SuitabookHow to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
- Reading
- Read a chapter or two together if the dragon danger or crude jokes may be unsettling. Pause after tense scenes, then invite your child to judge whether wit, courage and loyalty changed the outcome.
- Themes
- Heroism beyond strength: Hiccup is physically unimpressive but uses thoughtfulness, curiosity and creativity while facing expectations from peers and family. The book presents this favourably.
- Training, control and companionship: Hiccup is expected to capture and train a dragon, but develops an effective team with Toothless, who is difficult to train and has an independent attitude. The partnership is portrayed positively, while the available detail does not establish a broader argument about control, consent or animal welfare.
- Pressure and bullying: Hiccup faces sneering peers and pressure from a harsh, demanding father; Snotlout bullies him and the reported behaviour goes mostly unpunished. The book presents competing or mixed signals about this.
- Worth knowing
- Consider whether the slapstick style suits your child: the book includes frightening dragons, attacks, a deer being torn apart, an army being eaten, a boy surviving being swallowed, a dragon blowing up, cartoon violence, and repeated fart, belch and snot humour.