The first in the successful series... perfect for tricky boy readers, as the action scenes are first-class. * The Sunday Telegraph *
Mentioned in the 100 Best Children's Books Ever (Novels) * The Daily Telegraph *
If you haven't discovered Hiccup yet, you're missing out on one of the greatest inventions of modern children's literature -- Julia Eccleshare, Guardian's children's books editor
Filled with thrilling adventure and action-packed heroes -- Charlotte Tarling, Year 6 * Country Child *
By turns hilarious and wise, it's never predictable, brilliantly illustrated and always delightful * The Times *
Proper modern classics * Sunday Express *
Hilarious * guardian.co.uk *
A laugh out loud romp of a Viking adventure * Observer *
The start of the most original series for kids in ages. Funny, clever and great for the whole family to share * Dundee Courier *
Her genuinely fierce, intelligent and scary dragons nearly steal the show, but Hiccup and his diminutive sidekick ultimately come out on top, both displaying a proper hero's mix of quick wit, courage and loyalty * Kirkus *
One of the most enjoyable and original children's stories I have heard in a long time * The Independent *
I can't praise this wonderful adventure too highly -- Amanda Craig * Independent on Sunday *
Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful * Independent on Sunday *
This light-hearted, well-illustrated mock saga would appeal to girls and boys. My Dad liked it too. More please. -- Geoffrey Truscott, aged 11 * The Glasgow Herald *
What we have here is Harry Potter meets Blackadder. The result is a story that anyone with a tolerance of snot and gore would find richly entertaining * The Glasgow Herald *
Cowell's wittily written books have become today's childhood must-read stories * Books Quarterly (Waterstones) *
This book will definitely make you laugh out loud * Torquay Herald Express *
Gripping adventure stories complete with quests and battles, a vivdly imagined alternative world * The Daily Telegraph *
Top stuff * The Daily Telegraph *
Cressida Cowell's series of the memoirs of Hiccup the Viking are funny, outrageous and will lure in the most reluctant reader * The Spectator *
Funny, thrilling and ideal for children needing to discover the hero inside themselves * The Times *
Wise, colourful and funny * Dorset Echo *
Cowell is a master of storytelling...On a profound level, this series celebrates divergence and being true to oneself, teaching children that they don't have to be carbon copies of their parents * Hay Festival of the Arts *
Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon books fill every spread with scales and fangs and typographical jeux d'esprit * The Independent *
Descriptive and flowing, Cowell's Dragon novels have become deserved hits at the cinema, too. * Time Out *
Has a good story to it -- Jamie, aged 9 * Daily Record *
Full of bright wit and brutal honesty, this is a brilliant book that launched a huge series ... This is a fantastic adventure that explores failure as well as success and weighs the cost of being different against the price of fitting in with sneaky maturity and shining humour * The List *
'If you haven't discovered Hiccup yet, you're missing out on one of the greatest inventions of modern children's literature.' * Guardian children's editor *
CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK: 'This book is great fun and has a Blackadderish sense of humour ... full of the sort of jokes that will make schoolboys snigger.' * Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times *
A super story, inventive, ingenious, perpetually surprising. One to cherish. * Armadillo, Spring 2003 *
A wonderfully wittily written and illustrated story. * Waterstones Quarterly Magazine *
How to Train Your Dragon is a delightful narrative caper... It offers a challenging read to 11-year-olds, and rewards reading aloud, especially for those who relish an element of theatre at story time. * Lindsey Fraser, Sunday Herald, Glasgow *
... raucous and slapstick... liberally illustrated with [Cressida Cowell's] riotous drawings, notes and maps. * The Financial Times *
[Cressida Cowell] puts a contemporary spin on the old brains over brawn moral and brings the story to a climax with a thrilling dragon duel. Lots for lots of different readers to enjoy. * Books for Keeps *
Cowell brings Hiccup to life in this silly and delightful little novel. * St Paul Pioneer Press *
Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful. * Independent on Sunday *
"The combination of cartoons with sharp wit is what makes this book so uniquely special" * Books Quaterly (Waterstones) *
