The Case of the Car-Barkaholic Dog

Hank the Cowdog #17

by John R. Erickson, Gerald L. Holmes (Illustrator)

Hank's beloved sister and her children are the target of malicious threats from a Great Dane named Rambo. Honor-bound to defend his family, Hank devises a plan to ensnare the enemy--but will he sacrifice his own hide in the process?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Childrens, Comedy, Adventure, Young Adult, Juvenile

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

John R. Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, is gifted with a storyteller's knack for spinning a yarn. Through the eyes of Hank the Cowdog, a smelly, smart-aleck Head of Ranch Security, Erickson gives readers a glimpse of daily life on a ranch in the West Texas Panhandle. This series of books and tapes is in school libraries across the country, has sold more than 7.6 million copies, is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and is the winner of the 1993 Audie for Outstanding Children's Series from the Audio Publisher's Association. Publishers Weekly calls Hank a "grassroots publishing phenomena," and USA Today says this is "the best family entertainment in years."

Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults, and when Erickson started getting "Dear Hank" letters, he knew he was onto something. So in 1983, he self-published 2,000 copies of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, and they sold out in 6 weeks.

When teachers began inviting Erickson to their schools, Hank found his most eager fans. Teachers, librarians, and students alike love Hank. According to some Texas Library Association surveys, the Hank the Cowdog books are the most popular selections in many libraries' children's sections. The lively characters make excellent material for reading and writing lessons, and turn even the most reluctant readers into avid Hank-fans.

Erickson was born in Midland, Texas, but by the age of 3, he had moved with his family to Perryton, Texas, where he and his wife live today on their working cattle ranch. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. His advice to young writers is, "Write about something you know. Try to leave your readers better off than they were before."

Reviews

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1993/1994 someone donated a "box" set of Hank the Cowdog books to the group home I lived in. I remember well that the set included 22 books and I remember flying through them one by one. I'm not sure I was in the age range of the target audience, but I loved them nonetheless. It is a fond memory in a sea of uncertainty. I can honestly say that these books got me through a rough time.

[bear.hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud

[J]

CRW

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sighed a huge relief to find this book void of stereotype or racism. I really missed Drover for the bulk of the story.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to give a plug for old Hank. My oldest is nearly six, and he got the original Hank on CD for Christmas. I can't even find it listed on the GoodReads site, since I guess most adults are not reading this stuff. I wasn't going to read it to him yet, since it has a couple of shut ups and idiots and all that in there, but this is WELL worth a listen if you can get it on CD read by the author. My son talked us into listening to it on the drive to the coast right after Christmas, and Matt and I laughed all the way through it. It's a well-written kid's book anyway, but hearing it in that cowboy voice makes it that much funnier. Listen for the silage part, and the episode where Hank and his cow dog friend "christen" the tires of a truck carrying a dog they don't like. Sometimes, you just have to take a break from the serious books written for adults and see things through the eyes of a kid again, or in this case - the eyes of a tough cow dog.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Hank the Cow Dog is a children's story...it's quite humorous for adults. Get the audio version and you'll just laugh your self silly. I've heard several of the audiotapes (my kids like Hank), that we have gotten from the library. It's just pure fun, and you can never get enough Hank as there is a whole series on this private investigator dog and his country antics.

[Darryl Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read pretty much this entire series years ago after I descovered them in my elementary school libary. The plot, and characters are great. Plus these books are extremly funny. I loved this series then and I still love it.

[Melika Farazandeh]

I've just read some of Hank's stories. Have fun!!

[Amelia Linde · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son just loves these little books. They're good quality reading for children.

[Cws]

JM4 Eri

[Antone · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved all the hank the cow dogg books

[Wade Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. Rambo is funny. I liked it when the dog catcher thought Hank had rabies.

[Johannes Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed from Grandma.

[Mignon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really funny for me, but my boys of five and eight didn't get the sarcastic humor.

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like all of these books and i have probably read like thirty of them :)

[Cws]

JM4 Eri