The Glass Pyramid:
A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei
Jeanne Walker Harvey, illus. by Khoa Le. Atheneum, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-6659-5333-7
Architect I.M. Pei (1917–2019) believed that “success is a collection of problems solved,” and designing the Louvre’s now-iconic glass pyramid entrance put that philosophy to the ultimate test.
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.
When approaching the project—designed to solve a serious number of visitor flow issues—Pei understands that a purely utilitarian solution won’t suffice. The architect finds inspiration in the rock gardens of his family’s retreat in China as well as the geometric Gardens of Versailles, but the pyramid’s design proves only half the challenge.
Pei also faces fierce opposition that he approaches via patience and a partnership with Paris’s mayor, a tack that shows how enduring solutions often emerge from a confluence of expertise, imagination, and persuasion.
Back matter offers more context. Ages 4–8.
The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei. By Jeanne Walker Harvey. Illus. by Khoa Le May 2025. 40p. Atheneum, $19.99 (9781665953337). Gr. 1–3. 720.92
"Harvey adds another stunning title to her body of work in this lyrical picture book of an iconic piece of architecture. I. M. Pei, a renowned Chinese American architect, was commissioned by the French president to redesign the world’s largest museum, the Louvre, to make more room for art restorations and a clear entrance for visitors.
Pei kept his project a secret; he was an outsider and had faced a lifetime of discrimination and criticism for his nationality, inventiveness, and unconventional building designs.
For this project, he drew inspiration from the ancient stone pyramids of Egypt, the Buddhist retreats of China, and the geometric gardens of Versailles to create the modern glass pyramid which seems to “grow out of the courtyard.”
But it didn’t come without trials: “Success is a collection of problems solved,” and Pei exemplified this by overcoming adversity, time constraints, and skepticism at every step.
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, especially where books about architects, artists, and architecture are popular."
- May 14, 2025
Updated: May 21, 2025
Kate Warne and the Race to Save Abraham Lincoln
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Calkins Creek
(Astra Books for Young Readers)
(pub. 1.28.2025
48 pages
Ages 7 - 10
Author: Beth Anderson
Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport
Character: Kate Warne
Overview:
" Abraham Lincoln faces a dangerous and uncertain future after leaving Springfield, Illinois, for his inauguration in Washington, DC. Luckily for him, detective Kate Warne has his back, even if he didn’t know it yet.
Working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Kate uncovers the rebel plot to kill Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore. Kate warns Lincoln’s staff that this only Southern city on his inaugural train route to Washington, DC is planning a deadly welcome. President-elect Lincoln is urged to change his route. But he refuses to cancel his commitments. In a race against time, Kate and Pinkerton have one last chance. Using disguises, false names, and the cover of darkness, the detectives put their plan into action."
Tantalizing taste:
"Mrs. Barley eavesdropped on rebel talk.
Coaxed out secrets.
Scanned the hotel parlor.
In the doorway, she caught a signal.
And slipped upstairs to her room.
Tap... tap ... tap...
Kate Warne opened the door, and Allan Pinkerton ducked iside.
Before she could report what she'd just uncovered, her boss's ace confirmed the worst.
The plot to kill Lincoln in Baltimore was real!"
And something more: Vivian Kirkfield, another picture book author of a new book, One Girl's Voice - How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, featured an interview of the two authors on her blog. Beth Anderson, author of Hiding in Plain Sight shared: "Kate’s story interested me for so many reasons! It was a detective story! With a gutsy woman who blazed an unusual path. It’s about a piece of history, the Baltimore Plot, which I’d never heard of before. And, it features a favorite person from history, Abraham Lincoln. Like me, I think kids will connect to the secrets, a dangerous plot, and be fascinated by this exciting peek “behind the scenes” that lets us know how complicated, and surprising, history can be."
Kids need to know about Kate because she’s a “regular” person like most of us. She put herself out there, not seeking fame and fortune, and took risks for others—and she impacted history. This event shows how important us regular people are, which can inspire hope, courage, and action when we look at the world today."
