Cressida grew up in Chelsea. She studied English Literature at Keble College, Oxford University. She then worked at Macmillan in the Fiction department. She took a BA at St Martins in graphic design and then an MA in Narrative Illustration at Brighton. She is married with three children and lives in London.
The first in the successful series... perfect for tricky boy readers, as the action scenes are first-class. The Sunday Telegraph Mentioned in the 100 Best Children's Books Ever (Novels) The Daily Telegraph 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's children's books editor Filled with thrilling adventure and action-packed heroes -- Charlotte Tarling, Year 6 Country Child By turns hilarious and wise, it's never predictable, brilliantly illustrated and always delightful The Times Proper modern classics Sunday Express Hilarious guardian.co.uk A laugh out loud romp of a Viking adventure Observer The start of the most original series for kids in ages. Funny, clever and great for the whole family to share Dundee Courier ' The combination of cartoons with sharp wit is what makes this book so uniquely special.' Books Quaterly (Waterstones) '... full of charm ... imaginative and bursting with inventive, off-the-wall humour, making them great stories to be read aloud.' Waterstones Books Quarterly 'another triumph from the creative pen of Cressida Cowell.' Writeaway.org '... inspired series ... its enchantment lies primarily in the comical, affectionate and often irritable relationship between Hiccup (the only nerd in the violent Viking Hooligan tribe) and his runty little dragon Toothless.' Amanda Craig, The Times Fiercely exciting and laugh-aloud funny, it is as full of joy for children of 7+ who have given up reading as for those who love it. Amanda Craig, The Times 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 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. Sunday Herald, Glasgow ... raucous and slapstick ... liberally illustrated with [Cressida Cowell's] riotous drawings, notes and maps. The Financial Times [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 'a hilarious and gripping adventure, beautifully paced and studded with great dramatic scenes.' Amanda Craig, Times Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful. Independent on Sunday Cowell writes laugh-out-loud books with plenty of boy appeal. Cowell's anarchic drawings suit the slapstick humour. The Herald '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 'What a fab book ... will definitely make you laugh out loud!' Torquay Herald Express Highly original. Uproarious. Woman's Weekly