How to Train Your Dragon: Volume 1

Cressida Cowell

Dec 2013 · How to Train Your Dragon Book 1 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by David Tennant

About this audiobook

Read the New York Times bestselling book that inspired the hit movies!

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?

Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons--and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.

Ratings and reviews

Absolutely nothing like the movies, none of the characters were similar to the movies and I absolutely loved it. I firstly stumbled upon it when I saw it being narrated by David Tennant, and as a 22 year old, I still enjoy a good kids book. It was entertaining. 10/10 would read and listen again. Preferably read by David Tennant of course.

I love this book. Its very well written and tells a fantastic story. Where this really stands out, however, is David Tennant's phenomenal voice acting and sound effects. He reads the story in a way stat seems less like reading and more like retelling the experience himself, which is fantastic.

AudioBook Review: Stars: Overall: 5 Narration: 5 Story: 5 Well, you’d be hard pressed to NOT like this story, adult or child. Kids as young as 7 will enjoy the performance and voice of Hiccup, as it is his voice that tells the story of his transformation from useless to very useful in a few short months. Hiccup is a smallish, bookish and young boy who is the utter opposite of everyone in his little Viking village. Son of the chief, he has reached the age where he needs to prove his ‘vikingness’ by catching and training his own dragon. Familiar with the epistle on dragons and the various methods used to tame the beasts, Hiccup has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the breeds, traits, and suggestions from the original book. You can’t help but appreciate and empathize with Hiccup: he’s polite, smart, self-effacing, and always trying to do the right thing. He’s not afraid to make mistakes: he is making his own path that feels right to him. His methods are all based in kindness and reason, all the ways he learns. As we know, Hiccup finds his dragon: a tiny, spoilt, and stubborn snarky little dragon named Toothless. Toothless is not malleable nor given to fits of loyalty or gratitude, and often bribery is the ONLY method that works. Other kids in the competition have dragons that are flashier, prideful, obedient and even more advanced, and each is given a name and description that is often highlighted with insets that add to the imagery for each dragon. The world that Caswell has built is rich and varied: from the sights and scents to the traditions and humor that is present in almost every utterance. The humor is perfectly suited and appropriate for younger listeners, yet it never digresses to a condescending level: a balance that shows the author’s ability to craft her words to capture the best of the imagery while making it understandable and relevant to the story as it’s being revealed. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking this book will follow the Dreamworks movie. Like most book to movie adaptions, there are differences and this book can and should stand alone without comparison to the movie. It is a great little book that has much to recommend it, and it is a great way to introduce your children to books, moving them from the movie and television screen. Possibly the best part of this AudioBook version is the narration provided by David Tennant. For those who are unaware, he is a Scottish-born RASMD (Scotland’s answer to RADA) actor best known for his portrayal of the Tenth Doctor in Dr. Who. Tennant’s performance was stellar: using his facility with language and pitch to present voices so in keeping with their names and personalities that each character is easy to distinguish and recognize. His lisping and childish, inches from whining voice for Toothless is particularly clever, and gives a real feel for the little dragon. Musical insets with dragon roars are set between the chapters, and it gives a great start or end point if you are using the recording for a bedtime story. Parents: if you are planning a trip where boredom is a possibility: this 4 disc book will provide entertainment for everyone. I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

Cressida Cowell is the #1 internationally bestselling author and illustrator of The Wizards of Once and the How to Train Your Dragon series. She grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland, where she spent her time writing stories, fishing for things to eat, and exploring the island. She now lives in Hammersmith, England, with her husband, three children, and a dog named Pigeon.