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Books Like How to Train Your Dragon

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

For readers who liked Hiccup as an underestimated hero, the unruly dragons, and the illustrated comic pace, these books offer outsiders, creatures, and adventures solved by more than strength.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Film fans should first decide whether they enjoyed the book’s distinct version of the world. Prioritise dragons and fantasy for spectacle, or Hiccup’s observation and persistence for another unconventional hero with an achievable reading level.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell · Novel · ages 8–12 · adventure and courage
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Coraline
Neil Gaiman · Novel · ages 9–12 · courage and adventure
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Point Blanc
Anthony Horowitz · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and adventure
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The Explorer
Katherine Rundell · Novel · ages 9–12 · adventure and courage
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Truckers
Terry Pratchett · Novel · ages 9–13 · adventure and humour
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Varjak Paw
S. F. Said · Novel · ages 8–12 · courage and adventure
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The Wizards of Once book cover
The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
Ages 8–12
The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
Choose The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell for children aged 8 to 12. This novel is shelved with books about adventure, courage and friendship.
Why it fits: another title by Cressida Cowell, the same novel format and shared themes of adventure and courage.
Novel2017
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Coraline book cover
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Ages 9–12
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Coraline, a novel by Neil Gaiman, is selected for children aged 9 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring courage, adventure and perseverance.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of courage and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 9–12.
Novel2002
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Point Blanc book cover
Point Blanc
Anthony Horowitz
Ages 10–14
Point Blanc
Anthony Horowitz
For readers interested in courage, adventure and perseverance, compare Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz. It is a novel for children aged 10 to 14.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of courage and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 10–14.
Novel2001
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The Explorer book cover
The Explorer
Katherine Rundell
Ages 9–12
The Explorer
Katherine Rundell
For readers interested in adventure, courage, friendship and perseverance, compare The Explorer by Katherine Rundell. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of adventure and courage and overlapping age guidance for 9–12.
Novel2017
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Truckers book cover
Truckers
Terry Pratchett
Ages 9–13
Truckers
Terry Pratchett
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: Truckers, a novel by Terry Pratchett. It connects with adventure, humour and courage.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of adventure and humour and overlapping age guidance for 9–13.
Novel1989
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Varjak Paw book cover
Varjak Paw
S. F. Said
Ages 8–12
Varjak Paw
S. F. Said · Dave McKean
Choose Varjak Paw by S. F. Said for children aged 8 to 12. It is illustrated by Dave McKean. This novel is shelved with books about courage, adventure, friendship and perseverance.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of courage and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 8–12.
Novel2003
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Who Let the Gods Out? book cover
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
Ages 9–12
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
For readers interested in humour, adventure and courage, compare Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of humour and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 9–12.
Novel2017
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A Monster Calls book cover
A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness
Ages 12–16
A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness · Jim Kay
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a novel for readers aged 12+. It is illustrated by Jim Kay. A useful choice for reading about courage, family, perseverance and honesty.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of courage and perseverance and overlapping age guidance for 12–16.
Novel2011
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Beyond the Deepwoods book cover
Beyond the Deepwoods
Paul Stewart
Ages 9–13
Beyond the Deepwoods
Paul Stewart · Chris Riddell
Beyond the Deepwoods, a novel by Paul Stewart, is selected for children aged 9 to 13. It is illustrated by Chris Riddell. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, courage and wonder.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of adventure and courage and overlapping age guidance for 9–13.
Novel1998
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Cogheart book cover
Cogheart
Peter Bunzl
Ages 9–12
Cogheart
Peter Bunzl
Cogheart, a novel by Peter Bunzl, is selected for children aged 9 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, loyalty and courage.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of adventure and courage and overlapping age guidance for 9–12.
Novel2016
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Cosmic book cover
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages 9–13
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce is a novel for children aged 9 to 13. A useful choice for reading about family, humour, adventure and wonder.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of humour and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 9–13.
Novel2008
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Flour Babies book cover
Flour Babies
Anne Fine
Ages 10–14
Flour Babies
Anne Fine
First published in 1992, Flour Babies is a novel by Anne Fine for children aged 10 to 14. Its themes include family, perseverance and humour.
Why it fits: the same novel format, shared themes of perseverance and humour and overlapping age guidance for 10–14.
Novel1992
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