What's Your Angle, Pythagoras?

Publishers Weekly

An addition to the Math Adventure series, What's Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis, illus. by Phyllis Hornung, tells a fictional tale of the future Greek philosopher and mathematician. Ellis characterizes Pythagoras as a boy always underfoot, trying to help solve problems for his family and neighbors. A trip to Egypt and a chance encounter with a builder inspire him to think about right angles in new ways and he devises the theory that bears his name today. (July) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Ever wonder where all the math theories came from and what drove the great minds to discover how things work? Meet Pythagoras, a young Greek boy born around 563 BCE. This engaging story of discovery is told through a fictionalized account of curiosity and persistence. The father of Pythagoras wants his son to be a merchant, but the son has other dreams. He likes to ponder the geometrical puzzles he sees before him. Why do columns lean, why is the ladder too short, and what is that specially knotted rope used by Neferheperhersekeper the builder? Left alone in a garden with a statue base shaped like a triangle, Pythagoras experiments by placing different colored tiles around the sides. Through visual discovery, the young Greek begins to understand the laws governing the right triangle and how that knowledge may help him. From this inquiry, the Pythagorean Theorem is born. Although a sophisticated concept to understand, the endearing storyline and delightful cartoon pictures help the youngest reader to grasp the concept behind "a squared + b squared = c squared." Readers will be able to put the story into historical prospective with illustrations featuring a peaceful Mediterranean landscape. 2004, Charlesbridge Publishing, Ages 7 to 12.
—Robyn Gioia

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-A fictionalized look (in spite of the CIP designation) at Pythagoras as he discovers his famous theorem. He is depicted as a curious boy who travels with his father from Samos to Alexandria, where he meets a builder named Neferheperhersekeper, who introduces him to the right angle. He begins to experiment, observing and noting the fixed and unvarying mathematical nature of triangles-right triangles, to be precise. The cartoon illustrations capture the dress, homes, and sailing ships in a warm and clear palette. Ellis includes delightful puns for those who are keen on wordplay. Sticklers be warned: there is lots of dialogue, but in the context of the story, it works well and helps to explain the math. This clear and interesting explanation of the theorem is a wonderful read.-Jennifer England, The Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.