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Showing posts with label Atheneum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atheneum. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

AWARENESS TOUR: The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Khoa Le - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!


Welcome back to another bookish day here on Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!
Today, we're making way for the latest AWARENESS TOUR going on now with The Children's Book Review and featuring a work of edutainment that shares the beauty of creation, the tale of innovation, and the moments of inspiration lived once upon a time...that gave us a notable work of art.  Ladies and gents, get ready to take in some culture as we travel to infamous Lourve Museum without ever leaving the comfort of home...



by
Illustrated by
9781665953337
Atheneum / Simon & Schuster (2025)

About the book...
In 1981, I. M. Pei was on a mission. A successful architect known for his modern designs, Pei was asked by the French president to redesign the Louvre Museum in Paris, home to the Mona Lisa and now famous for the glass pyramid at its center. At the time, the Louvre had many problems and no pyramid.

Pei faced many obstacles, including discrimination because he was Chinese American. Determined to succeed and make the Louvre a welcome place for all, Pei worked hard—and sometimes in secret. This is the story of a visionary who worked patiently and persistently to solve problems and achieve his goals: to plant and grow a glass pyramid.





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Once upon a time not so very long ago (well, relatively speaking, of course), someone had an idea that would change the face of an international landmark housing some of the world's most remarkable works of art...but the idea wasn't to add something to it's walls.  The idea was to change how they were housed, or the look of the place, and the talent being requested was someone with great talent, and great ideas.  The challenge?  One would think the initial drawing board phase, and yet...the REAL challenger wasn't in the designing, but the acceptance of the designs AND the designer.  That's right.  The people were happy to get a face lift to their house of creativity, yet far less willing to accept someone from outside of their country codes as the one behind it.  I.M. didn't take offense; in fact, he made it a part of his mission to gain their acceptance.  He took the time to take in the culture, learn from the past and present, yet build towards the future, and the end results are still astonishing to this day.  

Beyond the humbling tale of this creative mind, and the wonderful illustrations that bring it all to life, we get a closer look at the STEM aspects that were tackled during its creation.  From construction of the design to the special glass needed to bring it to life to how to maintain its appearance for generations to come, this was a marriage of arts and science if ever there was.  By book's end, if you're not inspired by the journey from thought to page, you'll at the very least be marveling at the beauty of it all.  A great addition to any edutainment collection for readers of all ages.



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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


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 Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Sea, 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.

Visit her online at jeanneharvey.com.

INSTAGRAM  |  X |  PINTEREST  |  BLUSKY


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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR


Khoa Le lives in Vietnam and graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts. She has dedicated most of her professional life to working in publishing, illustrating numerous books that have been published in Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Currently, she works and lives with her cats.

Visit her online at khoaleartwork.com.





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GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win: Three winners will receive signed copies of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei, plus a Louvre tote bag. One grand prize winner will receive a tote bag and a class set of 30 books. Enter below!




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Special thanks to Bianca of The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this title to you and for the ecopy for review! (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Jeanne Walker Harvey. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this author, her other works, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


TOUR SCHEDULE

Sunday, April 20, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Monday, April 21, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Thursday, April 24, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Friday, April 25, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Thursday, May 1, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Friday, May 2, 2025
Guest Post about The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Friday, May 2, 2025
Author Interview with Jeanne Walker Harvey

Monday, May 5, 2025
Instagram Reel about The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Thursday, May 8, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Friday, May 9, 2025
Author Interview with Jeanne Walker Harvey

Monday, May 12, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Book Review of The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



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Tuesday, May 8, 2018

PRE PUB PARTY: What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Image result for coming soon

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a new Young Adult title COMING SOON to a bookstore/virtual shelf near you...in fact, as of this post, it's slated for next week...and I'm here to give you the inside scoop!  Okay, well not EVERYTHING obviously because really, what's the fun in that?  We're READERS...reading is what we do (among other things), so having someone tell us completely about a new title, that's a no-go situation.  I'm just here to tease it up a bit...to give you a look at my journey between the pages, and perhaps peak your interest in same said title.  Sound good?  FABULOUS!  Ready or not, here comes today's book of choice that marches to a beat all its own...


by
Alison McGhee
9781481476560
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

About the book...
After his dad commits suicide, Will tries to overcome his own misery by secretly helping the people around him in this exquisitely crafted story made up of one hundred chapters of one hundred words each, by award-winning and bestselling author Alison McGhee.

Sixteen-year-old Will spends most of his days the same way: Working at the Dollar Only store, trying to replicate his late father’s famous cornbread recipe, and walking the streets of Los Angeles. Will started walking after his father committed suicide, and three years later he hasn’t stopped. But there are some places Will can’t walk by: The blessings store with the chest of 100 Chinese blessings in the back, the bridge on Fourth Street where his father died, and his childhood friend Playa’s house.

When Will learns Playa was raped at a party—a party he was at, where he saw Playa, and where he believes he could have stopped the worst from happening if he hadn’t left early—it spurs Will to stop being complacent in his own sadness and do some good in the world. He begins to leave small gifts for everyone in his life, from Superman the homeless guy he passes on his way to work, to the Little Butterfly Dude he walks by on the way home, to Playa herself. And it is through those acts of kindness that Will is finally able to push past his own trauma and truly begin to live his life again. Oh, and discover the truth about that cornbread.



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I wasn't sure what to make of it at first.  I mean, honestly, it had its own rhythm...neither story nor poem, and yet with SO MUCH to share.  Once I was on the same page with Will, his story became a sum of many parts and  things started to get heart-stoppingly real.

I think everyone will read a little something different into the story.  The way it's told, how their lives are revealed, seems to lend a certain angular perspective to everything, allowing readers to catch whichever side reveals itself most clearly.  To me, it was an ode to life and the misfortunes and smiles it brings.  It was a glimpse at the small things we do, the interactions we have, that may seem meaningless in the moment, but have the power to transform another heart.  It was about how the simple act of walking, of losing yourself in the right, left, right pattern we pound out on the pavement every day, can bring us peace, a time to reflect on what's happening in our lives and the lives of those we love, and answers...but it can also help us strip away all the funk that tries to drag us down. 

For me, it felt like a reminder that everyone goes through things in life...some much harder/harsher than others...but we're never truly alone in the struggle nor the recovery.  The simple way it was illustrated allowed the unique format to deliver a story that was deceptively deep, and anything but forgettable.  Recommended for teen readers and beyond both to further the enjoyment of the story structure as well as the subject matters broached.



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About the author...

© Dani Werner
Alison McGhee is the New York Times bestselling author of Someday, as well as Maybe a Fox, Firefly Hollow, Little Boy, So Many Days, Star Bright, A Very Brave Witch, and the Bink and Gollie books. Her other children’s books include All Rivers Flow to the Sea, Countdown to Kindergarten, and Snap. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Laguna Beach, California. You can visit her at AlisonMcGhee.com.



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Special thanks to Audrey at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Remember, this title is set to release May 15, 2018, so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!




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