How To Train Your Dragon: How to Size a Dragon's Jewels

Cressida Cowell is the author and the illustrator of the globally bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series. Her next series, The Wizards of Once, was an international bestseller. Cressida is also the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton. The Which Way series is her most recent and has already been translated into 15 languages.


How to Train Your Dragon has sold over 8 million books worldwide in 42 languages. It is also an award-winning DreamWorks film series, and a TV series shown on Netflix and CBBC. The Wizards of Once has been translated into 38 languages and also signed by DreamWorks.


Cressida was the Waterstones Children's Laureate (2019-2022). She is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency and a founder patron of the Children's Media Foundation. She has won numerous prizes for her books, including the Gold Award in the Nestle Children's Book Prize, the Hay Festival Medal for Fiction, and Philosophy Now' magazine's 2015 Award for Contributions in the Fight Against Stupidity.


She grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland and she now lives in Hammersmith with her husband, three children and a dog called Pigeon.

PRAISE FOR THE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON BOOKS: '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 ... 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 'If light amusement is required, Cressida Cowell's How to Break a Dragon's Heart delivers all it promises. There are lots of illustrations and a playfulness with language that will draw in even the most reluctant reader.' -- Daily Telegraph 'is not only funny, well written and thrilling, but also wise about what we owe those who love us.' -- The Times 'Ahead of the film of the same title due to be released next March, this is a special edition of the first book in the uproarious series about Viking Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Highly original, and full of useful tips for dragon-owners everywhere.' -- Woman's Weekly Top stuff. -- Daily Telegraph Especially good... raises the series to classic status. -- Times Ceaselessly inventive... young readers are lucky to have her. ***** -- Books For Keeps Always thrilling, funny and brilliantly illustrated. -- Daily Express A modern classic. Cowell is an effortlessly funny writer and is brimming with creativity. Highly recommended. -- Birmingham Post A delight for 8+.

A delight for 8+ The Times 20121201