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Cressida Cowell

  • 5 stars across 76 books
Cressida Cowell Biography
Cressida Cowell is a British author, best known for her How To Train Your Dragon book series which was also made into animated film by DreamWorks in 2010. The books have been published in over 30 languages and are a huge hit with young readers worldwide. 

Cressida also writes the Emily Brown series working with award-winning illustrator Neal Layton. The first story in the series, The Rabbit That Belongs to Emily Brown, won the Nestle Gold Award in 2006. 

Cressida Cowell was born on 15th April 1966 in London. She divided her childhood between London and uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland where her family built a small stone house on the island. There was no phone or television so Cressida spent a lot of time drawing and writing stories. She studied English at Keble College, Oxford before learning about illustration at Brighton University.

Cressida now lives in London with her husband and three children.

Cressida Cowell Facts
Cressida’s best friend at school was Lauren Child, who wrote the Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean books.

Cressida has been writing stories since she was nine years old and has now had 18 books published, including 10 picture books.

Our favourite Cressida Cowell Book Characters
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock - from How To Train Your Dragon
Emily - from the Emily Brown series
Xar and Wish - from The Wizards of Once

Our favourite Cressida Cowell Book Quotes
The twelve boys stood before their teacher in a shivering line. ‘Now boys!’ boomed Gobber. ‘A Proper Viking Swimming Race is not like those pathetic little competitions they carry out on the mainland. It is a test of your ENDURANCE, your STRENGTH and your SUICIDAL BRAVERY..." (How To Ride a Dragons Storm)

"There was absolute silence immediately. It’s a curious fact, but a heavily armed, mad, six-and-a-half- foot teacher holding a whip tends to get his class’s attention." (How To Cheat A Dragons Curse)

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Series

How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1 How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1
25th February 2010

How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1

Read the HILARIOUS books that inspired the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a sm... MoreHow to Train Your Dragon: Book 1

(100 reviews) Review
The Wizards of Once: Book 1 The Wizards of Once: Book 1
19th September 2017

The Wizards of Once: Book 1

From the bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon comes an exciting high-adventure series - set in an ancient, mag... MoreThe Wizards of Once: Book 1

(79 reviews) Review
The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever: Book 4 - winner of the British Book Awards 2022 Audiobook of the Year The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever: Book 4 - winner of the British Book Awards 2022 Audiobook of the Year
17th September 2020

The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever: Book 4 - winner of the British Book Awards 2022 Audiobook of the Year

The No.1 bestselling series from the author of How to Train Your Dragon. Can Xar and Wish unite their worlds in time to ... MoreThe Wizards of Once: Never and Forever: Book 4 - winner of the British Book Awards 2022 Audiobook of the Year

(36 reviews) Review
How to Train Your Dragon: How To Be A Pirate: Book 2 How to Train Your Dragon: How To Be A Pirate: Book 2
1st June 2017

How to Train Your Dragon: How To Be A Pirate: Book 2

Read the HILARIOUS books that inspired the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films!Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a small... MoreHow to Train Your Dragon: How To Be A Pirate: Book 2

(32 reviews) Review
How to Train Your Dragon: Incomplete Book of Dragons How to Train Your Dragon: Incomplete Book of Dragons
6th October 2016

How to Train Your Dragon: Incomplete Book of Dragons

How to Train Your Dragon's Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third tells us everything you need to know about dragons... Wit... MoreHow to Train Your Dragon: Incomplete Book of Dragons

(32 reviews) Review
The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times: Book 3 The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times: Book 3
19th September 2019

The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times: Book 3

The No.1 bestselling series from current Waterstones Children's Laureate and author of How To Train Your Dragon, Cressid... MoreThe Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times: Book 3

(30 reviews) Review
Which Way to Anywhere: From the No.1 bestselling author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Which Way to Anywhere: From the No.1 bestselling author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
15th September 2022

Which Way to Anywhere: From the No.1 bestselling author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

From the bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once comes an out-of-this-world new adventure... MoreWhich Way to Anywhere: From the No.1 bestselling author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

(30 reviews) Review
The Wizards of Once: Twice Magic: Book 2 The Wizards of Once: Twice Magic: Book 2
20th September 2018

The Wizards of Once: Twice Magic: Book 2

The No.1 bestselling series from current Waterstones Children's Laureate and author of How To Train Your Dragon, Cressid... MoreThe Wizards of Once: Twice Magic: Book 2

(28 reviews) Review
How to Train Your Dragon: How To Speak Dragonese: Book 3 How to Train Your Dragon: How To Speak Dragonese: Book 3
1st June 2017

How to Train Your Dragon: How To Speak Dragonese: Book 3

Read the HILARIOUS books that inspired the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smal... MoreHow to Train Your Dragon: How To Speak Dragonese: Book 3

(24 reviews) Review
How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon's Fury: Book 12 How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon's Fury: Book 12
19th May 2016

How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon's Fury: Book 12

Read the HILARIOUS books that inspired the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smal... MoreHow to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon's Fury: Book 12

(21 reviews) Review
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New Book

Which Way To The Future: The out-of-this-world new series from the author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Which Way To The Future: The out-of-this-world new series from the author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Which Way To The Future: The out-of-this-world new series from the author of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

29th January 2026
(0 reviews)

Most Popular Book

How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1 How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1

How to Train Your Dragon: Book 1

25th February 2010
(100 reviews)

Coming Soon

How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike: Book 2 How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike: Book 2

How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike: Book 2

Paperback
4th June 2026

Recent Reviews

Series by
Cressida Cowell

How to Train Your Dragon

The Wizards of Once

Which Way

Emily Brown

How To Train Your Dragon School

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