The little viking called Hiccup is such a sweet but brave character who is always trying to impress his father. These books are beautifully illustrated and I love them and the movies as well. There have also been 3 movies and a television show. This was actually the first book that started the phenomenal series of 12 books titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. When Hiccup heads off for his very first ocean voyage, his seasickness is the least of his worries! The Vikings are lost in a terrible storm, and it's up to Hiccup to help them find their way home again.įeaturing the beloved main character from the celebrated How to Train Your Dragon series, here's an exciting adventure that shows what it really means to be brave.

I read this book while listening to the audible version narrated by the author, CRESSIDA COWELL. Just finished reading the kid’s book HOW TO BE A VIKING by CRESSIDA COWELL. He never really seemed scared at all of the sea once he was out there, and because his fear was never really shown or explained, it felt hard to believe this fact about him or care that he overcame it to be a hero. However, I wish that the book showed more of an internal struggle or hero-moment when Hiccup makes the decision to take charge. I suppose the trip is supposed to show how Hiccup overcomes his fear that although scared, he steers the ship back to safety when others aren't able to. He was afraid to go to sea, was seasick, then came back and had learned how to be brave. I just didn't feel like Hiccup's 'fear' of the sea was explored much, even though that was the major plot point, besides being seasick. Whether it is considered a prequel to the other 12 main books I'm unsure. The art is very much the same as in Cressida's other works (obviously, since she is the illustrator as far as I'm aware), so it does feel like a part of the httyd series/universe. I always find it hard to rate a children's book - not being a child myself. Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.Ħ. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 and has been shortlisted for many others. A DreamWorks Animation feature film is out in March 2010. How to Train Your Dragon is now published in over 30 languages. The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit.

Cressida has written and illustrated eight books in the popular Hiccup series.

Cressida loves illustrating her own work, but also loves writing books for other people to illustrate as the end result can be so unexpected and inspiring. She has a BA in English Literature from Oxford University, a BA in Graphic Design from St Martin's and an MA in Narrative Illustration from Brighton. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. Cressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland.

Hiccup the seasick viking