Books like How to train your dragon

A hilarious, scrappy underdog tale where brains, empathy, and a very disobedient reptile triumph over brawn and bravado. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with How to train your dragon.

chaotic
adventurous
scrappy
lighthearted

01
How to Ride a Dragon's Storm
Cressida Cowell
A chaotic, ticking-clock adventure where cleverness and loyalty are the only defense against impossible odds and absurdly dangerous beasts.
Shares:
- chaotic
- adventurous
- underdog triumph
02
How to fight a dragon's fury
Cressida Cowell
A breathless, tear-jerking, and triumphant conclusion to an epic underdog journey that balances chaotic humor with profound emotional depth.
Shares:
- earnest
03
Eragon
Christopher Paolini
A sweeping, earnest coming-of-age epic defined by the awe-inspiring bond between a boy and his dragon.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
04
Dealing with Dragons
Patricia C. Wrede · 1990
A delightfully pragmatic dismantling of fairy tale tropes where common sense is the ultimate superpower.
Shares:
- adventurous
- lighthearted
05
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson · 2004
A bouncy, wind-swept ride that celebrates the magic of making space for just one more friend.
Feels:
- cheerful
- cozy
- autumnal
06
The Viking Adventure
Clyde Robert Bulla · 1963
A brisk, sea-swept historical journey that celebrates both the thrill of exploration and the quiet power of writing it all down.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
07
The Bad Beginning
Lemony Snicket
A delightfully dreary romp where clever children must rely entirely on themselves to survive the sheer incompetence of the adult world.
Feels:
- gloomy
- absurd
- theatrical
08
Heroes of the valley
Jonathan Stroud
A boisterous, myth-infused adventure that balances the grandiosity of ancient legends with the irreverent humor of an undersized underdog.
Shares:
- adventurous
- irreverent
09
Dragons love tacos
Adam Rubin
A deadpan, conversational guide to hosting the ultimate gathering that inevitably descends into hilarious, fiery chaos.
Shares:
- chaotic
- lighthearted
10
Beowulf
Rosemary Sutcliff · 1994
A firelit, blood-soaked retelling of an ancient legend that pits shining heroism against the creeping dark.
Feels:
- firelit
- atmospheric
- dread-tinged
11
The Worst Witch (The Worst Witch #1)
Jill Murphy
A cozy, chaotic romp through a magical boarding school where good intentions and spectacular mistakes go hand in hand.
Shares:
- chaotic
12
The Erth Dragons
Chris D'Lacey
A cinematic, mythic plunge into a prehistoric world where dragons rule the skies and fragile alliances are forged in fire.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest

Back to How to train your dragon