Gr 3-5 - Cowell is getting a great deal of mileage from her pseudomemoirs of the delightfully alliterative Viking. She retains her touch in this latest volume, which relates Hiccup's quest to find the Vegetable-That-No-One-Dares-Name, namely a potato that is the only thing that can prevent his friend Fishlegs from dying of Vorpentitis. The potato, you see, is an imaginary vegetable that comes from a place that doesn't really exist: America. When Hiccup realizes that he has only until 10 o'clock the next morning to find the mythical vegetable, it is a race against time and against the wishes of his father. It also requires traveling with the charming bog-burglar Camicazi, breaking into the headquarters of Norbert the Nutjob and his Hysteric tribe, and stealing the frozen potato while they sleep, all the while trying to avoid a fearsome sea predator. The result is an irresistible concoction. As with all the "Hiccup" books, this one is full of amusing illustrations, clever design that includes inkblots scattered throughout the pages, and an occasional explanation of hibernating dragons and venomous vorpents. This action-filled and compelling story will draw readers along. It's a must for libraries that have the previous books in this series, which is probably most.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

[Editors' Note: The following is a combined review of HOW TO CHEAT A DRAGON'S CURSE and HOW TO SPEAK DRAGONESE.]--Even without the humorous artwork of the print editions, narrator David Tennant keeps the spirit of fun alive with over-the-top portrayals of the many goofy warriors in the continuing memoirs of young Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. It’s curious to hear Tennant’s Scots brogue delivering the speech of Norse Vikings, and his Roman soldiers sound more like stereotypical Italian immigrants than ancient legionnaires. However, these inconsistencies will likely be missed by young fans of adventure and humor. Dragon translations, statistics, and other “factual” digressions are delineated with introductory music and a professorial tone. Transitional music separates the short chapters but is often too loud, dictating frequent volume changes. Tennant is probably best known as Doctor Who and Harry Potter’s Barty Crouch, Jr. L.T. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine