From the Seonee Jungle to the Arctic North Quiz

Answer: Bagheera

First published in 1894, "The Jungle Book" is one of the best-known works by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), an English author, journalist, and storyteller who spent part of his childhood in India, including in the Soenee region. He later drew upon his memories in his writing. The book itself is a collection of stories, several of which are set in the Seonee Jungle of central India, where the young Mowgli is raised by wolves and learns the Laws of the Jungle from the animals around him.

Among Mowgli's closest companions is Bagheera, the black panther who helps look after him throughout his adventures. Feared by many animals for his strength and hunting skill, Bagheera often provides practical advice. Alongside Baloo the bear, he helps prepare Mowgli for the challenges of life in the jungle.

The Seonee Jungle is a forested region located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and is home several other characters in Kipling's books. Shere Khan the tiger is Mowgli's most persistent enemy and believes the man-cub has no place among the jungle creatures. Akela, the respected leader of the Seeonee wolf pack, protects Mowgli during his early years and upholds the jungle's traditions. Hathi, the wise elephant and guardian of the jungle's memory and history, commands great respect from the other animals and plays an important role when the jungle community must unite.

Answer: Ratty

The "Wind in the Willows", which was written by Scottish author Kenneth Grahame and was first published in 1908, grew out of bedtime tales he told his son, Alastair. Toad of Toad Hall was an impulsive creature who flitted from one fad and adventure to another. One summer day, he was travelling quite happily in a horse-drawn caravan with Ratty when a motorcar roared past in a cloud of dust. He instantly forgot his love of boating, caravanning ... and every other hobby he had previously pursued, and became obsessed with motorcars.

Toad's reckless driving led to several crashes, a spell in prison and, in the end, the loss of Toad Hall itself. But did it stop him? Oh, no! As Mr Toad himself might have said: "Poop-poop!"

Answer: Koala

Blinky Bill is one of Australia's best-loved fictional characters. Created by Dorothy Wall in 1933, the young koala lives in the Australian bush and is constantly finding himself in trouble - like the time he snuck out of bed and went adventuring with Splodge the Kangaroo and Wally the Wombat.

Blinky decided to borrow a farmer's boat, so he could try fishing in the local river. Splodge the Kangaroo and Wally the Wombat insisted on going with him to make sure he was safe; and a good thing too! The boat was rusty and started taking on water, and they all started to sink. Farmer Brown had heard something and arrived on the scene with his shot gun. The animals scattered hurriedly and managed to arrive safely home, just in time to clamber back into bed before the morning alarm went off.

Despite his cheeky streak, Blinky has a good heart and usually learns something valuable from his adventures. Set among gum trees and native wildlife, the Blinky Bill stories introduce readers to uniquely Australian animals and landscapes and have been favourite stories of many generations of Australian children.

Answer: Five on a Treasure Island

"Five on a Treasure Island", first published in 1942, was the very first in the Famous Five series. Tim (aka Timmy) was found in the moors by Georgina 'George' Kirrin when he was a puppy. He joined siblings Peter, Julian and Anne and their cousin George on Kirrin Island on their first adventure together.

After a fierce storm revealed the remains of an old ship near Kirrin Island, and realising the ship was linked to George's forebears, the Five set off to find the treasure the ship had held, exploring the island's caves and tunnels, and fighting off some baddies who thought they would take the treasure for themselves. After some exciting adventures and a few dangerous moments, the children and Timmy found the treasure - ingots of gold!

Answer: Wilbur

When Wilbur the Pig found out that he was destined for the abattoir, Charlotte A. Cavatica, the wise barn spider, came to the rescue. She wove a series of words including "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant" and "Humble" into her web to show what a fine pig Wilbur was. The messages attracted widespread attention, and led to Wilbur being taken to the county fair, where he won a special prize. Charlotte's life comes to an end shortly after, but not before she leaves behind an egg sac containing the next generation of (hundreds of!) spiders.

The barn animals formed a tight knit group to come to Wilbur's aid. Other animal characters include Templeton the rat, who helps Charlotte gather words and objects; several sheep who explain farm life to Wilbur; Goose, the excitable character who repeatedly says "salutations" and worries about her eggs; and the Swallows, migratory birds who nest in the barn, among others.

E.B. White based much of the novel on observations he had made in his own barn. Charlotte's name, for example, was a reference to the scientific name of the North American barn spider (Araneus cavaticus). It was published in 1952 and is has become a much-loved children's story and a favourite film.

Answer: Strawberry

Strawberry, originally a horse that pulled a cab around London, was asked by Aslan if he would like to have wings. Strawberry said 'yes' and Aslan gave him wings, and renamed him Fledge, the Father of all Flying Horses. Fledge gave the children Digory and Polly the great honour of riding on his back on a quest to find a magical silver apple in the Western Garden.

First published in 1955, "The Magician's Nephew" is a novel by C. S. Lewis, the Irish-born author who created The Chronicles of Narnia. Set partly in Victorian London, it follows Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer as they travel between worlds, battle the dangerous Queen Jadis, and witness Aslan creating Narnia through song. The story introduces several Narnian characters, including Strawberry, the cab horse who becomes the flying horse Fledge, and Frank, the cab driver who becomes Narnia's first king, while also revealing the origins of many people, places, and events that shape the rest of the series.

The Narnia Chronicles are allegories with strong Biblical messages underlying the stories. In this case, just as Jesus waits to be invited into someone's heart, Aslan does not impose change on Fledge, but asks instead if Strawberry would like to be changed.

Answer: Pongo

Published in 1956, Dodie Smith's "The Hundred and One Dalmatians" tells the story of Pongo and Missis, two Dalmatians belonging to Mr and Mrs Dearly and was based in part on her own experience of owning Dalmatians. After their fifteen puppies are born, the dogs discover that the evil Cruella de Vil has been collecting Dalmatian puppies from across England; when their own puppies disappear, Pongo and Missis use the "Twilight Bark", a canine messaging network, to find the missing dogs.

The information they glean from the canine network leads them to Hell Hall, where Pongo and Missis find not only their own litter, but another eighty-two Dalmatian puppies! With assistance from several other animals along the way (including a cat, a horse, and a collie), they rescue all ninety-nine puppies and return them safely to London.

Pongo plays a central role - searching for clues, gathering information through the canine network, and helping to lead the journey to recover the missing puppies. Mr Dearly, the puppies' owner, becomes involved in the rescue, and by the end of the story, the Dearlys find themselves responsible for an enormous family of dogs - one hundred and one in all - creating a bit of a different household from the one with which the novel began!

Cruella de Vil first appeared in this novel before becoming one of the best-known villains in children's fiction through later film and television adaptations. And for those who didn't get the picutre clue - Pongo is the genus name of the orangutan!

Answer: Richard Bach

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" was first published in 1970, and is a short allegorical novel by American writer and pilot Richard Bach. Bach's lifelong fascination with aviation shaped much of his writing, and the book reflects his interest in flight and the pursuit of personal excellence. What began as an unusual story about a seagull soon became an international bestseller and one of the most widely read novels of the 1970s.

The story takes place along a coast and over the open ocean, where Jonathan Livingston Seagull lives as part of a flock more concerned with finding food than mastering flight. Unlike the other gulls, Jonathan becomes fascinated by flying for its own sake, spending hours practising erial manoeuvres, how speed works, and precision while flying. His fascination leads to Jonathan's journey of learning and teaching others what he has learned. Refusing to accept that survival is life's only outcome, he continues testing his abilities despite becoming an outcast.

Answer: Hazel

First published in 1972, "Watership Down" was the debut novel of Richard Adams. He was an English author who, like others, first invented the story for his children. The book became an international bestseller and remains one of the most loved animal novels of the twentieth century.

Set in the English countryside of Hampshire and the Berkshire Downs, the story's main protagonist is Hazel, the leader of a small group of rabbits who flee their warren after Hazel's brother Fiver senses a disaster. As they search for a new home, they encounter predators, terrible weather, and rival rabbit societies, each with its own customs and way of life. Bigwig, Blackberry and Dandelion travel with Hazel and Fiver. One of the novel's most distinctive features is the culture Adams created for the rabbits, complete with their own language, traditions, and stories.

Answer: Golden Compass

This much-loved Philip Pullman novel was first published in 1995 in the United Kingdom as "Northern Lights". When it was later published in the United States, the title was changed to "The Golden Compass".

The story follows Lyra Belacqua, a girl living in a world where every person has a talking animal companion called a dæmon. Pantalaimon, Lyra's companion, accompanies her on her quest for the truth, determined to uncover the secret of the kidnapped children (of whom her friend Roger is one). Along the way, they encounter witches and armoured bears, and a mysterious substance called Dust, which may help reveal secrets of the universe.

The alethiometer, which has become one of the most noteworthy devices in modern fantasy literature, is a bit like a compass that points not north, but towards the truth. Lyra and Pantalaimon use the compass to help guide their journey and uncover hidden knowledge; over time, Lyra becomes quite adept at interpreting the symbols found on the compass. The story ends with Lyra and Pantalaimon stepping through a bridge into another world, guided by what they have learned. If only finding the right direction in real life was so straightforward!