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How to Train Your Dragon #0.5
Hiccup The Seasick Viking
Hiccup is a Viking. But he is not big and burly, with a bushy mustache. He is tiny and thoughtful and polite. He is also afraid of going to sea. Unfortunately, his first voyage begins very soon--next Tuesday morning.
"You can't be frightened, little Hiccup," roars his father, Stoick the Vast. "Vikings don't get frightened." And they don't get seasick either...or do they?
Here is the saga of a pint-sized sailor who charts his own brave course.
"You can't be frightened, little Hiccup," roars his father, Stoick the Vast. "Vikings don't get frightened." And they don't get seasick either...or do they?
Here is the saga of a pint-sized sailor who charts his own brave course.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
19 people are currently reading
1917 people want to read
About the author
Cressida Cowell
211 books2,459 followersCressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. 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. 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. Cressida has written and illustrated eight books in the popular Hiccup series. The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit. How to Train Your Dragon is now published in over 30 languages. A DreamWorks Animation feature film is out in March 2010. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 and has been shortlisted for many others. Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 3, 2017
Cute little short story about Hickkup's first time he went to sea.
I think it's an excellent way to get kids to read this series. It's just intriguing and short enough to awake the imagination and left you wanting to know more!
I think it's an excellent way to get kids to read this series. It's just intriguing and short enough to awake the imagination and left you wanting to know more!
January 14, 2016
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!
October 28, 2022
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala
Simpatična pričica koja je svojevrsni prequel knjizi Kako izdresirati zmaja, u kojoj upoznajemo Štucavca dok je još bio mali Viking kojeg je bilo strah ploviti morem. I naravno, saznajemo kako je taj strah prevladao.
Simpatična pričica koja je svojevrsni prequel knjizi Kako izdresirati zmaja, u kojoj upoznajemo Štucavca dok je još bio mali Viking kojeg je bilo strah ploviti morem. I naravno, saznajemo kako je taj strah prevladao.
August 7, 2014
It was ok.
I liked the message. Kids do see adults as wise people who are scared of nothing, and it's good for kids to look up to their parents, but it's also good to show them our weakness sometimes.
They realize they don't have to be perfect and its ok. That could make them stronger, like Hiccup. They can learn that way.
And sometimes kids CAN teach adults a thing or two, or remind us of something we've forgotten. We as adults should be more open. I mean, it was Hiccup who brought them hime. Kids can ground us sometimes.
I liked the book overall. :)
I liked the message. Kids do see adults as wise people who are scared of nothing, and it's good for kids to look up to their parents, but it's also good to show them our weakness sometimes.
They realize they don't have to be perfect and its ok. That could make them stronger, like Hiccup. They can learn that way.
And sometimes kids CAN teach adults a thing or two, or remind us of something we've forgotten. We as adults should be more open. I mean, it was Hiccup who brought them hime. Kids can ground us sometimes.
I liked the book overall. :)
February 27, 2018
Little viking is scared to go off to sea. His father says no vikings ever get scared. They go off to sea and a really bad storm makes him sea sick. Then everyone gets seasick. The little viking figures out if he is in charge and steers the boat, he is not so scared. He gets them all home quickly. He figures out sometimes vikings get scared.
October 29, 2018
Cute story about facing your fears and realizing that Everyone is afraid of Something.
October 17, 2023
This book and I was born on the same year and I feel a very very big feeling
July 18, 2024
Just a cute story with a heartfelt message in a setting that I adore.
August 11, 2016
Very sweet little book about a kid who is worried he won't be a very good Viking, he is due to go to sea for the first time and he is terrified.
This is where how to train you dragon all started, there is a lovely introduction explaining how the idea all came about.
Nice illustrations and a quick read. Also plenty of opportunity to do some silly Viking voices.
This is where how to train you dragon all started, there is a lovely introduction explaining how the idea all came about.
Nice illustrations and a quick read. Also plenty of opportunity to do some silly Viking voices.
June 18, 2022
Just finished reading the kid’s book HOW TO BE A VIKING by CRESSIDA COWELL. I read this book while listening to the audible version narrated by the author, CRESSIDA COWELL. Vikings are brave. But Hiccup isn't like other Vikings. He's afraid of everything... including the sea. 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.
Featuring 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. These are the cutest books. This was actually the first book that started the phenomenal series of 12 books titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. There have also been 3 movies and a television show. These books are beautifully illustrated and I love them and the movies as well. The little viking called Hiccup is such a sweet but brave character who is always trying to impress his father.
Featuring 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. These are the cutest books. This was actually the first book that started the phenomenal series of 12 books titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. There have also been 3 movies and a television show. These books are beautifully illustrated and I love them and the movies as well. The little viking called Hiccup is such a sweet but brave character who is always trying to impress his father.
June 18, 2022
Just finished reading the kid’s book HOW TO BE A VIKING by CRESSIDA COWELL. I read this book while listening to the audible version narrated by the author, CRESSIDA COWELL. Vikings are brave. But Hiccup isn't like other Vikings. He's afraid of everything... including the sea. 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.
Featuring 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. These are the cutest books. This was actually the first book that started the phenomenal series of 12 books titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. There have also been 3 movies and a television show. These books are beautifully illustrated and I love them and the movies as well. The little viking called Hiccup is such a sweet but brave character who is always trying to impress his father.
Featuring 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. These are the cutest books. This was actually the first book that started the phenomenal series of 12 books titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. There have also been 3 movies and a television show. These books are beautifully illustrated and I love them and the movies as well. The little viking called Hiccup is such a sweet but brave character who is always trying to impress his father.
May 22, 2025
We have listened to this 10 min audiobook several times now bc my 6yo son loves it. Cressida Crowell herself is the narrator and does a fantastic job. The sound effects are fun and the song Stoick sings is funny. I love the lessons learned in humility and bravery. We have listened to the HTTYD series several times so it was fun to see hiccup as a little kid. I loved hearing the author talk about the origin of the characters hiccup and Stoick. I love her relationship with her dad.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Characters in the book: hiccup, stoic, and old wrinkley. I love stools need to be macho but he is humbled at the end.
The question of the book is: Do Vikings ever get frightened? And the first answer of stoic is never. But at the end after the big storm and hiccup steers them to safety he answers: “Sometimes they do! But they get over it. that is what makes them so brave.”
Another funny quote is do you ever brush your beard? No! Only girlies brush their beards! But girlies don’t have beards!
SPOILERS and book notes:
Characters in the book: hiccup, stoic, and old wrinkley. I love stools need to be macho but he is humbled at the end.
The question of the book is: Do Vikings ever get frightened? And the first answer of stoic is never. But at the end after the big storm and hiccup steers them to safety he answers: “Sometimes they do! But they get over it. that is what makes them so brave.”
Another funny quote is do you ever brush your beard? No! Only girlies brush their beards! But girlies don’t have beards!
March 10, 2019
This is one of the best children's books ever. It is completely adorable and heart warming.
How to Train Your Dragon has been one of my favorite stories sense before I could read, when my sister and I would listen to the silly voices narrated on our boom box. And once I realized this was the inspiration for that story, I just had to get it.
It is so cute. Your heart just gets all warm and fuzzy the minute you open to the first page. The art is adorable and there is no way to describe how you feel when you first see the characters that make up so much of the How to Train Your Dragon series. I loved seeing the first renditions of Stoick the Vast and Old Wrinkly. And Hiccup is just too adorable! You just want to eat him up!
This book is splendid, and every person needs to read it -- regardless of age. This is the perfect example of children's fiction, and shows the art of it. Some may think that children's books are too small, simple, and menial to have an "Art," but that is just not true. This book is a perfect example of that.
How to Train Your Dragon has been one of my favorite stories sense before I could read, when my sister and I would listen to the silly voices narrated on our boom box. And once I realized this was the inspiration for that story, I just had to get it.
It is so cute. Your heart just gets all warm and fuzzy the minute you open to the first page. The art is adorable and there is no way to describe how you feel when you first see the characters that make up so much of the How to Train Your Dragon series. I loved seeing the first renditions of Stoick the Vast and Old Wrinkly. And Hiccup is just too adorable! You just want to eat him up!
This book is splendid, and every person needs to read it -- regardless of age. This is the perfect example of children's fiction, and shows the art of it. Some may think that children's books are too small, simple, and menial to have an "Art," but that is just not true. This book is a perfect example of that.
December 13, 2016
Ran across this at the library the other day and HAD to grab it. I'd looked for this in the past, so the library must have gotten in over the last year or something. I was so excited. This is a book that my husband actually sat in on to listen as well.
I liked the introduction by Cowell, about how this is what started her crazy journey with the How to Train Your Dragon series...when she was very young. The story was actually good too. It shows kids that parents can be wrong and things aren't always as they seem.
The illustrations were great. They were bright and cartoonish. Overall this story was a great addition to the series and I'm so glad I stumbled upon it.
I liked the introduction by Cowell, about how this is what started her crazy journey with the How to Train Your Dragon series...when she was very young. The story was actually good too. It shows kids that parents can be wrong and things aren't always as they seem.
The illustrations were great. They were bright and cartoonish. Overall this story was a great addition to the series and I'm so glad I stumbled upon it.
December 6, 2018
Cute prequel to the How to Train Your Dragon Series; a good book for children who are shy, reluctant, or apprehensive about trying new things, to encourage them to face their fears and gain strength and courage from experiences. Hiccup, afraid of going to sea with his heroic viking father, Stoick the Vast, learns all of this from his seafaring adventure. There is a nice author's note at the beginning where Cowell talks about her relationship with her own larger-than-life, fearless father and how he inspired her writing.
December 4, 2020
My daughter is old enough for the novels, and we are loving them together. My son is still too young for Hiccup's later adventures, but this is one of his favorite bedtime stories. We have a tune for the Viking Song, which is sometimes his lullaby. We both love love Cressida Cowell's adorable illustrations, and while I appreciate the story as Hiccup's first step to a greater destiny of being able to overcome fear to do what must be done, my son just likes a little boy like him who is brave, and the hero of the story. Fantastic for all ages!
December 7, 2020
An adorable picture book that kicked off the How to Train Your Dragon book series. Despite my love for the movies, I've never actually read the HTTYD books before, but I definitely want to. I never even knew it started with a picture book, so imagine my surprise when I saw this title from Cassandra Cowell in the picture book section. It's a sweet read, has some excellent lessons, and makes for an interesting early insight into how Hiccup differs from the rest of the vikings, even as a little boy. The art was also VERY cute. 💕
November 21, 2024
I am enjoying the How to Train Your Dragon series, and I decided to pick up and read this short story about Hiccup to get back into things. Just as charming as the original, this little book is a fun read that expands the world of the series ever so slightly for the reader. Come along with Hiccup as he takes his first voyage on the sea and finds out that even fully grown Vikings can get a little seasick. Recommended for young readers and those who want to know all they can about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his adventures.
August 15, 2025
It's actually INSANE that a story THIS ADORABLE ended up with a 12 book spinoff series traumatizing this child and his friends immensely. Like, it went from Hiccup feeling like the odd one out because he got seasick once, to him literally fighting in a war, becoming a slave at only 12 or 13 years old, and being the child of a prophecy.
Like. wow Cressida Cowell, that's some insane backstory you have for poor Hiccup
I'm going to show this to my friend and tell them that the httyd movies all started with this book, and none of them will believe me.
Like. wow Cressida Cowell, that's some insane backstory you have for poor Hiccup
I'm going to show this to my friend and tell them that the httyd movies all started with this book, and none of them will believe me.
March 11, 2018
This is the very funny story of Hiccup, from the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON series. The kids liked the movies and they laughed and smiled throughout this story.
It was nice to see the sketches that started the story.
This book is on the longer side, so it's better for kids who can sit through longer stories.
It was nice to see the sketches that started the story.
This book is on the longer side, so it's better for kids who can sit through longer stories.
September 21, 2023
Cute and fun introduction story to Hiccup and his world! Audiobook is read by the author. It is the story of Hiccup's first time out to sea where he goes to find out if vikings are ever frightened. Hiccup gets to take charge after everyone gets seasick. At the end he talks about how vikings sometimes get frightened but they get over it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
At first I thought what are the odds that there is another Viking kid with the name of Hiccup who is afraid only to realise at the end of the book that this is the same Hiccup that the movie is based on. Great book that shows even the fiercest warrior can get seasick and just because you look tough doesn’t mean you have to act tough all the time.
January 9, 2025
Do vikings ever get seasick? Do vikings ever get scared? Once again, Hiccup will take us on an adventure to find out. I love all the How to Train Your Dragon books, and this book is just as perfect. Just a quick note: This book is very hard to find. I went to YouTube. The couple that read the book did a fantastic job. Chef's kiss💋
May 20, 2018
2.5
Es un libro adorable. Los colores son muy bonitos y suaves.
Nada impresionante ni sobresaliente, pero era un libro que NECESITABA leer, como gran fanática que soy de las películas y los personajes de "Cómo entrenar a tu dragón". Una historia dulce y básica acerca del valor.
Es un libro adorable. Los colores son muy bonitos y suaves.
Nada impresionante ni sobresaliente, pero era un libro que NECESITABA leer, como gran fanática que soy de las películas y los personajes de "Cómo entrenar a tu dragón". Una historia dulce y básica acerca del valor.
August 23, 2018
Our parents are not always as wise as our grandparents, even if old people’s breath can stink of fish. An enjoyable book pitched at a much younger audience than ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ but with the same feel. The drawings are cute too.
April 26, 2019
What a fun book. It's a picture book, just in case you were wondering, but good nonetheless. It tells the story of Hiccup's childhood and if you read it then you will probably understand the How To Train Your Dragon series a little but more.
December 14, 2020
Well, not what I expected when it came through the inter-library loan system. Great book for the little ones, though, especially if they've been introduced to the movies (which are in many ways VERY different than the books).
June 25, 2021
I'm so glad I found this little story on YouTube before starting my journey with this series (which I just received in the mail today). I loved the cuteness of this one and can't wait to get into the rest of the series. I hope you all read this series and love it very much.
December 29, 2023
My son absolutely loves the How To Train Your Dragon movies and he finally decided that he wanted us to read the books together. That’s when I came across this short story by Hiccup. It was super cute and a nice little introduction to the book series. Now on to the books that started it all!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews