Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei by Julie Leung and illustrated by Yifan Wu is a WOW! book. Not because it is the best book ever (though it is in the top 25 for 2024 so far), but because it is different from what I have been reading and it is about someone that I had never heard of before, or if I had, not someone who had “clicked” as he was not a mainstream name (such as Frank Lloyd Wright). 
A young boy from China would visit his grandfather in the summers. They are connected by the past, the present, and the art of a garden they visited. As he grew older, Pei would honor his family, culture, country and that connection with his own art by creating buildings and structures around the world. The art and science of architecture comes to life with this “mainstream unknown” who shaped the world. HIs clever understanding of space, shapes and more would allow him to fit things both upwards and outwards and keep it safe as well (such as a 70 plus storied building that was protected from monsoon weather and more). He would help redesign established places to make them easier for patrons and allow nature to be part of it.
This book is not just good for those interested in architecture, but also about places and people. Plus, history. Pei did most of his work during a time when Asians were not always given such opportunities. He had to deal with established biases in what was considered architecture, but also was at a time when new ideas were coming into focus. He would be clever and make nature and man made structures flow and much more. There is a lot going on in the pages, and this is all shown with amazing illustrations that allow his work to be enjoyed even if you cannot see the actual buildings. The colors pop, things are busy and detailed but that gives it energy. The entire book has energy and the text with art compliment each other and the theme.
