How To Train Your Dragon (Audio)

by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell
read by David Tennant
-How to Train Your Dragon Series, Book 1-
(London: Hodder Children’s Books, 2004)
MP3 Audiobook, 343.3 MB, 3.4 Hours, Children’s Fiction
ISBN: 9781840329698, US$15.95

ABCD Rating: ACQUIRE

From the Cover: Can Hiccup pass the Dragon Initiation Programme with a toothless dragon AND fight the Sea Dragonus Maximus before it gobbles up every Viking on Berk? It’s time for Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.

My Review: Again, a book that I only picked up because I freakin’ loved the movie and I wanted to see what the source material was like. Also, it is read by David “The Tenth Doctor” Tennant, and how can you not love that?! I want to say up front that if you go in to this book expecting something similar to the DreamWorks film, this is what is the same: both have Vikings and both have dragons. That’s about it. The two stories could really not be more different, however “different” isn’t a bad thing. As much as I liked the film revision of Cowell’s story, I enjoyed the actual story all that more.

The tale that Cowell—through the character of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock—spins is absolutely wonderful. Sure, the Vikings she depicts are broad stereotypes, but when you’re in the middle of a story this good … the growth of Haddock from Hiccup the Useless to Hiccup the Useful, the faults and warts sort of just fall away and the story shines (much like what happens when reading the Harry Potter series). This is the perfect story for a young boy (in the age range of 7 to 10) especially one who might find himself bullied or picked-on at school because he’s not like the other boys. They will be able to relate to Hiccup and possibly even learn from his story and find a way to grow beyond the influence of bullying. This is not to say that this story is a magic bullet for bullies, but the ways in which Hiccup overcomes his supposed faults and is able to save the day will definitely be inspiring.

As for this audio edition, it doesn’t get much better than having David Tennant read this story. Tennant has the perfect balance of mirth and seriousness in his voice and is able to strike a balance between the two in order to really bring Cowell’s words to life. The only reader who could have possibly been better than Tennant would maybe have been Craig Ferguson.

In the end, I really enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon and so did my family; we listened to it in the car together anytime we were driving somewhere, and we’re all looking forward to the next book in the series.