Sir Cumference and the Viking's map

In the seventh addition to the Sir Cumference series, cousins Per and Radius are lost in the medieval countryside when they discover a map decorated with two hand "axes" featuring X and Y coordinates. The map promises to lead them to treasure belonging to Viking Xaxon Yellowbearyd. As Per and Radius follow the map on horseback, they discover additional X and Y coordinate clues left by Xaxon, which readers can help them locate on the large map. Outwitting a gang of bandits, Per and Radius follow the last coordinates to Xaxon's ghost, who gives them the treasure (in the form of more maps). Neuschwander does an admirable job of injecting humor (namely, some groan-inducing puns) and action (bandits! ghosts!) into this explanation of coordinates and axes, and Geehan's thickly worked paintings contribute some drama of their own. Ages 8-11. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cousins Per and Radius hunt for treasure by unraveling a Viking mapmaker's clues: a series of coordinates (x, y) that pinpoint locations on the Viking's map grid. Highway robbers, channeling the Keystone Kops, chase the cousins around, but this subplot comes off as rather superfluous. Acrylic paintings with a medieval setting illustrate this introduction to coordinate (a.k.a. Cartesian) planes. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"We're well and truly lost," Per said to her cousin, Radius. "How I wish we had a map." They were riding through a forest in the late afternoon.             "Maps of Angleland are as rare as dogs with wings," replied Radius. "Maybe we'll be able to see where we are at the top of that rise."             Together the two cousins rode up the hill.             "What a view!" exclaimed Per. The landscape below them lay divided into four sections. A road ran across the countryside horizontally, while a river wound through the area vertically.             "Hmm. Nothing looks familiar," observed Radius. "And we're running out of daylight. Let's camp on that knoll tonight. The grass there looks thick and soft." Excerpted from Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map by Cindy Neuschwander All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.