Marvin K. Mooney Trivia Quiz

Answer: Air

The hat shown in the sketch is not being worn by anyone or anything. It appears to be a flying hat, similar to a flying carpet such as Aladdin might ride perhaps. The hat is upside down with Marvin poised inside, looking happy enough as it flies through the air.

The previous sketch shows Marvin on skis, also apparently flying through the air. For some reason he holds both ski sticks to the right of his body.

Answer: Sea

After riding a cow, the fish is the second form of animal-assisted travel that is suggested. The sketch shows Marvin standing on the back of the fish while it cruises just below the surface of the water. The fish seems happy enough; however, it appears to be a risky way to travel and Marvin is almost certain to get wet.

Answer: Land

The Crunk-Car is a two-legged vehicle with twin exhausts. In the sketch of the Crunk-Car, Marvin is standing whilst using the steering wheel. A three-seated (perhaps four?) version of the Crunk-Car appears in the cover of some versions of Dr. Seuss' book "Oh, the Thinks you can Think!". 'Crunk' is also now used to describe the subgenre of hip-hop music linked to rapper Lil Jon.

Answer: Land

It is not just any tail but a lion's tail that is suggested. Perhaps the idea is to irritate the lion. The lion in the sketch however seems happy enough to have Marvin holding on to his tail as he bounds along. The next suggestion is for Marvin to stamp himself and go by mail. There's a sketch of Marvin on the postman's back in a sack with the letters. The stamp is above his left eye.

Answer: Land

What is a Zumble-Zay, I hear you say? This is an elephant-drawn vehicle that only appears in this book. Marvin gets to sit in an armchair with a shade umbrella. He does not actually sit on the elephant but is pulled along on a three-wheeled trailer. The elephant has a saddle with a spike on top to which the trailer is attached by a ring.

It does not look very secure but they both seem happy enough.

Answer: Air

It is perhaps no surprise that this is a flying broomstick. Sandwiched between sketches of Marvin hanging from three balloons and riding in the top drawer of the bureau, Marvin is flying a broom. Unusually, he is standing on the broom whilst holding it. Witches or Hogwarts students are normally shown sitting astride the broom.

Answer: Land

In the sketch Marvin is in the top drawer of a two-drawer bureau. The bureau is perched on top of a camel as it is bounding along. It is not clear how the bureau stays on as it is poised on top of a blue saddle with no obvious ties.

Answer: Sea

The Bumble-Boat is shown with Marvin steering it while standing on a seat. It seems to have an engine driving a paddle-wheel with an exhaust at the back and two side-mounted control levers. The paddle-wheel has four blades and is mounted on one side only and at the front. The blades are L-shaped. An unusual design but why not? The boat is flying a pennant with the letters "M.K.M." on it.

Answer: Air

The jet shown in the book has Marvin flying in clouds so 'Air' is the correct choice, although water- or land-based jets are possible. This jet has a canopy and two jet outlets, one at the rear and one on top, but no obvious engines. A bit fish-like in shape, there is a swept back wing but no tail. 'Jet' rhymes with 'get' and Dr. Seuss has written:

"You can go by Bumble-Boat ...
... or jet.
I don't care
how you go.
Just GET!"

Answer: Air

The final suggestion is for Marvin to get a Ga-Zoom. This is a bit like an S-shaped cannon. The sketch shows Marvin flying out of the cannon mouth accompanied by a BOOM and a puff of smoke. The next page shows Marvin being carried by seven birds in a harnessed cradle. Perhaps the Ga-Zoom was used to get him into the cradle.

And after all that:

"The time had come.
SO ...
Marvin WENT."

(Although we are not sure where.)