Cressida Cowell is currently the Waterstones Children's Laureate (2019 - 2021). She is the author and illustrator of the bestselling The Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon books series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton.

The Wizards of Once series has been translated into 38 languages and has been signed by DreamWorks Animation. How to Train Your Dragon has sold over 8 million books worldwide in 38 languages and is a major DreamWorks Animation film franchise, as well as being made into a TV series on Netflix and CBBC.

Cressida is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency, a Trustee of World Book Day and a founder patron of the Children's Media Foundation. She has won numerous prizes, including the Gold Award in the Nestle Children's Book Prize.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

World-conquering (The Guardian)

The Wizards of Once was my BOTM on launch last year, going on to win the Blue Peter Award. In the sequel, Wish and Xar must work together once more. A brilliantly realised fantasy adventure and an absolute delight. (The Bookseller)

This sequel is just as exciting as the first instalment and just as thrilling, gorgeously written and illustrated....Cressida Cowell's writing is so warm; it just flows like a runaway train. There's real friendship here and some deep truths about family dynamics. (Book Trust)

Cressida Cowell writes exceptional fantasy novels, full of atmosphere, and this is another great story. Wonderful illustrations by the author are key to the story and work really well to keep children's attention, as well as setting the scene. (Parents in Touch)

Cressida Cowell's writing is so warm; it just flows like a runaway train. There's real friendship here and some deep truths about family dynamics. (BookTrust)

Also back is dragon-mistress Cressida Cowell. Twice Magic (Hodder £12.99) is the sequel to last year's The Wizards of Once, and masterfully picks up this series' tale of the errant son and daughter of two opposing clans, the Wizards (who loathe iron) and the Warriors (who despise magic), who are in turn besieged by the massing forces of the seriously unpleasant Kingwitch (The Guardian)

Dragon-wrangler Cressida Cowell came back strong too. The second instalment of her new universe, Twice Magic (Hachette), found her misfit young Wizard and her magically misfiring Warrior princess striving to unite their enemy tribes against a clear and present danger: the malevolent Kingwitch, so horrible you can smell him on the page. (The Guardian) --This text refers to the paperback edition.