In 1981, renowned Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei was commissioned by the President of France to redesign parts of the famed Musée du Louvre, perhaps the most famous and beloved art museum in the world. Open to the art-loving public for nearly 200 years by that time, parts of the 12th-century building were simply not practical for visitors or museum staff, so Pei faced an impossible challenge: updating the Louvre to the modern day without losing its historical impact. In Jeanne Walker Harvey’s new picture book biography, The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei, young readers follow Pei on his artistic journey. We had the chance to sit down with Jeanne and talk about creative inspiration, the process of crafting biographies for kids, and the timeless power of art.
About Jeanne Walker Harvey
Jeanne Walker Harvey studied literature and psychology at Stanford University and has worn many job hats, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney, a middle school language arts teacher, and a long-time docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She is the award-winning author of several books for young readers, including the picture book biographies Dressing up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head, Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, and The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei. Jeanne lives in Northern California.
Thank you so much for joining us, Jeanne! Let’s dive into the questions.
What kind of problems and issues was the Louvre facing when Pei was brought on board to head up the redesign of the art museum?
Big problems! The French people have always thought of the Louvre as one of their national treasures in the center of Paris and the center of their hearts. But as a museum, the Louvre wasn’t working. The galleries were dimly lit, and the then-over three million visitors every year had a hard time even finding the entrance and then navigating the complicated floor plan. The museum lacked storage space, public meeting areas, and even enough restrooms. I’m in awe of I. M. Pei’s stunning design of the pyramid as a new entrance for the Louvre, and his ingenious ideas for utilizing underground spaces to solve the problems
You point out in the book that Pei faced a lot of discrimination for both his Chinese and American identities while working on such an inherently and iconically French landmark. Why do you think it’s important to address this particular challenge of Pei’s work with young readers?
I wanted to show how Pei successfully faced many obstacles by working patiently and persistently, drawing on both his Chinese and American identities. He ultimately created a welcoming space for all (which was important to him) with the pyramid and redesign of the Louvre.
Pei knew that the French wouldn’t like someone who wasn’t French redesigning the Louvre. But he thought being a Chinese American might help with this concern because, as he said, “History is important to the French and I hoped I could share with them that I came from a country with a long history, and I would not take the problem lightly.” But instead, he faced overwhelming criticism for his design of the pyramid. Pei drew upon the Confucian teachings of his grandfather: Never show anger. Express oneself calmly and clearly. Be patient.
Privately, Pei said, “Nobody would question Einstein about relativity, but everybody has an opinion about architecture. There were times in my career, and the Louvre is one, when even knowing you’re right is not enough… you have to be patient and take all the blows that come and continue to defend.”
Pei pulled inspiration for the redesign from many sources, including his childhood in China, the gardens at Versailles, and his own distinct Modernist style. As a creator, do you relate to how Pei blended his inspirations into a final product?
Absolutely! I find that my life experiences, my interests, and my research all contribute to my writing choices. For example, my mother took me along on all her excursions with her friends. We visited many art museums in the Los Angeles area, particularly modern art and contemporary architecture exhibits. Such an early exposure to art definitely inspired and influenced me in my choice of topics for picture book biographies. The experience reminds me of young I. M. Pei’s experience of going on Buddhist retreats in the mountains of China with his mother. He said it was so quiet he thought he could hear the bamboo growing in the nearby groves. As Pei said, “I have a great love for nature,” and such a passion influenced his architectural designs.
You’ve written a number of picture book biographies, particularly of innovative artists from marginalized communities. What is it that draws you to these types of life stories and drives you to share them with young readers?
I think it’s so meaningful and important for children to see themselves represented in books, especially those from marginalized communities that haven’t been featured in books as much. And we know books serve not only as mirrors, but also as windows into someone else’s experience to gain a broader understanding and respect for others.
And I’m particularly drawn to writing about innovative people because I hope children will be inspired by the challenges these individuals overcame in following their artistic dreams. Whenever I do a presentation for children, I always end by emphasizing that every person in the room is creative, and in many different ways, and that I hope they will always value and pursue their own creativity.
What is your favorite fascinating fact that you discovered while researching one of your biographies?
Oh, that’s a tough question because I always learn so many fascinating facts in my research. In researching The Glass Pyramid, I was surprised to learn that the Louvre pyramid was built out of order. The workers were instructed by Pei to first build the pyramid and THEN dig out the underground space. The pyramid would be precariously suspended above the hole. As I. M. Pei’s architect son, Didi Pei, said, “It was a bit like building the roof before the house. Everyone was extremely nervous.” The concern was that if President Mitterrand was not able to stay in power in France, a successor might scrap the project. So Pei’s team worked seven days a week, practically around the clock. When President Mitterrand was reelected in 1988, his victory cake had a pyramid on top of it.
Are there any more picture book biographies on the horizon for you? Who would you most like to spotlight in that format next?
I’m in various stages of researching and writing several different picture book biographies. Not surprisingly, they all focus on creative, inspiring people. I’d love to develop books about photographers or dancers, or environmental painters. I never know which idea will take flight, but I always savor the process.
We always love to ask children’s authors about the books they enjoyed when they were young readers. Are there any books or series you read as a child that you carry with you to this day?
As a child, I read piles of books that I checked out from the library every week. I was always drawn to the Dr. Doolittle series. I just thought it would be so wonderful to be able to talk with animals and find out what they were thinking. And I loved The Secret Garden and the idea of bringing a forgotten, overgrown secret space into a flourishing, beautiful spot that brought joy and wonder to others. And as a younger child, I thought Harold and the Purple Crayon was quite compelling. Who wouldn’t want to be able to draw and create their own whimsical adventure?
Lastly, in honor of The Glass Pyramid, what is one piece of art that never fails to leave you breathless?
I love so many artworks, particularly contemporary art and design! But since working on The Glass Pyramid, I’ve grown fascinated by the Mona Lisa. I first saw the beautiful painting when the crowds were much smaller and before the existing case surrounded her. I felt an instant connection to the painting. Leonardo da Vinci was such a master of perspective, optics, and light. I recently learned that because of the current immense popularity of the Mona Lisa (20,000 or more per day!), the Louvre Museum plans to build a separate exhibition space for the painting with a ticketed entrance. Viewers will again get the experience of savoring the painting up close and be mesmerized by those eyes that follow us and that enigmatic smile.
A massive thank you to Jeanne for taking the time to speak with us about her book and I.M. Pei! Be sure to find her online at JeanneHarvey.com or on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter/X, and Bluesky. Lastly, don’t forget to check out The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei and add it to your family’s TBR list!
For our recommendations for children’s books that celebrate innovative minds, check out our article on Seven Brilliant Picture Books That Innovative Youngsters Will Love.
To see all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
