If you’re an avid reader and love playing trivia games, these book trivia questions will test your knowledge and challenge your friends and family. So, let’s see how many of these book trivia answers you know. Let the games begin!
What are some interesting book trivia questions?
We all know that reading is the key to success. Warren Buffet once said, “Read 500 pages every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up like compound interest.” So, even if you can’t read that much every day, playing book trivia games is a fun way to test your book knowledge and expand your reading horizons.
On this list, you’ll find book trivia questions for kids and adults, covering classic literature and modern books. So, gather your family and friends, and let’s dive into the fascinating world of books.
Fun Book Trivia For Kids
First, let’s start with some fun book trivia questions for kids. These questions cover classic children’s literature as well as modern books. It’s a great opportunity for teachers to use them in the classroom too.
Classic Children’s Book Trivia Questions and Answers
What did the monsters do with their teeth in “Where the Wild Things Are”?
- Gnashed their terrible teeth.
Where do the Berenstain Bears live?
- Bear Country.
What did Alexander have for dinner in “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”?
- Lima Beans.
In “The Cat in the Hat,” what type of pet does Sally have?
- A fish.
Who is Curious George’s best friend?
- The Man in the Yellow Hat.
In “Charlotte’s Web,” what is the name of the piglet?
- Wilbur.
What was the name of the main character in the Roald Dahl book about a chocolate factory?
- Charlie.
In “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” how many siblings travel to Narnia?
- Four.
What type of animal is Black Beauty?
- A horse.
What is the name of the donkey in the Winnie the Pooh books?
- Eeyore.
What 1935 American novel begins with Pa Ingalls and family moving out of the “House in the Big Woods”?
- Little House on the Prairie.
This insect is “very hungry” and turns into a butterfly.
- The caterpillar from “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” book.
What does the hen in “The Little Red Hen” bake when the other animals won’t help?
- Bread.
Who has “terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws”?
- The Gruffalo.
What classic book features a “comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush”?
- “Goodnight Moon”.
If you give a mouse a cookie, what will he ask for next?
- Milk.
What happens to the town of Chewandswallow in the book “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”?
- Large food weather causes everyone to leave the town.
Where does the Wizard live in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”?
- The Emerald City.
What story features the characters Tweedledee and Tweedledum?
- “Alice Through the Looking Glass”.
Who wrote “Matilda,” “The Witches,” and “The BFG,” all of which were made into movies?
- Roald Dahl.
In “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” what is the name of the town the Grinch steals from?
- Whoville.
“I think I can, I think I can” is the phrase the little blue engine says in this classic book.
- “The Little Engine That Could”.
Who gets gobbled up by a crafty fox after being chased by a baker, his wife, and others?
- The Gingerbread Man.
What is the name of a popular 25-foot-tall red dog?
- Clifford.
Complete the title: “One fish, two fish, red fish, __ ___.”
- Blue fish.
Complete the phrase: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear _____?”
- What do you see?
What are the colors of Dr. Seuss’s hat?
- Red and white.
This book series is based on the story of the three Baudelaire orphans and the problems they endure.
- “A Series of Unfortunate Events”.
“Chicken Little” is a classic children’s story about a chicken that becomes convinced of what after an acorn falls on his head?
- That the sky is falling.
This stowaway bear is discovered by the Brown family at the train station.
- Paddington.
This famous mischievous rabbit has an adventure in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
- Peter Rabbit.
More Fun Children’s Book Trivia For Kids
The main characters in the popular “Captain Underpants” series were named after two children’s book heroes. What are their names?
- Harold (from “Harold and the Purple Crayon”) and George (from the “Curious George” books).
What popular cat has groovy buttons and white shoes?
- Pete the Cat.
What popular author wrote “The Tale of Despereaux”?
- Kate DiCamillo.
What popular books written by Mo Willems feature two animals?
- Elephant and Piggie books.
In this book, a young boy takes a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
- “The Polar Express”.
Jack and Annie are siblings that go on time-traveling adventures in this book series.
- “Magic Tree House”.
This girl from a popular book series is known for her adventures in Kindergarten and first grade.
- Junie B. Jones.
Written by Katherine Applegate, this book tells the story of a silverback gorilla named Ivan.
- “The One and Only Ivan”.
Readers love the series “Diary of a _____ ____.”
- “Wimpy Kid”.
This popular character is the son of the sea god Poseidon.
- Percy Jackson.
When a young boy is stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness, he only has one tool (that is also the title of the book). What is this book?
- “Hatchet”.
In this story, Meg and Charles adventure through space and time.
- “A Wrinkle in Time”.
In “A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon, what food does Camilla love?
- Lima beans.
What is the name of the teacher from the Black Lagoon?
- Mrs. Green.
This lovable but mischievous pig drives a car in one book in the series he is featured in.
- Mercy Watson.
This book turned movie features a boy named Auggie.
- “Wonder”.
Alphabet letters, a coconut tree, and fun rhymes make this book a favorite.
- “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”.
The fictional town of Stoneybrooke, Connecticut is the setting for this book series based on a group of girls that form a club. What is this series called?
- “The Baby-Sitters Club”.
A popular movie is based on this 1981 fantasy picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, which features an enchanted board game that is played in real life.
- “Jumanji”.
What sort of animal is Gerald, the laughingstock of the jungle dance?
- A giraffe.
What does Little Blue Truck say in his popular series?
- Beep-Beep-Beep.
Harry Potter Trivia Game: Questions and Answers
Now, let’s dive into the magical world of Harry Potter. These Harry Potter quiz questions and answers will test your knowledge about the famous wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. Caution: Spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t finished the series yet, proceed with caution!
What is the term in the book for a non-magical person?
- Muggle.
Who did Harry Potter live with before going to Hogwarts?
- His aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
Where was the address for the house Harry Potter lived in with his aunt and uncle?
- Number 4 Privet Drive.
Where was Harry Potter born?
- Godric’s Hollow.
What Hogwarts house did Harry Potter and his friends live in?
- Gryffindor.
How are Hogwarts students placed in their houses?
- With the sorting hat.
What is the name of the pub at the entrance to Diagon Alley?
- The Leaky Cauldron.
What is Harry’s pet?
- An owl named Hedwig.
Who is the Headmaster of Hogwarts when Harry arrives?
- Albus Dumbledore.
Who is Harry’s godfather?
- Sirius Black.
How did Harry get the scar on his forehead?
- Voldemort tried to kill him when he was a baby.
What other student is Harry’s nemesis at Hogwarts?
- Draco Malfoy.
Where in Kings Cross Station does the Hogwarts Express stop?
- Platform 9 and 3/4.
What famous game do the young wizards play?
- Quidditch.
What position does Harry play on his team?
- Seeker.
How is mail delivered to the wizards?
- By owl post.
What is Voldemort’s real name?
- Tom Marvolo Riddle.
What is the name of the popular drink served in Hogsmeade?
- Butterbeer.
What is Professor McGonagall’s animagus?
- A cat.
What year do Hogwarts students take O.W.L.s?
- Fifth year.
How many Weasley children are there?
- Six.
What is the name of the Gryffindor ghost?
- Nearly Headless Nick.
Who sends Harry his father’s Invisibility Cloak on Christmas?
- Albus Dumbledore.
What is the name of Hagrid’s dog?
- Fang.
What potion gives good luck to those who drink it?
- Felix Felicis.
What potion allows you to disguise yourself?
- Polyjuice Potion.
What does the Imperius Curse do?
- It controls the actions of another person.
How do you ward off a Dementor?
- With the Patronus Charm.
How many Horcruxes did Voldemort intentionally create?
- Six.
Who is the half-blood prince?
- Severus Snape.
Why does Snape protect Harry?
- He was in love with Lily, Harry’s mother.
What is the main ingredient of Harry’s wand?
- A phoenix feather.
What is the core of Draco Malfoy’s wand?
- Unicorn hair.
What is the color of Crookshank’s fur?
- Orange.
Where are the vaults kept in Gringotts Bank?
- Deep underground.
Who are the employees of the Department of Mysteries?
- The unspeakables.
What magical talent does Harry share with Voldemort?
- He’s a Parselmouth, a wizard that can speak to snakes.
Who tells Harry about the Room of Requirement?
- Dobby.
While learning to Apparate, what are the “three D’s” everyone must remember?
- “Destination, determination, deliberation”.
What is Harry’s Patronus?
- A stag.
Which Weasley dies during the final battle of Hogwarts?
- Fred Weasley.
Before the Harry Potter series, which series was the best-selling series of all time?
- R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series.
Classic Literature Trivia For Adults
Now, let’s move on to some classic literature trivia questions for adults. These questions will test your knowledge of famous works of literature and their authors.
What is the best-selling novel of all time?
- “Don Quixote”.
Which of Ernest Hemingway’s books dealt with bullfighting?
- “Fiesta”.
What famous museum is the scene of the murder that opens the book “The Da Vinci Code”?
- The Louvre.
What Stephen King novel takes place mostly in the Overlook Hotel?
- “The Shining”.
What story has the character Ichabod Crane?
- “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
Santiago, a shepherd boy, is the protagonist of which book written by Paulo Coelho?
- “The Alchemist”.
What classic written by Homer tells the adventures and life of Odysseus?
- “The Odyssey”.
Who starred as the lead character in the screen adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Beloved”?
- Oprah Winfrey.
What is the name of the narrator in “The Great Gatsby”?
- Nick Carraway.
What author created Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn?
- Mark Twain.
In “The Lord of the Rings” series, how many rings were given to the race of Men?
- Nine rings.
She is the most translated author of all time and a famous English detective novelist and playwright.
- Agatha Christie.
Which author wrote the 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
- Harper Lee.
“Wuthering Heights” details the tragic romance of which two characters?
- Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
In “The Hobbit,” what sort of creature is Smaug?
- Dragon.
What Dickens character says, “Please sir, I want some more”?
- Oliver Twist.
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a crime novel featuring which fictional detective?
- Sherlock Holmes.
Who is the protagonist in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
- Holden Caulfield.
Which tragic character lived in her wedding dress and stopped all her clocks at the time she was jilted?
- Miss Havisham.
More Literature Trivia about Books
- What 1995 comedy set in California is loosely based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel “Emma”?
- "Clueless".
- What 2014 Liane Moriarty novel is set in Australia, but its TV adaptation is set in California?
- "Big Little Lies".
- Which novelist is known for his sparse use of punctuation and once claimed that to use quotation marks is to “blot the page up with weird little marks”?
- Cormac McCarthy.
- Katniss Everdeen is a character in which trilogy?
- "The Hunger Games".
- The Punisher is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by which company?
- Marvel Comics.
- This book, set in Mississippi in the 1960s, tells the stories of black maids working for white families.
- "The Help".
- In this suspense thriller by Gillian Flynn, Nick’s wife Amy goes missing and he is the main suspect.
- "Gone Girl".
- Janet Evanovich is famous for her mystery series featuring this smart-mouthed New Jersey bounty hunter.
- Stephanie Plum.
- This popular HBO series is based on the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin.
- "Game of Thrones".
- Laura Hillenbrand wrote this book about Louie Zamperini, a prospect for the 1940 Olympics in track and field.
- "Unbroken".
- The book “Where the Crawdads Sing” was made into a major motion picture in 2022. “Crawdad” is an American slang word for what?
- Crayfish.
- This 1990 non-fiction book follows the story of the Permian High School Panthers football team as they make a run for the Texas State championship.
- "Friday Night Lights".
- Which book won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in the fiction category?
- "The Nickel Boys".
- In which language was the first book in Steig Larsson’s Millennium series, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” published?
- Swedish.
- Anthony Doerr’s novel “All the Light We Cannot See” is set in which war?
- World War II.
- “50 Shades of Grey” was written by whom?
- E.L. James.
- Who won the Booker Prize in 2009 and again in 2012?
- Hilary Mantel.
- Who wrote “No Country for Old Men” and “The Road”?
- Cormac McCarthy.
- Piscine Molitor Patel and Richard Parker are the main characters in which novel?
- "Life of Pi".
- This American author created the character Michael Bennett in his detective novels.
- James Patterson.
Book Trivia Quiz on Authors and Books
Here’s a section dedicated to authors and their famous books. Test your knowledge and see if you can match the books with their respective authors.
- The series “A Song of Ice and Fire” was written by whom?
- George R.R. Martin.
- Published in 1937, who wrote “Of Mice and Men”?
- John Steinbeck.
- What writer has more than 70 different pen names?
- Lauran Bosworth Paine.
- “Sense And Sensibility” was written by which author?
- Jane Austen.
- Who introduced the phrase, ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’?
- William Shakespeare.
- Who wrote “The Da Vinci Code”?
- Dan Brown.
- What is the name of Stephen King’s first published novel?
- "Carrie".
- What is the name of the first published novel by Leo Tolstoy?
- "War And Peace".
- What is the title of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Edith Wharton?
- "The Age of Innocence".
- Who wrote the novel “The Godfather”?
- Mario Puzo.
- Who wrote “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”?
- Jules Verne.
- Who wrote “The Fellowship of the Ring”?
- J.R.R. Tolkien.
- What author wrote “Oliver Twist” and “A Tale of Two Cities”?
- Charles Dickens.
- What author wrote “The Little Mermaid”?
- Hans Christian Anderson.
- Oakland, California has a neighborhood named after what author of “The Call of the Wild”?
- Jack London.
- What English writer’s works include “The Voyage Out” and “The Waves”?
- Virginia Woolf.
- What book was written by Truman Capote about murders in a small Kansas town?
- "In Cold Blood".
- Based on his works, what writer had a new dinosaur species named after him?
- Michael Crichton.
- Which Victor Hugo book was adapted as a musical?
- "Les Misérables".
- What is the most sold book?
- The Bible.
- Who wrote the book “A Brief History of Time”?
- Stephen Hawking.
- Who wrote the young adult vampire-romance novel “Twilight”?
- Stephenie Meyer.
- This best-selling author is known for writing about romance, like in his book “The Notebook”.
- Nicholas Sparks.
- This novel by Colleen Hoover was the bestselling book in 2022.
- "It Ends With Us".
Multiple Choice Book Quiz Questions
Let’s put your book knowledge to the test with these multiple-choice book quiz questions.
- According to the Guinness World Records, which author has the most published works?
- A. James Patterson
- B. L. Ron Hubbard
- C. J.K. Rowling
- D. Stephen King
Answer: B- L. Ron Hubbard
- Which book holds the record of being the most stolen book from public libraries?
- A. Guinness Book of World Records
- B. "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac
- C. "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
- D. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Answer: A- Guinness Book of World Records
- In 2023, this book by Prince Harry broke the record for the fastest-selling nonfiction book ever.
- A. "Life Beyond the Palace"
- B. "Second In Line"
- C. "Spare"
- D. "Why I Left"
Answer: C- Spare
- True or False: Edgar Allan Poe’s first novel was set during the Dust Bowl era.
- True
- False
Answer: False- Edgar Allan Poe did not write any novels. He was known for his poetry and short stories.
- Which of these books was not written by George Orwell?
- A. "Animal Farm"
- B. "Brave New World"
- C. "1984"
- D. "Coming Up For Air"
Answer: B- “Brave New World” was written by Aldous Huxley.
- Where is Charles Dickens said to have found his inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge?
- A. A friend
- B. A gravestone
- C. A newspaper
- D. A dream
Answer: B- A gravestone
- What was the first American novel to sell over 1 million copies?
- A. "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
- B. "Moby-Dick"
- C. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
- D. "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Answer: A- “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
- What year was the first bookmobile in the world launched?
- A. 1900
- B. 1925
- C. 1857
- D. 1800
Answer: C- 1857
- What city has the biggest number of libraries per capita?
- A. Seoul
- B. Brussels
- C. Tokyo
- D. Warsaw
Answer: D- Warsaw
Famous First Lines
Now, let’s test your knowledge of famous first lines from books. Can you match the first line with the correct book?
- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
- A. "A Tale of Two Cities"
- B. "Pride and Prejudice"
- C. "Moby-Dick"
- D. "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Answer: A- “A Tale of Two Cities”
- “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
- A. "War and Peace"
- B. "Anna Karenina"
- C. "Sense and Sensibility"
- D. "Jane Eyre"
Answer: B- “Anna Karenina”
- “It was a bright, cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
- A. "1984"
- B. "Fahrenheit 451"
- C. "Brave New World"
- D. "The Catcher in the Rye"
Answer: A- “1984”
- “In the beginning”
- A. "The Bible"
- B. "Paradise Lost"
- C. "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
- D. "The Odyssey"
Answer: A- “The Bible”
- “My Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I don’t know.”
- A. "The Stranger"
- B. "Crime and Punishment"
- C. "The Great Gatsby"
- D. "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Answer: A- “The Stranger”
- “When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.”
- A. "To Kill a Mockingbird"
- B. "1984"
- C. "Great Expectations"
- D. "The Catcher in the Rye"
Answer: A- “To Kill a Mockingbird”
- “In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”
- A. "The Great Gatsby"
- B. "Pride and Prejudice"
- C. "Moby-Dick"
- D. "Sense and Sensibility"
Answer: A- “The Great Gatsby”
- “He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.”
- A. "The Old Man and the Sea"
- B. "Moby-Dick"
- C. "Catch-22"
- D. "The Call of the Wild"
Answer: A- “The Old Man and the Sea”
- “All children, except one, grow up.”
- A. "Peter Pan"
- B. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
- C. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
- D. "The Chronicles of Narnia"
Answer: A- “Peter Pan”
- “It was a pleasure to burn.”
- A. "Fahrenheit 451"
- B. "1984"
- C. "Brave New World"
- D. "The Catcher in the Rye"
Answer: A- “Fahrenheit 451”
- “Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun.”
- A. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
- B. "Dune"
- C. "Ender's Game"
- D. "Starship Troopers"
Answer: A- “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
- “This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.”
- A. "The Princess Bride"
- B. "Pride and Prejudice"
- C. "Wuthering Heights"
- D. "Jane Eyre"
Answer: A- “The Princess Bride”
- “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
- A. "Pride and Prejudice"
- B. "Sense and Sensibility"
- C. "Emma"
- D. "Mansfield Park"
Answer: A- “Pride and Prejudice”
- “It was love at first sight.”
- A. "Romeo and Juliet"
- B. "Pride and Prejudice"
- C. "Wuthering Heights"
- D. "Jane Eyre"
Answer: B- “Pride and Prejudice”
Random Book Trivia Facts
Let’s wrap up the book trivia with some random facts about books and literature. Test your knowledge and see if you know these true or false book trivia facts.
The oldest person to learn to read was 116.
- True
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in literature and journalism.
- True
Theodore Roosevelt was reading an average of a book a day, even while President.
- True
The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. is the world’s largest library.
- True
Manga are a type of comics from Australia.
- False- Manga are actually a type of comics from Japan.
Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016.
- True
According to Forbes magazine in 2004, Stephen King was the first person to become a billionaire by writing books.
- False- Actually, J.K. Rowling was the first person to achieve this milestone.
The longest sentence ever printed is 212 words.
- False- Actually, the longest sentence ever printed is a whopping 823 words from Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables”.
The first book ever written using a typewriter was “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”.
- True
Swedish people read more than anyone.
- False- Actually, it’s the people of India who spend the most time reading.
One in four adults around the world can’t read or write.
- False- It’s actually one in five adults.
The word “bookworm” originated from insects who live in and eat the binding of books.
- True
If you publish a book in Norway, the government will buy 1000 copies to distribute to libraries.
- False- In fact, the government will buy 1000 copies to distribute to libraries, and they will purchase 1500 if it’s a children’s book.
In the Harvard Library, there are three books suspected to be bound in human skin.
- True
There are more McDonald’s in the United States than public libraries.
- False- Thank goodness! There are actually more public libraries in the United States.
A Shakespearean sonnet consists of 12 lines.
- False- A Shakespearean sonnet actually consists of 14 lines.
According to the Guinness World Records, the largest book in the world weighs over 4,000 pounds.
- False- The largest book in the world does weigh over 3,000 pounds.
The word for loving the smell of old books is “Bibliosmia”.
- True
The word “google” originated from the book “Gulliver’s Travels”.
- False- The word “yahoo” actually originated from this book.
Stephen King has written a children’s book.
- True- He used an alias and then reviewed it as himself!
The first printed books did not have the name of the author or title on the covers.
- True
There are “human libraries” around the world where you can check out humans as a living book and listen to their stories.
- True- The Human Library is an international organization focused on addressing people’s prejudices by helping them talk to those they wouldn’t normally meet.
Truman Capote wrote standing up only.
- False- Truman Capote actually wrote and thought laying down.
The youngest published author was 5 years old.
- False- Dorothy Straight wrote her book “How the World Began” when she was 4 years and 3 months old.
John Steinbeck’s dog ate the original manuscript for “Of Mice and Men”.
- True
Wrap-Up
Congratulations on completing the book trivia! We hope you had fun testing your knowledge and learning new facts about books and literature. Feel free to challenge your friends and family and see who can answer the most questions correctly.
Remember, reading is not only entertaining but also a great way to expand your knowledge and imagination. So, keep exploring different genres and authors, and let the magic of books take you on incredible journeys.
And if you’re looking for more book recommendations or reading lists, be sure to check out Ratingperson, where you can find a wide range of book reviews and recommendations.
Happy reading, and may the bookish adventures never end!
Sources:
- Random Facts About Books
- ebookfriendly.com
- Humanlibrary.org
- worldatlas.com