Everything’s better in Latin. Including, or maybe especially, things you already pretty much know by heart in English, like your favorite children’s books. As sometime Latin scholars ourselves, and as general lovers of word play, we enjoy these translations for both their entertainment and academic value. But if you are a student of Latin, don’t forget the most important rule, passed down through generations of Latin scholars: Semper Ubi Sub Ubi. Click through to see your favorite children’s books translated into Latin — though many of these have been around for a while, we find them endlessly charming.
The Harrius Potter series.
Was it so necessary to change his name to ‘Harrius’? Is that really the Latin translation of ‘Harry’? And then, more importantly, why not ‘Harrius Potterus’?
‘Ior mi,’ dixit sollemniter, ‘egomet, Winnie ille Pu, caudam tuam reperiam.’
‘Eeyore,’ he said solemnly, ‘I, Winnie-the-Pooh, will find your tail for you.’
He’s just so much more regal as Ferdinandus.
We must admit, we like the elegance of the Latin title, but there’s something so on point about “Le Petit Prince.”
Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit
Boy, that’s a mouthful. For the advanced scholar.
Why are they so much more exciting in Latin? Well, we like it.
For more, see a longer list here.