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How to Be a Pirate (How to Train Your…
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How to Be a Pirate (How to Train Your Dragon) (original 2004; edition 2005)

by Cressida Cowell (Author)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,980298,214 (3.99)52
When Gobber the Belch's ship crashes down into the sea, a particular wooden box was the only thing that could help Hiccup and Fishlegs and his team survive. But when they got back to the shore, they realised what the box really was...

...It was a coffin. When the stupid Hairy Hooligans, not listening to Hiccup and his pal Fishlegs, opened the coffin marked 'DO NOT OPEN' they did not find Grimbeard the Ghastly as they expected (this was because Grimbeard was said to be in the coffin). Instead, a man who claimed his name was Alvin the Poor-but-Honest-Farmer was lying there.

Is Alvin really a poor-but-honest-farmer? And when he finds a treasure map leading the Hooligans to the Isle of the Skullions (huge, blind, deaf, eat-you-alive dragons) does he really go too? Does he want the Hooligans to have the treasure, or is he a treacherous liar with a heart of stone?

Full of fun and laughter, this book carries out all educational Viking history that you need to know. Read on to find out all about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III! ( )
  LaviniaRossetti | Sep 6, 2016 |
Showing 1-25 of 30 (next | show all)
Nem esti mesének való, de nagyon élvezetes olvasmány, remek karakterekkel és fordulatokkal (A filmekkel köszönőviszonyban sincs, kb a szereplők neve azonos, és ennyi. Azok is jók, meg ez is, teljesen másképp). A függővégek és a sodró lendület miatt önálló olvasás megszeretésére nagyon jó lehet, a további részeket megpróbálom a Kicsinek is majd erre tartogatni. A Nagy úgyis alig bírja, hogy ne spoilerezzen megállás nélkül. ( )
  blueisthenewpink | Jan 3, 2024 |
One of the films that was on during the Thanksgiving holiday was "how To Train Your Dragon" with everything going on I did manage to sit down with the kids and see most of it. It is really good. Then I ran across these audios.. I'm hooked.

This is a really cute. funny, and clever set of stories.

It doesn't hurt that David Tennant - whom I'm familiar with as the 10th Doctor - is narrating. He's really quite good at reading this. I may just have to see how he is at the Doctor Who audiobooks now. :D ( )
  Kiri | Dec 24, 2023 |
swashbuckling fun. i don't know how she was allowed to use some of these names but they're so funny, for kids and adults. ( )
  overlycriticalelisa | Oct 12, 2022 |
Book 2 of 12

Very good. The left-handed plot was just ironic. Not sure about Alvin. No one is ever really gone. ( )
  MaryRachelSmith | Apr 18, 2022 |
I just have one semi-major complaint, the only female character is the main characters mum. :( ( )
  Kat_books | Nov 9, 2021 |
***Before Re-listening***
I LISTENED TO THIS!

But when?

Well time to get it back from my family!
  Jonesy_now | Sep 24, 2021 |
Not at all like the movie but it is a great book. Has a lot of humor in it and it sure to get boys interested in reading. ( )
  KSnapdragon | Nov 17, 2020 |
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book suitable for anyone elementary age and up.

***SPOILER ALERT***

PARENT PERSPECTIVE: Rated PG, some mild violence and language, but nothing scary or offensive. This book, more than the first in the series, has a good moral lesson. Part of the plot is the Hooligan Vikings go on an adventurous quest to find the long lost treasure of Hiccup’s great, great grandfather. After witnessing his father and friends become blood-hungry for found treasure and then finding an even bigger treasure himself, accompanied by a letter from his long-lost ancestor detailing how the treasure was not worth the cost to soul and relationships, Hiccup must decide if he is willing to risk the same cost for his tribe by revealing the location of the treasure—though not revealing it may result in great personal cost. I won’t spoil his decision, but it lends to great conversation with your children about real heroism and character. It also subtly teaches children that one doesn’t have to fit it with what other “expect” in order to be strong, courageous, and intelligent. Rather, an ordinary, left-handed, somewhat geeky boy (or girl) can be a true, selfless hero.

TEACHER PERSPECTIVE: As with the first installment of the series, this book is also fairly different from the movies and Netflix show. This is something I love, actually. When the book and movies are fairly different, it causes children to pay better attention and to interact with the text more, and more deeply, than if they were reading it cold. It has a fairly good amount of higher level vocabulary that can be used for instruction and to discuss the nuances of similar words. The story also lends itself to being used for character development lessons (bullying, making decisions for the greater good, helping a friend, selfish/lessness, etc.) Again, the fact that capitalizes on good, clean, reading fun allows it to be read with multiple ages and reading abilities. ( )
  Corrine333 | Mar 18, 2019 |
Love these. This is the one where they are learning to swordfight, we first meet Alvin the Terrible (in Grimbeard the Ghastly's coffin) and they find the undersea treasure and defeat the Monstrous Strangulator ( )
  atreic | Feb 4, 2019 |
The treasure is found, and the bad pirates are bested. ( )
  addunn3 | Nov 28, 2017 |
When Gobber the Belch's ship crashes down into the sea, a particular wooden box was the only thing that could help Hiccup and Fishlegs and his team survive. But when they got back to the shore, they realised what the box really was...

...It was a coffin. When the stupid Hairy Hooligans, not listening to Hiccup and his pal Fishlegs, opened the coffin marked 'DO NOT OPEN' they did not find Grimbeard the Ghastly as they expected (this was because Grimbeard was said to be in the coffin). Instead, a man who claimed his name was Alvin the Poor-but-Honest-Farmer was lying there.

Is Alvin really a poor-but-honest-farmer? And when he finds a treasure map leading the Hooligans to the Isle of the Skullions (huge, blind, deaf, eat-you-alive dragons) does he really go too? Does he want the Hooligans to have the treasure, or is he a treacherous liar with a heart of stone?

Full of fun and laughter, this book carries out all educational Viking history that you need to know. Read on to find out all about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III! ( )
  LaviniaRossetti | Sep 6, 2016 |
Another hilarious adventure. Toothless cracks me up and the story is filled with many options to giggle. A great read, on to the next! ( )
  untitled841 | Aug 20, 2015 |
Hiccup, Fishlegs, Toothless, and friends are back. This time, they're in the process of training to be Viking pirates, when a coffin stating very clearly "DO NOT OPEN" carries the very much alive Alvin, the Poor but Honest Farmer, to the Hairy Hooligan tribe with a tale of pirate treasure to be had, if only they would follow in the footsteps of Hiccup's ancestor, Grimbeard the Ghastly. Shenanigans and over-the-top adventures ensue. These are amusing, and David Tennant does a fabulous job as narrator. The only thing I could wish is for the sound to be mixed a little better, as the quiet parts are very quiet and then a Viking leader bellows, and it's rather difficult commuting listening. ( )
1 vote bell7 | Apr 18, 2015 |
A quick read/listen. Not as good as the first book but still an entertaining way to pass 3 hours while doing household chores. Toothless, Hiccup and Hiccup's best friend Fishlegs are for the most part the only voices of reason as tense moments, mayhem and adventure continues for the Hairy Hooligan tribe. The continuing lessons in 'dragon identification' are also a lot of fun. ( )
  lkernagh | Apr 6, 2015 |
My blog post about this book is at this link. ( )
  SuziQoregon | Jun 24, 2014 |
I read this book with my son. He loved it just as much as the first! If you haven't read the first book, it's ok. The author does really well at keeping you informed. It is a book in the series, but can stand on its own. I suggest this for any parent that wants to bond with their kids, or an adult who wants a carefree, light read. ( )
  BStreeper | Nov 3, 2013 |
It was very clever how Hiccup outwitted the Monstrous Strangulator. The Skullions are scary yet likeable. It was funny when Toothless pooed in Alvin's helmet. ( )
  SebastianHagelstein | Jul 12, 2013 |
The continuing adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III whose Viking training brings him in contact with a pirate's treasure and the unsavory characters who want to find it. Very cute children's book about pirates, Vikings, and dragons (albeit not the kind you can ride around on) with high stakes and some nice morals. It's clearly a series for the younger reader, but it's entertaining enough for adults so that you're not completely bored when you're asked to read it for the eleventh time. Vikings are always good in my book and so, of course, are pirates. ( )
1 vote -Eva- | Apr 30, 2013 |
Cute book, funny kid drawings and a nice story. Entertaining and good, it shows how Hiccup now becomes a pirate and a bit more of the story behind the Hero he is nowadays... Nice book ( )
  littlesparrow | Apr 2, 2013 |
Excellent children's book! ( )
  Condorena | Apr 2, 2013 |
The further adventures of Hiccup the viking and Toothless the dragon are rather adorable. The death of the baby dragon was a bit hard for me, but the rest of the story was adorable and well written. ( )
  benuathanasia | Sep 26, 2012 |
How to be a pirate is a story about Hiccup. Hiccup is appart of a viking tribe. This viking tribe is on the island of Berk. In this adventure Hiccup meats a man by the name of Alvin. But what they do lnot now is that Alvin is an outcast.lllel An outcast is a viking so tareble that there tribe must banish them. Alvin tricks the viking into get in him the storm blade, throw strongest word ever made. Then Hiccup, Alvin and Fishlegs fond the biggest tresser eve. Alvin was going to kill Hiccup and Fishlegs to have the tresser when a giant squid ate him.
I rate this book a five star book. Now I am going to tell you why. This book was exiting. Also an adventurer fild book. I recommend this book to everyone, it is a good book to read to have a laugh. It is also toot to pass time. That is why I liked this book. ( )
  joshua.jrei2733 | Jan 19, 2012 |
A great bedtime reading book for a seven year old boy. ( )
  dougcornelius | Jul 26, 2011 |
Aaarrrggg Matey! Join Hiccup in an adventrue with toothless, his friend dragon. Together they make a great team. As they fly through the most dangerous parts of the world. Hiccup collects valuable treasure along the way. I recommend this book to fantasy lovers. ( )
  firhetrick | Feb 10, 2011 |
Hiccup must catch and train his very own dragon. This may sound cool but to catch them you go in the dragon nursery and pick one up. And half the time you try to train them they are asleep.

Hiccup is, surprisingly, the hero of the story. He is weak and stubborn but smart.

Fishlegs is a wimp and bad at everything. He’s got the legs of a fish. He also gets pushed around a lot.

Snotlout is hiccup’s cousin and is heir if Hiccup dies. He’s strong smart and brave. His new dragon is named Fireworm and is a monsterous nightmare.

Toothless is Hiccup’s new dragon. As his name says he is toothless. He is the hero’s dragon.

I recommend this book to dragon liking people.
  SoccerDude | Jan 23, 2011 |
Showing 1-25 of 30 (next | show all)

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Hachette Book Group

2 editions of this book were published by Hachette Book Group.

Editions: 0316155985, 0316085286

 

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