Waiting for Filippo: The Life and Work of Renaissance Architect Filippo Brunelleschi

Ray Doiron is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at the
University of Prince Edward Island and the Preschool to Grade 6
nonfiction reviews co-ordinator at Resource Links.

The combination of lift-up flaps and 3-D pop-ups makes this book an
appealing introduction to the life and works of Renaissance architect
Filippo Brunelleschi. The chronological details of Filippo’s life are
woven together with the many innovations he made as a master builder and
“the most important architect in all of Tuscany!”

The picture-book-size and Old World text format add interest to the
biography, as do the architectural drawings and illustrated scenes from
Renaissance Florence. The paper engineering throughout the book is good
although not exceptional. The pop-up buildings and Florentine scenes add
a 3-D quality that works well with architecture themes, but several of
the flaps when lifted reveal very little new information, a factor that
must be considered given the cost of the book. Also, little information
is given on Filippo’s personal life or on the condition of the
buildings he built as they exist in Florence today.

The book could be read aloud and would be useful to demonstrate the
tremendous changes and advancements made during the Renaissance.
Filippo’s contributions to perspective drawing and the drawing of
architectural plans changed the way buildings were designed and built,
and are still influential today. Young readers of history will enjoy the
book’s format and the glimpses of Florentine life, while learning
about this important engineer, artist, and architect. Recommended with
reservations.