Sir Cumference suffers a stomach ache and asks his son Radius to find medicine from the doctor, who is, unfortunately, missing, leading to the transformation of the gentleman into a dragon.
Radius faces a challenge to solve the mystery poem from the container in the doctor’s workshop, revealing the correct dose for converting a dragon back to a human. As the label guides: “Measure the middle and circle around, Divide so a number can be found. Every circle, great and small – The number is the same for all.” Radius goes on an adventure to find the mystery number, finding a clue in the kitchen while his cousin makes a pie that the number is more than three but less than 4. He continues his exploration in the workshop, measuring and confirming the formula with examples.
“Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi: A Math Adventure” makes it easy for the reader to remember the formula for calculating π and visually enhance the theory with muted autumn colour illustrations. With all the good intentions, the target audience – secondary school children might not appreciate it entirely as the thought will be that picture books serve youngsters. The book is better suited for US readers than UK and European students, as measurements are recorded in inches. However, the story offers practical benefits for exploration at home and taking the topic to a creative level in the classroom, linking it to inventions in a particular period of history.
Further Information:
If you loved Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
- Wayne Geehan’s website
- Meet the mathematician who gave the world ‘pi’
- 37 Mathtastic Pi Day Activities for the Classroom
- Happy Pi Day to You! The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library. (USA English pronunciation)
The Stats:
- Title: Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
- Author and Illustrator: Cindy Neuschwander & Wayne Geehan
- ISBN: 1-57091-164-4
- Publication Date: 1999
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Charlesbridge
- Recommended age: 9-12
- Categories/Topic: Maths, Pi, Circles
Where to Find it:
