How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon Series

Author: Cressida Cowell

Book 1 in the How to Train Your Dragon series

Pages: 240

Published: 2003

Age: 8+

Young Hiccup may be the son of Stoick the Vast, chief of the Hairy Hooligans, but he isn't exactly heroic Viking material. When he and the other boys of his tribe are sent on a mission to fetch dragons to train, Hiccup comes back with the scrawniest creature ever seen. Toothless, as Hiccup names him, is also rude, lazy, and greedy, but when the tribe is faced with horrible danger, Hiccup's unorthodox dragon-training techniques prove successful and he and his unique beast become true heroes. Sprinkled throughout with funny sketches, scribbles, and ink blots, this is a goofy and exciting tale of an underdog who proves that brains can be just as important as brawn. Kids will hoot at the ridiculous names and sympathize with Hiccup's exasperation with his truly obstinate but strangely lovable dragon.

About the How to Train Your Dragon Series

Reading age: 7+ years

I was not the sort of boy who could train a dragon with a mere lifting of an eyebrow. I was not a natural at the Heroism business. I had to work at it. This is the story of becoming a Hero the Hard Way.

Hiccup tackles the chore of training the stubborn creature, which leads to some fresh, funny dialogue between the two (Hiccup has the rare ability to speak "Dragonese"). Short chapters, clever slapstick, kid-pleasing character names (Fishlegs, Dogsbreath, and the Duhbrain, to name a few) and goofy, childlike drawings will keep even reluctant readers turning pages and chuckling as they go.