Cressida Cowell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Cressida Cowell MBE FRSL
Cowell in 2025
Born	(1966-04-15) 15 April 1966 (age 60) London, England
Occupation	Writer
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Notable works	How to Train Your Dragon series
Spouse	Simon Cowell
Children	3
Parents	Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham Marcia Persephone Hare
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Cressida Cowell is a famous British author. She is best known for her exciting book series, How to Train Your Dragon. These books became super popular movies and TV shows made by DreamWorks Animation. By 2015, over seven million copies of her books were sold worldwide!

Cressida also writes the wonderful Emily Brown stories with illustrator Neal Layton. The first book in this series, That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown, even won a special award called the Nestlé Children’s Book Award.

Her Early Life and Inspiration

Cressida Cowell was born in London, England, on April 15, 1966. Her father was Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham.

When she was a child, Cressida spent her summers in a very special place. She lived on a tiny, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. This island was part of the Inner Hebrides. She says these summers were when she first started writing and drawing.

Cressida remembers building a small stone house on the island with her family when she was eight. They could even fish for enough food to eat all summer! For many years, they spent weeks there without electricity, phones, or TV. This meant Cressida had lots of time to draw and create stories. These adventures clearly inspired her amazing tales of dragons and Vikings.

Cressida went to Keble College, Oxford to study English. She also studied illustration at Saint Martin's School of Art and Brighton University. She attended Marlborough College from 1982 to 1984.

Today, Cressida Cowell lives in London with her husband, Simon. He used to work with an organization that helps children worldwide. They have three children: daughters Maisie and Clementine, and son Alexander.

Her Amazing Books

Cressida Cowell has written many fantastic books that transport readers to magical worlds.

The "How to Train Your Dragon" Series

This is Cressida Cowell's most famous series, full of adventure and friendship between Vikings and dragons!

• How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
• How to Be a Pirate (2004)
• How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
• How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (2006)
• How to Twist a Dragon's Tale (2007)
• A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
• How to Ride a Dragon's Storm (2008)
• How to Break a Dragon's Heart (2009)
• How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
• How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
• How to Betray a Dragon's Hero (2013)
• How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (2015)

The "Emily Brown" Stories

These charming picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton, tell the adventures of Emily Brown.

• That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown (2007)
• Emily Brown and the Thing (2007)
• Emily Brown and the Elephant Emergency (2010)
• Cheer Up Your Teddy Bear, Emily Brown! (2011)
• Emily Brown and Father Christmas (2018)

Other Fantastic Series

Cressida Cowell has also created other exciting book series for young readers.

Awards and Recognition

Cressida Cowell has received many special awards for her wonderful books:

• In 2006, she won the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award for That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown.
• In 2018, her book The Wizards of Once won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story.
• In 2019, she was chosen as the Children’s Laureate. This is a very important role for a children's author in the UK.

Cressida Cowell was also honored with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020. This award recognizes her great contributions to children's literature.

In 2021, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL). This means she is recognized as an important writer.

See also

In Spanish: Cressida Cowell para niños