Children's Lit Titles in Latin Quiz

Answer: Cattus Petasatus

Published in 1957, the Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) children's book "The Cat in the Hat" tells the story of a cat in a red and white top hat showing up to Sally and her little brother's house and pretty much wrecking it with his tricks and antics. But in the end, the cat produces a machine that cleans everything up before the children's mother arrives home.

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers produces Latin and ancient Greek books, as well as Latin translations of other well-known books, including "The Cat in the Hat", or as their edition calls it, "Cattus Petasatus." "Cat" is translated into Latin as "cattus", and "petasatus" in Latin means "wearing a hat." Put them together and you have a cat wearing a hat, or "The Cat in the Hat".

Answer: Arbor Alma

Shel Silverstein's book "The Giving Tree" is an emotionally poignant and perhaps even sad tale about a boy and his relationship with a tree throughout his lifetime. It is often interpreted as a metaphor for a child and a parent. The tree gives the boy anything asked of it, selflessly, throughout the boy and afterward as he becomes an adult and then an old man. The tree has given so much by the end, that it is bereft of its fruit and beauty and is just a stump.

When translating many book titles that begin with the word "The" into Latin, that "The" is often not included distinctly, because it is implied. "Giving" in the sense that it is used in this book's title can be translated into Latin as "Alma", meaning "bountiful" or "nourishing". And "Tree" is translated as "Arbor" just like in the observance Arbor Day, a day in which we honor trees and encourage planting them. It's the least we can do for these titans of nature that give so much to us.

Answer: Dimidium Magia

The children's fantasy novel "Half Magic", by Edward Eager, tells the tale of four siblings who discover a magic coin that grants wishes, but only grants them halfway, such as when they wish for an amount of money but are only granted half the amount.

"Dimidium", the Latin word for "half" is where we get the prefix demi- from, which entered English through French. And "Magia" is the Latin word for the noun form of the word "Magic".

Answer: Milia Felium

The title of the children's book "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gág has been translated to Latin as "Milia Fēlium." The word millions can also be translated into the Latin "Millia", and "Cats" is translated into the Latin "Felium" which is the genitive plural of "felis".

First published in 1928, "Millions of Cats" was also illustrated by Wanda Gág, and tells a story about an older married couple living in a small house next to a forest, when one day the husband decides to get a cat as a pet for his wife. But in his attempt to do so he meets many cats who each claim to be the prettiest - unable to decide, the man brings them all home, leading to a less than purrfect situation.

Answer: Domus Arboris Magicae

Although Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Treehouse series has not been translated into a Latin edition, a likely breakdown of how that title would be translated would involve the adjective sense of the word "Magic" as "Magicae", and "Tree House" as a combination of "Tree" ("Arboris" the genitive form of "arbor") and "House" ("Domus").

The first of the Magic Tree House series of books was published in 1992, and since then have sold over 134 million books worldwide. The books tell of the adventures of adventures of brother and sister Jack and Annie, who encounter a magical tree house that contains many books that they discover can transport them to different times and places throughout history.

Answer: Nulla Volatio In Domo

Although there is no official Latin translation of author Betty Brock's book "No Flying in the House" it would likely translate as "Nulla Volatio In Domo." "No" would become "Nulla", the feminine (the noun "Domo" being feminine) singular nominative form of "nullus." "Flying" would be "Volatio", the nominative (subject) singular of "volatio". And "House" is "Domo", the singular form.
This children's lit story is about a young girl named Annabel Tippens, with a small dog named Gloria that Annabel discovers can talk. She also has a cat named Belinda, that can fly.

Answer: Arcus Caelestis Magia

While there hasn't been an official translation of Daisy Meadows' "Rainbow Magic" books into Latin it would most likely be translated as such: "Arcus caelestis" is Latin for "heavenly arch", referring to a rainbow. And "Magia" is Latin for the noun form of the word "Magic."

"Rainbow Magic" books written by the pen name Daisy Meadows surround two girls, Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate, who encounter a fairy in each book, a fairy who needs their help to retrieve a lost magical object in the Fairyland. Each story is then the girls' adventure in searching for that lost item. Some of the types of different fairies they meet include Rainbow Fairies, Jewel Fairies, Weather Fairies, Pet Fairies, and others.

Answer: Insula Thesauraria

The Project Gutenberg translation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic book "Treasure Island" has been translated into Latin as "Insula Thesauraria." Insula is Latin for "Island" and Thesauraria is Latin for "Treasure." Putting "Insula" before "Thesauria" conveys the concept of an island where a treasure is located.

I read this story as a young boy and loved it. First published in 1883, the tale follows young Jim Hawkins involved in a dangerous hunt for treasure after discovering a treasure map. Jim begins his adventure on a ship called the Hispaniola along with a crew, one of whom is the famous character Long John Silver.

Answer: Magia Invisus

The title "Unseen Magic" by Emily Lloyd-Jones, features the noun form of the word "Magic" which in Latin is "Magia." And the adjective "Unseen" can be translated as "Invisus" or "Invisibilus" conveying the notion that something is "not seen" or "invisible."

The book is about a young girl named Fin whose new home is a place called Aldermere, where magic abounds. In trying to get help for her science project Fin resorts to getting that help from magic, but in the process unleashes an evil doppelganger.

Answer: Ubi Fera Sunt

The Latin translation of "Where The Wild Things Are" was translated by Richard A. LaFleur, and published by Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers in 2016. "Ubi" is Latin for "where" and "Sunt" means "are." "fera, in Latin means "wild" or "savage".

Published in 1963 this classic children's literature book was written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. It is the story of a young boy named Max young boy named Max who was sent to bed without having supper because he misbehaved. Maz fantasizes about traveling to a fantasy world where he becomes King of the Wild Things, the creatures that live there.