How to Train Your Dragon

Great books that I highly recommend. I ended up getting the entire set of 10 rather than single books. My grandson loves these!

The book How to Train Your Dragon is different from the Dreamworks movie. The plot, characters, and everything of the book is different. Hiccup, a Viking in training, along with Fishlegs are trying to be accepted as members of the Hooligan tribe by passing the Dragon Initiation Test, however, compared to the rest of the Vikings in training, both Hiccup and Fishlegs are skinny. The first thing they had to do was catch their dragons, Fishlegs attempts to get a Deadly Nadder but ends up waking a bunch of young dragons. Hiccup gives him a Basic Brown that he caught and runs to get another one, which appears to be a Common or Garden Dragon. Snotlout teases Hiccup about his dragon, which has no teeth whatsoever, calls it Toothless. Hiccup attempts to train Toothless, which was hard since he wasn't any good at yelling or shouting like the other Vikings, which was usually the way to train a dragon. However, Hiccup was able to train Toothless after a while, since he was able to speak Dragonese, which is the language of dragons, and learned that Toothless likes jokes. It seemed to go well until Toothless picked a fight with Snotlout's dragon, Fireworm, which then escalates into a bigger fight with all the dragons during Thorsday Thursday. Stoick then exiled every boy who was trying to be in the Hooligan or Meathead tribe. A storm washed up two big dragons, the Green Death and Purple Death. Hiccup attemped to get both dragons to kill each other, however the Green Death killed the Purple Death then swallowed Hiccup. Hiccup killed the Green Death by blocking its fire holes from the inside while Toothless rescued him. All the boys were then accepted to join the two tribes thanks to Hiccup. A very interesting story and I will definitely read the rest of the books. Both the book and the Dreamworks movie are different yes, but they are both enjoyable.

Having read seen and enjoyed the recent "How to Train your Dragon" movie, I thought I'd read the book. The movie and book are actually very different, though both are a fairly lighthearted story about Vikings living on an island, where the young people have to undergo an initiation that involves dragons. The book is quite enjoyable, though a lot sillier than the movie (I'm pretty sure our movie hero was not named Hiccup). It's aimed I'd say at middle-school kids. The best characters are the dragons, self-centered, greedy, always ready to take offense, yet likable all the same.

I liked it, I think the movie is just a little bit better. But I am surprised about the little connections the book has to the movie. I recommend this book.

I didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did. When I learned that Toothless was more like a Chihuahua dragon as opposed to what I was used to in the movies, I thought it'd be silly and not worth my time. How wrong I was. Definitely a children's book, but one that is imaginative and full of heart. I just ordered the entire paperback series, eager to read these adventures, not knowing what's going to happen next or how it's going to end because it is significantly different from the direction of the movies and it turns out... ...that's not a bad thing at all.

I bought the audiobook for all 12 of these in the series. They're great for kids but they're also really funny for adults. The paper book is good because it has illustrations and maps but the voices on the audiobook are amazing. The series is clean, funny with clever dialogue, and has good morals throughout.

My 6yo daughter is at that awkward stage(for me as her book buyer:), where the 'leveled readers' are too easy and short for her and I am struggling to figure out what books are too old or too young. Since she loved the movies based (loosely) on this series I thought we'd give it a try. After all, I knew she would eventually grow into them if they were too hard for now. Well they are PERFECT. The style is so engaging that even though she informed me she wouldn't be ready for chapter books until she is 7 (?!?!- kid logic), after reading the forward she was pulled right in. Nice big words and adjective and adverb laden sentences to really keep a kid's interest. One caveat- the humor does involve giving people meaner names than you want your 6 year old to call people, so a quick reminder chat about what is okay to call people in real life is a good preventative. The format is great too, it's a little larger than your 'standard' paperback and the paper is very soft and flexible, so it turns out to be easy for little hands to hold while reading it. There are cute drawings on a few pages and the font itself is large. (This also is nice for those older readers- Grandma forgot to bring a paperback on vacation and borrowed the first dragon book- it is much easier on her eyes than the standard book font.)

I picked this up after loving the movie. This is very different than the movie. Yes, this is normal for books vs. movies, but this is one time I liked the movie more. Much more. The only redeeming value of the book was the end. It is your basic `loser-kid-overcomes-gigantic-odds-and-surprises-everyone' (except the reader). I suppose if you're out to write a book to enthrall young boys, then this has it all: from potty humor to proving yourself. I did find myself laughing out loud with my kids at a few parts, but I do wish I would have read it before I suggested reading it together. If you want some inspiring literature--or even a really good story--you'll probably want to look elsewhere. Overall Rating is 3 out of 5 stars. Content Review: VIOLENCE: Many mild instances PROFANITY: None SEXUAL CONTENT: None MATURE THEMES: Mild RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+ While there `technically' isn't any profanity (unless you, like my daughter, count `stupid' as a bad word, in which case this has quite a few bad words!), the language borders on the crude and rude. While reading this aloud to my children, I found myself skipping parts of sentences and paragraphs. There are characters with names that included words such as `belch', `snotface', `baggybum', etc. It's not `bad', but if you're trying to steer your little ones away from the bathroom humor, this isn't a helpful book. There is no sexual content (unless you want to count the use of a bra as a bomb). Since this is a book about dragons and Vikings, there is some violence. Some of the characters are very aggressive. There is a lot of dragon fighting. A dragon explodes, and it is a bit gross. All violence is mild, but could induce some `copycat' behavior--especially in young boys. As far as themes to talk about, there is the violent behavior and tendencies of the tribes and their initiations, and dealing with expectations and relationships between children and parents. Overall, this is a clean read for ages 12+. This review was written by Emily A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer This review courtesy of [...]

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked up How to Train Your Dragon for my 7-year-old son, a native English speaker. He had previously enjoyed series like Dragon Masters and Magic Tree House, so we were searching for something new to dive into together. From the very first chapter, we were both hooked. The story follows Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, a young Viking who doesn't quite fit the traditional mold of his tribe. Instead of brute strength, Hiccup relies on intelligence, empathy, and a unique ability to understand dragons, setting him apart in a world that values toughness above all. One of the standout aspects of the book is its humor. Cressida Cowell has a knack for creating amusing character names like Snotface Snotlout and Dogsbreath the Duhbrain, which had us both laughing out loud. The playful tone and witty writing make it a joy to read aloud, and it's clear why many parents consider it a favorite for bedtime stories . The relationship between Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, is both heartwarming and entertaining. Unlike the powerful dragons depicted in the film adaptations, Toothless in the book is a small, stubborn creature with a big personality. Their evolving friendship teaches valuable lessons about patience, understanding, and the importance of being true to oneself. It's worth noting that the book differs significantly from the movies. While the films take a more epic and cinematic approach, the original story offers a more intimate and character-driven narrative. This distinction provides a fresh perspective for those familiar with the movies and showcases Cowell's unique storytelling style . The illustrations scattered throughout the book add another layer of charm. They have a whimsical, hand-drawn quality that complements the story's tone and helps bring the world of Berk to life. After finishing the book, my son was eager to continue the series, and we've since embarked on the subsequent adventures of Hiccup and his friends. The audiobooks, narrated by David Tennant, are a particular highlight. His expressive reading and ability to bring each character to life have made our listening sessions a cherished part of our routine. In summary, How to Train Your Dragon is a delightful read that combines humor, adventure, and meaningful life lessons. It's a book that resonates with children and adults alike, making it a perfect choice for shared reading experiences. Whether you're new to the series or revisiting it, this story is sure to leave a lasting impression.

J’ai acheté ce livre pour le collège à la demande du professeur d'anglais, et ma fille l’a beaucoup aimé. L’histoire est facile à lire, drôle et captivante, ce qui rend la lecture agréable même pour les jeunes lecteurs. Le récit est différent des films, ce qui apporte un vrai intérêt supplémentaire. Le style est accessible, le rythme est dynamique et l’univers est très immersif. Points forts : lecture adaptée au niveau collège, histoire amusante et originale, univers riche et engageant, bon support pour la lecture scolaire. Conclusion : un excellent choix pour donner envie de lire aux collégiens, en particulier aux fans de dragons et d’aventure. Très bon achat.

Consegna più che efficace e puntuale, rispettando i tempi indicati. Per ciò che riguarda il libro, è scritto in maniera molto semplice e piuttosto divertente, molto originale e diverso dai classici libri "per bambini"; in lingua originale, però, non lo consiglierei a chi ha studiato poco l'inglese, poiché contiene termini insoliti. Ho voluto prenderlo perché ho amato alla follia i film e le serie, perciò sono rimasta un po' delusa dal fatto che film e libro (per ciò che riguarda questo volume almeno) hanno pochissimo in comune, giusto i nomi dei personaggi e qualche dettaglio della storia. Tutto sommato però, è un libro bellissimo. L'ho letto in due giorni scarsi.

The book feels like a cheap production of the book and paper feels thin and binding isn’t aligned properly it’s a shame as was supposed to be a gift

Great!