Explore the streets of eenth-century Florence as you learn how the Filippo Brunelleschi dome was created. Filippo, or “Pippo,” has to take a chance and keep his pride by doing what he really enjoys

Pippo the fool twll the story of a young architect with he dream of building the biggest dome ever built. Pippo is known as the crazy guys in town because is always proposing absurd ideas. When Pippo show his blueprints for his design to the higher authorities they laugh and ridicule him. Pippo does not let this discourage him and immediately get to work on a model of his design. Once he completed his model and showed his design again it was agreed that they would allow him to attempt the construction. Pippo completed his Dome and it stood proudly in the middle of the town for all to see. the central message of this story is that when you passionate about something you should never let others affect you. When hard work and passion meet positive results are likely to occur. ( )

Pippo the fool twll the story of a young architect with he dream of building the biggest dome ever built. Pippo is known as the crazy guys in town because is always proposing absurd ideas. When Pippo show his blueprints for his design to the higher authorities they laugh and ridicule him. Pippo does not let this discourage him and immediately get to work on a model of his design. Once he completed his model and showed his design again it was agreed that they would allow him to attempt the construction. Pippo completed his Dome and it stood proudly in the middle of the town for all to see. the central message of this story is that when you passionate about something you should never let others affect you. When hard work and passion meet positive results are likely to occur. ( )

Summary: In the midst of the Renaissance, a time of art, architecture and engineering, the city fathers decide they need a crowning achievement. Pippo enters a contest to design the perfect dome shape for The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. He realizes that is he has the best design then he will lose his nickname of "Pippo the Fool".

Personal connection: I enjoyed learning about the Renaissance and that time period, and feel like I could relate to Pippo the Fool in wanting to prove his worth.

Class use: This story could teach students how to prove themselves, have them design their own dome or building. ( )

I truly liked the writing style that the author uses. The author uses a style in which it is engaging and organizing. The author takes a topic that can be boring, art history in Florence, and made it interesting. I like that the author did not overload with a lot of information about the Cathedral that was built but rather told a story about how it came to be. I also like the point of view that is used in the book. It is written more in first person but then switches back to a narration. The author does not confuse the two voices; they are kept very clear and separate. When first person is used Pippo says, "They will not look at me as Pippo the Fool but instead Pippo the Genius." It is interesting that even though someone is speaking the author mixes in a use of talking about oneself in third person. There are two main messages in this story. The first is obvious, which is to explain the history behind the making of a famous Cathedral in Florence. There is a second underlying message here that even though someone might not think you can do something you need to believe in yourself and prove that you can accomplish the task at hand. ( )