Newbery Animals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mouse

Despereaux is a very tiny mouse, so small that his family doesn't have many hopes for him. However, he has large ears, and hears music that Princess Pea plays. He falls in love with her, and eventually rescues her from danger. The entire title of Kate DiCamillo's 2003 book is "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread".

Answer: Rabbit

Robert Lawson's 1944 book is about a group of animals in Connecticut. When a family moves away, the various animals of Rabbit Hill, including the young rabbit Georgie, wonder what kind of "new folks" they'll get. They hope for people who'll be nice to them, instead of farmers who set traps.

Answer: Guinea pig

"Hello, Universe" is 2018's Newbery Medal winner. It follows several children during one day when one of them, Victor, gets stuck in a hole trying to get his backpack back. A bully, Chet, throws it in, not knowing that Victor's pet guinea pig, Gulliver, is inside. This book was written by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Answer: Crow

"Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien won the Medal in 1972. The main character is a widow mouse who doesn't know what to do when her son becomes sick just before her family has to move to avoid being crushed when farmers plow the field. Jeremy is a crow who flies her to see the Great Owl, who advises her to seek help from the rats in the rosebush.

In the film adaptation "The Secret of NIMH", Mrs. Frisby's name is changed to Mrs. Brisby.

Answer: Llama

Ann Nolan Clark wrote this book about a boy, Cusi, who discovers secrets about his people, the Incas, and finds out where he belongs in the world. Misti is a black llama belonging to Cusi, and she travels with him on his adventures. This book won the Medal for 1953.

Answer: Parrot

Hugh Lofting's 1922 book is the second in a series about a doctor who can talk to animals. The book is narrated by Tommy, who goes on a series of voyages with Dr. Dolittle and his pet parrot Polynesia. Among other things, they stop bullfighting in Spain, seek the Great Glass Sea Snail, and get stuck on an island when Dolittle is elected King.

It's the first sequel to win a Newbery Medal. Other winning sequels are "The High King", "The Grey King", and "Dicey's Song".

Answer: Dog

In Scott O'Dell's 1960 book, Karana and her brother are left behind when their people leave the island where they live. Her brother is killed by wild dogs. Eventually, she tames one of these dogs as a pet. She calls him Rontu, which means "fox eyes".

Answer: Cowhorse

Will James's 1926 book follows the life of a horse. He's born in the wild and captured by a cowboy named Clint, who treats him well. Years later, he's stolen, abused, forced into the life of a rodeo horse, and starved. Thankfully, he gets a happy ending when he's eventually reclaimed by Clint. This book has been adapted to film more than once.

Answer: Elephant

Stella is an older elephant in the mall zoo where Ivan, a gorilla, also lives. When a baby elephant, Ruby, is brought to the mall, Stella takes care of her. Stella dies of illness, but Ivan and Ruby eventually are sent to live at a proper zoo. This 2012 book by K.A. Applegate was inspired by a true story.

Answer: Squirrel

"Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" from 2013 is by Kate DiCamillo. She is one of a few writers to win more than one Newbery Medal. Ulysses is a squirrel who develops superpowers after nearly being killed by a vacuum cleaner. The book also contains comics about Ulysses's superhero adventures.