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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes Author: Julie Leung Illustrator: Yifan Wu Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 3-7 Genre/Type of Book: Biography
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: N/A Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Nominated for the CYBILS Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction award If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: The creator of the Louvre, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, this is the inspiring story of Ioeh Ming Pei (I.M. Pei) and his forward-thinking ideas on architecture that changed the world. |
Review:
The creator of the Louvre, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, this is the inspiring story of Ioeh Ming Pei (I.M. Pei) and his forward-thinking ideas on architecture that changed the world.
I.M. Pei grew up in China where he learned to appreciate the architecture of his surroundings, like the volcanic rock statues in Suzhou and the skyscrapers of Shanghai. I.M. immigrated to the United States to study architecture, where a new kind of style was emerging from old and more dramatic styles: modernism. I.M. was inspired by these new designs, and while he couldn't move back to China with his wife, I.M. was determined to make a name for himself in the U.S. He began his career creating housing and skyscrapers, but his first claim to fame was when he was chosen by Jackie Kennedy to design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in honor of her late husband. Creating not only new building styles and shapes that work with nature, but a whole new way to support buildings from their construction, I.M. Pei made incredible advancements in the field of architecture.
I enjoyed this book as a biography, and having no idea previously who I.M. was! The cover of this book is beautifully designed and colorful. The illustrations incorporate the practical nature of architecture with the whimsical and bright side of Pei's designs. The information in the text is understandable and makes for an interesting picture book biography. I do think that this book would be better suited to older students (maybe 5th grade and above) just with the nature of the text and the content. I could see this book being used in a research project about influential people, in lessons about buildings and architecture or famous landmarks.
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For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website