Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2024 In this colorful picture-book biography, Leung introduces children to the life and work of architect I. M. Pei. Born in China, he spent his summers with his grandfather in Suzhou and was intrigued by the rock sculptures there, created over time by water flowing through volcanic rocks. Later, his family moved to Shanghai, where he made sketches of the many buildings under construction. He came to America to study architecture from professors teaching modernism, but he brought with him the desire to design buildings that would please people in the future as well as the present. As a young man, Pei was chosen to design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Afterwards, his career soared, and today, his buildings are admired worldwide. While the text is relatively short, Leung does a good job bringing in early influences on Pei and suggesting how they guided his thinking when he created beautiful and sometimes unconventional buildings. In the imaginative illustrations, Wu uses vibrant colors effectively while showcasing examples of Pei’s work. A good introduction to an influential architect. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.