[How to Train Your Dragon 02] • How to Be a Pirate

Read the books that inspired the How to Train Your Dragon films! This book will be a hit with children and adults alike. THE STORY CONTINUES in the second volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs ...Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. Hiccup's memoirs look back to when Hiccup was just an ordinary boy, and finding it very hard to be a Hero. Can Hiccup find Grimbeard the Ghastly's treasure before Alvin the Treacherous gets his sneaky hands on it? And if Hiccup opens a box that says DO NOT OPEN, will he live to tell the tale? How to Train Your Dragon is now a major DreamWorks franchise starring Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett and Jonah Hill and the TV series, Riders of Berk, can be seen on CBeebies and Cartoon Network. Read all of Hiccup's exploits in the series: How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, How to Break a Dragon's Heart, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel and How to Betray a Dragon's Hero. Check out the brilliant website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com It's the place to go for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks!

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From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–The sequel to How to Train Your Dragon (Little, Brown, 2004) continues the adventures of the son of Stoick the Vast and future leader of the Hairy Hooligan Viking tribe. Although the skinny, freckled Hiccup has more brains than the rest of the Hairy Hooligans put together, he has a hard time garnering respect from anyone, least of all his arch-rival, Snotlout. It doesn't help that Hiccup's dragon, Toothless, is predisposed to hypochondria and cowardice. During a pirate-training session, them meet up with charming "Alvin the Poor-But-Honest-Farmer," who is keen to help them discover the legendary treasure of Grimbeard the Ghastly. After a series of hair-raising, humorous escapades on the high seas, a deadly island, and an undersea cavern, Hiccup learns some surprising things about his previously undervalued abilities. The usual motifs of deceptive appearances, last-minute escapes, and the merits of inner worth are addressed with humor that is accessible to both reluctant and avid readers. Cheeky drawings in the style of grade-school doodles add to the general appeal of the tale.–Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA

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Review

This is a maniacally crazy story liberally spattered with appropriately riotous illustrations, lists and maps Books For Keeps It's a wonderfully vibrant story, illustrated with the author's hilarious drawings, and told with a delightfully gobby sense of humour Books Quarterly (Waterstones) Cowell is a new star in children's fiction The Times Great jokes and suberb characters will appeal to boys and girls alike With Kids Very funny indeed Maidenhead Advertiser Witty writing and funny drawings and notes ensure that this clever Viking story keeps its readers laughing Junior Education 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 wonderfully wittily written and illustrated story. Waterstones Quarterly Magazine A wonderful adventure The School Librarian 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 [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 ... raucous and slapstick... liberally illustrated with [Cressida Cowell's] riotous drawings, notes and maps. The Financial Times Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful. Independent on Sunday An excellent sequel to How to Train Your Dragon, this highly amusing adventure story with a dash of toilet humour is perfect reading for boys and girls alike aged 8-12. Publishing News Full of madcap action, to-the-death battles and hysterical Viking tomfoolery Cowell is a new star in children's fiction The Times extraordinary, funny and cool Tom Dillon, Mill Lane Primary School good holiday reading for any young adventurer Reading evening post As the tension mounts, an hilarious and warming story emerges. It cries to be read aloud. The School Librarian A maniacally crazy story liberally spattered with ... riotous illustrations, lists and maps. Books For Keeps 'Irresistibly funny, exciting and endearing' The Times '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 children's editor