Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
by Cindy Neuschwander Illustrated by Wayne Geehan
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland is an entertaining book that is filled with creative examples of how to measure angles, what is used to measure angles, and the definitions of angles. You child will thoroughly enjoy the sense of adventure that is felt during the entire story. This book also presents a positive example of courage, bravery, and determination.
Math and Literacy
Age Appropriateness: This book is perfect for fourth grade students as they learn about different types of angles, parallel lines (which are also addressed in the book), and measurement of angles. Part of the Common Core Standards for fourth grade specifies that students need to be able to draw and identify acute, right, and obtuse angles as well as parallel lines. This book describes these concepts in a creative, engaging, and clear way.
Illustrations: The illustrations are beautifully done, and the pictures of the angles are clear and understandable. The pictures compliment the text quite well. Any information that does not appear in the text is clearly explained or filled in when the reader looks at the illustrations. For example, you will see the double-page spread where Radius must figure out which angle is 90 degrees. When looking at the pictures closely, the reader can see, just as Radius discovers, that the little arrows are either slightly more or less than 90 degrees. These carefully drawn illustrations can show children how important it is to measure accurately just as Radius had to do to find the correct pathway.
Age Appropriateness: This book is perfect for fourth grade students as they learn about different types of angles, parallel lines (which are also addressed in the book), and measurement of angles. Part of the Common Core Standards for fourth grade specifies that students need to be able to draw and identify acute, right, and obtuse angles as well as parallel lines. This book describes these concepts in a creative, engaging, and clear way.
Illustrations: The illustrations are beautifully done, and the pictures of the angles are clear and understandable. The pictures compliment the text quite well. Any information that does not appear in the text is clearly explained or filled in when the reader looks at the illustrations. For example, you will see the double-page spread where Radius must figure out which angle is 90 degrees. When looking at the pictures closely, the reader can see, just as Radius discovers, that the little arrows are either slightly more or less than 90 degrees. These carefully drawn illustrations can show children how important it is to measure accurately just as Radius had to do to find the correct pathway.
Theme: The theme of this book mainly angles and how to measure them. Many geometric terms are interspersed throughout the book, but the underlying theme that is carried throughout the book is the names of angles, their attributes, and how they are measured.
Front Matter: The cover of the book clearly shows children before they even read the first page that the story is going to take them on an adventure. If you are reading this story with your child, when opening up to the title page, give him or her a chance to closely study picture. Does your child comment on the medallion at the bottom of the shield? If not, ask your child about the medallion and what he or she thinks it might have to do with the story.
End Matter: Not much end matter exists in this book, but the item that does appear in the end matter is very important! When this book is purchased, your child will receive his or her very own medallion, or protractor! You may want to give this to your child before you read the story that way he or she can look at the protractor as Radius uses it during his adventure. Hold on to the medallion then as it will be used for an extension activity later.
Front Matter: The cover of the book clearly shows children before they even read the first page that the story is going to take them on an adventure. If you are reading this story with your child, when opening up to the title page, give him or her a chance to closely study picture. Does your child comment on the medallion at the bottom of the shield? If not, ask your child about the medallion and what he or she thinks it might have to do with the story.
End Matter: Not much end matter exists in this book, but the item that does appear in the end matter is very important! When this book is purchased, your child will receive his or her very own medallion, or protractor! You may want to give this to your child before you read the story that way he or she can look at the protractor as Radius uses it during his adventure. Hold on to the medallion then as it will be used for an extension activity later.
Visual Features: While still incorporating the theme of knightly adventure throughout the story, the visuals of angles and how to measure them using the medallion is well done. Particularly towards the end of the book, when Radius has returned from completing his quest, a clear visual is used to label what angles are considered acute and which ones are obtuse. The “graph” is also labeled with where 180 degrees is and what 360 degree means. At the beginning of the story, the illustrations also show how Radius makes a 90 degree angle while riding his horse.
Vocabulary: The vocabulary throughout this book connects quite well with the vocabulary not only in the chart underneath the “Vibrant Vocabulary” tab on this website but also in our math curriculum for this year. Words such as acute, obtuse, and right are used and defined in the story. Additional terms and their definitions are cleverly weaved throughout the story appearing in people’s names and places.
Literacy
Storyline: The storyline of this book is a quest that can only be completed by identifying and measuring angles. The adventure begins as Radius, the son of Sir Cumference, begins a search for a missing king. He is given a medallion to assist him on his quest; the medallion is a protractor. As he travels along on his journey, he encounters obstacles that he must pass using his knowledge of angles. He already knows what a right angle is which provides him with enough information to figure out each obstacle. He eventually finds the king and returns home with him safely. He then explains how he was able to accomplish the mission using his protractor.
Readability Score: The readability score of this book places it around a 4th grade level. The text overall is rather easy, but there are many words that are medieval in nature such as moat, drawbridge, parchment, quest, and squire. Words such as these are not often found in everyday texts that your child is reading. Because of this, the first reading might be a little slower, but as soon as your child becomes more familiar with these terms, not only will he or she be able to comprehend the story that much more but he or she will also have acquired new vocabulary! A good amount of text appears on the pages, but because most of the words are possible for fourth graders to read, the readability score is not that high. Lower level readers will be able to look at the clear illustrations to confirm their reading and reaffirm their comprehension of the story.
Writing Style: The writing of this book is creative and clear. A concept such as angles could easily become muddled and skewed when placed in the setting of a medieval adventure. However, Neuschwander does a wonderful job of clearly addressing the characteristics of angles and how they are measured while still maintaining the tone and feel of a knightly adventure.
Storyline: The storyline of this book is a quest that can only be completed by identifying and measuring angles. The adventure begins as Radius, the son of Sir Cumference, begins a search for a missing king. He is given a medallion to assist him on his quest; the medallion is a protractor. As he travels along on his journey, he encounters obstacles that he must pass using his knowledge of angles. He already knows what a right angle is which provides him with enough information to figure out each obstacle. He eventually finds the king and returns home with him safely. He then explains how he was able to accomplish the mission using his protractor.
Readability Score: The readability score of this book places it around a 4th grade level. The text overall is rather easy, but there are many words that are medieval in nature such as moat, drawbridge, parchment, quest, and squire. Words such as these are not often found in everyday texts that your child is reading. Because of this, the first reading might be a little slower, but as soon as your child becomes more familiar with these terms, not only will he or she be able to comprehend the story that much more but he or she will also have acquired new vocabulary! A good amount of text appears on the pages, but because most of the words are possible for fourth graders to read, the readability score is not that high. Lower level readers will be able to look at the clear illustrations to confirm their reading and reaffirm their comprehension of the story.
Writing Style: The writing of this book is creative and clear. A concept such as angles could easily become muddled and skewed when placed in the setting of a medieval adventure. However, Neuschwander does a wonderful job of clearly addressing the characteristics of angles and how they are measured while still maintaining the tone and feel of a knightly adventure.
Fictional Story: This story is certainly fictional, but the math concepts are accurate. While the quest that Radius went on was not based in reality, the actual measurements that he had to do and the lessons that he learned are realistic and are, in fact, what the students will be learning this year in fourth grade. As you read story, especially when Radius describes how he completed his mission, I would encourage you to ask your child what he or she has learned about angles.
Textual Features: The author has cleverly used math terms such as circumference, parallel, degrees, and diameter as names for her characters. At the end of the story, many of the connections between the characters’ names and the actual math terms are made. For example, the two dragons that lay down side by side as a drawbridge are called “Pair of Lells” which, when said aloud, sounds like the word “parallel” which can be used to describe two lines that lie on the same plane and never intersect. If your child misses these subtle connections at first, you can help him or her understand the word play by explaining how the names and terms connect.
Textual Features: The author has cleverly used math terms such as circumference, parallel, degrees, and diameter as names for her characters. At the end of the story, many of the connections between the characters’ names and the actual math terms are made. For example, the two dragons that lay down side by side as a drawbridge are called “Pair of Lells” which, when said aloud, sounds like the word “parallel” which can be used to describe two lines that lie on the same plane and never intersect. If your child misses these subtle connections at first, you can help him or her understand the word play by explaining how the names and terms connect.
Math
Evidence of Accuracy: This story contains many terms and concepts within the text. It would be easy for the accuracy of the math to be lost within the plot and storyline, but the author has maintained the credibility of the math terms and concepts while still keeping the story entertaining and fun. The illustrations help explain the math concepts in a clear way, and while angles can be a complex topic, this story does a nice job of addressing the topic in an accurate way without losing the plot of the story. For example, the illustration and description from Radius at the end of the story correctly shows that 90 degrees is a right angle while 180 degrees is a straight angle. An acute angle is any angle between 0 and 90 degrees, and an obtuse angle is any angle greater than 90 degrees. The text accurately presents this information both in text and picture form.
Evidence of Accuracy: This story contains many terms and concepts within the text. It would be easy for the accuracy of the math to be lost within the plot and storyline, but the author has maintained the credibility of the math terms and concepts while still keeping the story entertaining and fun. The illustrations help explain the math concepts in a clear way, and while angles can be a complex topic, this story does a nice job of addressing the topic in an accurate way without losing the plot of the story. For example, the illustration and description from Radius at the end of the story correctly shows that 90 degrees is a right angle while 180 degrees is a straight angle. An acute angle is any angle between 0 and 90 degrees, and an obtuse angle is any angle greater than 90 degrees. The text accurately presents this information both in text and picture form.
Extension Activity: After reading this story, your child will probably want to go on an adventure of his or her own! While I would not recommend giving your child a horse to ride off into the sunset on, you could certainly create a little scavenger hunt through the house or a supervised adventure in a park or other recreational area. Each clue could require the medallion that is provided at the end of the book. Your child would then need to use the medallion, or protractor, to figure out the answer to the clues. At the end of the scavenger hunt, instead of a king and a pair of dragons, perhaps the next adventure written by Neuschwander is awaiting your child. The little “treasure” that your child finds at the end of the quest is up to you, but no matter what, your child will certainly be learning and having fun at the same time.
References
Neuschwander, C. (2001). Sir cumference and the great knight of angleland. Wayne Geehan (Illus.). Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Neuschwander, C. (2001). Sir cumference and the great knight of angleland. Wayne Geehan (Illus.). Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.