurate drawings of the inside and outside of the Louvre, but also evocative illustrations of Pei and his many challenges and struggles.

JWH: She also added these delightful French-like flourishes on the pages when he’s thinking and imagining – they remind me of our thoughts growing and twirling and swirling.

Q 5. What is your favorite spread? 

JWH: That’s a really difficult question because I love all of Khoa’s illustrations! But perhaps the spread that resonates the most with me is the one in which I.M. Pei imagines the design solution – a glass pyramid.

One page shows the façade of the Louvre and blue wispy sketches of the glass pyramid, and the other page has Pei’s hand raised as if in the middle of a sketch. And Khoa includes the wonderful French flourishes and leaves I just mentioned. It’s as if the idea is growing out of his mind and imagination.

Q 6. Were there discoveries that grew from working with your editor, Kristie Choi, at Atheneum (Simon & Schuster)?

JWH: My editor, Kristie Choi, is an absolute delight! She treated the manuscript with such respect and gave incredible suggestions in such a positive way.

And yes, the discoveries happened when she shared with me her idea of leaning into the idea of a pyramid being a fascinating structure, like a portal, leading to a place of wonder – a museum filled with hidden, important treasures that a child could discover.

JWH: I had focused on the analogy of “growing” a glass pyramid, but this additional concept added such depth and intrigue to the text.

What’s Next?

Q 7. What other projects are you working on? Anything you can share?

JWH: I’m in various stages of several other picture book biographies of creative people, all of whom have faced and overcome challenges. I feel like a kid in a candy store to get to spend time researching these people and then trying to figure out a way to tell their stories. But of course, there’s a flip side to the creative process, the “will I ever figure this out” part.  As I write in The Glass Pyramid, when Pei was trying to solve the Louvre problem: “He sleeps badly and becomes irritable. But he keeps trying.” And that’s what I keep doing – I just keep trying!

Teachers, Librarians & HomeSchoolers –Oh my!

Special BONUS

Did we mention the FREE Activity Kit?

Endless thanks and a Merci Beaucoup to Jeanne Walker Harvey

for joining us on the blog today,

and Happy Book Birthday!

JWH: Many thanks to you, Erin, for not only taking the time to connect with me about our new book, but for all you do for the kidlit community — from writing incredible books to supporting other authors and illustrators to helping teachers and librarians. And it’s a special treat to talk with you since we’re both represented by the truly fabulous Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency!

ED Note: It’s always a pleasure to celebrate wonderful kidlit books!

To learn more about Jeanne Walker Harvey’s books, check out her website: jeannewalkerharvey.com

and follow her on social media:

Insta: @jeannewharvey

BlueSky: @jeanewharvey.bluesky.social

TwitterX: @JeanneWHarvey

Pinterest: @JeanneWalkerHarvey

Up next on the blog:

We chat with middle grade author Ann Dee Ellis about her heartwarming new novel,

THIS COOKIE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

(Peachtree)