Children's Lit Titles in Latin 9 = Flying Creature Quiz

Answer: Vespertiliones ad Litus

"Vespertiliones" is the standard, classical Latin word for "bats"; it is the plural, nominative case, derived from "vesper" meaning "evening". "ad Litum" means "at the shore" or "to the shore." "Bats at the Beach", published in 2006 is the first in the series of the Bat Books written and illustrated by Brian Lies, combining rhyming text with detailed illustrations of bats.

In this debut book a colony of bats enjoys a night-time beach adventure, under a full moon, complete with towels, picnic baskets, banjos, and "moon-tan lotion" while taking part in activities such as surfing, sailing (using their wings as sails), building sand caves, and singing around a bonfire while eating snacks like "salted skeeters" (mosquitoes) and "bug-mallows".

Answer: Imperator Ater et Aliae Noctis Carmina

The Latin "Imperator Ater" stands in for "Dark Emperor"-"Imperator" for "Emperor," and "Ater" for gloomy, or sinister darkness. "Noctis Carmina" translates as "Songs of the Night", Noctis being the genitive singular "of the night," and "Carmina" being the word for "songs" or "poems". "Et Aliae" means "and Other" using the feminine plural to agree with "carmina".

Published in 2010, "Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night" by Joyce Sidman (Illustrated by Rick Allen), won the Newbery Honor in 2011 for its blend of poetry, science, and art as it explored the nocturnal natural world's forest creatures and plants. The poems educate young readers re: "Dark Emperor" a poem about an owl accompanies facts about owl predation and hearing, and the poem "Cricket Speaks" explains how crickets chirp.

Answer: Nōlīte Columbam Agere Raedam Publica

"Nōlīte" is the imperative plural of "nōlō", meaning "Don't you all let...!" directed at addressing multiple people. "Columbam" is the accusative of the direct object "columba" ("pigeon"). "Agere" is the infinitive of "agō", meaning "to drive, or operate". "Raedam" is the accusative of "raeda" ("carriage or wagon,") and "Publica" meaning "public" would bolster the sense of it being a public wagon.

Published in 2003, author Mo Willems's story "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!" is a Caldecott Honor-winning children's picture book, in which a bus driver asks the reader to watch his bus while he's away. He emphasizes one rule: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!", and of course as soon as the driver leaves, an insistent pigeon shows up trying every which way to drive the bus. What will the reader do in the face of all the persistence?!

Answer: Aquilae Redierunt

The nominative plural "Aquilae" specifically refers to bald eagles, zoologically/classically speaking. Roman naturalists like Pliny used "aquila" for eagles. "Redierunt", meaning "have returned" or "are back", is the perfect tense of "redire."

Author Jean Craighead George's timely environmental conservation message for children tells the true story of the recovery of bald eagles from nearly becoming extinct in North America. With its many illustrations and fun facts, the book makes for a solid classroom reading experience combining education and inspiration.

Answer: Libri Volantes Mirabiles Domini Mauriti Lessmore

"Libri Volantes" is Latin for "Flying Books." "Mirabiles" can be meant for "Wonderful" or "Miraculous", both fine words for "Fantastic" in the sense of the book's intention. "Domini Mauriti" would mean "Of Master Mauritius", Mauritius being a period-appropriate Latinization of "Morris," and "Dominus" is a respectful title for a man, such as "Mister" in this case. Now for the surname "Lessmore". In Latin, "Minus" is often the word for "Less" is many contexts, and "Plus" is often likewise often the Latin equivalent of "More" so we'll turn the name "Lessmore" into "Minusplus".

"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" is a picture book by William Joyce that exploring the love of books and their transformative power. The title character, Morris Lessmore, loves words, stories, and books, and spends all his time writing his memoir, but when a powerful storm destroys his home, he finds himself in a monochromatic landscape and all his books and writing are scattered. As he wanders aimlessly, he meets a woman who is pulled by a team of flying books. She sends her favorite book to assist Morris, guiding him to a magic library where books are alive and "nest" like birds. Morris becomes a custodian of the books.

Answer: Parate Viam Anati et Pullis

"Parate" means "Prepare!" or "Clear!" in the imperative plural form, and "Viam" means "Way" in the sense of a path or road. "Anati" would be the dative case as in "to the duck", while "et Pullis" would mean "and the young chicks".

"Make Way for Ducklings" was first published in 1941, and was written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, and was the Caldecott Medal Winner in 1942 for best American picture book illustration. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, are trying to find a safe place in Boston to raise their ducklings. They settle on an island in the Charles River to build their nest. When the ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack old enough to go exploring, their mother guides them on a journey through Boston streets to the Public Garden.

Answer: Nidus Est Clamosus

"Nidus" is the nominative singular of "Nest". "Est" is the Latin for "Is" and "Clamosus" is the adjective for "Noisy" or "loud".

"A Nest Is Noisy" was written by Dianna Hutts Aston, and illustrated by Sylvia Long, is a nonfiction picture book for young readers, exploring the world of animal nests, which as it turns out are built by many other animals in addition to birds, such as turtles, ants, bees, spiders, fish, alligators, etc. The book delves into the functions that nests serve: a place for laying eggs, protection, warmth, and raising young.

Answer: Noctūae Lūna

"Lūna" is "Moon" and the genitive "Noctūae" means "of the owl".

The children's picture book "Owl Moon" written by Janet Yolen and, illustrated by John Schoenherr, won the Caldecott Medal in 1988, for its poetic writing and beautiful, serenely snowy illustrations. Very simply, the story is of a father and son journeying into the land behind their farm trying to spot a Great Horned Owl.

Answer: Buccina Cygni

"Buccina" refers to a curved trumpet or horn used by shepherds or soldiers for signalling. For "Of the swan" we use "Cygni" the genitive singular of "cygnus".

"The Trumpet of the Swan" is E. B. White's classic children's novel about a young swan named Louis, who is born without the ability to make the honking sounds that the other cygnets are able to do. Feeling inadequate, Louis learns to play a trumpet, and expresses himself with it. He becomes so talented that he performs concerts. He eventually forges friendships, love, and personal growth.

Answer: Lampyris Solitaria Valde

The classical Latin term for "firefly", from Pliny's "Natural History" Book 18 Chapter 65 gives us "Lampyris". For "Lonely" we would use "Solitaria" which is the feminine form (to match Lampyris) for the Latin "solus" meaning "alone." And then the adverb "Valde" is the Latin for "Very."

The author, Eric Carle is notable for the unique collage art style with which he illustrates his own children's books. The environment of nature in this story allows for some wonderful exploitation of that collage art as a firefly is born as the sun sets, and the firefly flitters about looking for companionship. Some editions of the book have actual battery-operated twinkling lights in the final page to simulate a happy encounter with a large group of fireflies after so many mistaken assumptions of meeting them (candle, flashlight, headlights, fireworks, etc.)