Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

From APALA Award–winning author Julie Leung comes the inspirational story of Chinese American architect I. M. Pei and how he revolutionized the world of architecture.

As a boy, Ioeh Ming Pei and his grandfather explored the gardens of Suzhou, where rock farmers placed giant boulders in streams for them to take shape over hundreds of years. He imagined building something that lasted as long. At age ten, Ioeh Ming and his family moved to Shanghai, where he was awestruck by the enormous buildings being constructed all around. He realized exactly what he wanted to be when he grew up—an architect who designed skyscrapers that touched the clouds!I. M. Pei set off to make his mark, and with his appealingly modern ideas, he found himself with many clients—including museums, international corporations, and even Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Everyone wanted I. M. Pei to design their buildings. Though his plans weren’t always immediately popular, his legacy has endured and his structures can still be seen all around the world, like the JFK Library, East Building of the National Gallery of Art, Louvre Pyramid, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.Together, award-winning author Julie Leung and exciting debut illustrator Yifan Wu tell the uplifting story of I. M. Pei, a man who changed architecture with his forward-thinking shapes

About the Author

Julie Leung was raised in the sleepy suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated with an English and journalism degree from the University of Georgia. By day, she is a marketing director in book publishing. By night, she is a children’s book author. Her first picture book, Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Visit her online at jleungbooks.com.Yifan Wu is an award-winning Chinese illustrator based in the US. Her work often features ethereal, dreamlike landscapes, exploring storytelling through metaphors and analogies. Yifan creates highly conceptual illustrations for newspapers and magazines, and her work can also be seen in animated advertisements, branding illustrations, posters, and various products. She loves dancing, gardening, fantasy novels, and cats. Visit yifanwuart.com to learn more.