| | |  | Lambs | Home » » The Original Adventures #1 (Hank the Cowdog) | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | While investigating a vicious murder on his ranch, Hank finds himself the number one suspect. Resigning in a fit of despair, he heads for the hills to become an outlaw--but it's not as easy as he imagined.
USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series "...the best family entertainment in years."
Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky supersleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies. And as Head of Ranch Security on a West Texas ranch, he's usually up to his ears in all kinds of amusing trouble. Whether he's called upon to bark up the sun, investigate suspicious goings-on, or defend the ranch against marauders, Hank's hilarious, hair-raising adventures will delight readers young and old alike.
"Rip-roaring fun...[a] marvelous situation comedy." --School Library Journal | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780141303772
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| John R. Erickson | | Paperback:
| 144 pages | | Publisher:
| Puffin | | Publication Date:
| August 01, 1998 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0141303778 | | Product Length:
| 7.62 inches | | Product Width:
| 5.12 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.4 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.26 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.7 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.5 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.25 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 57 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Amusing.Aug 06, 2010
John R. Erickson, The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (Puffin, 1983)
I have no idea how this came to be on my list, though I have now started something that may take longer than I have left alive to finish; the Hank the Cowdog series, which is still going, stretches to fifty-three volumes as I write this. I obviously can't do just one a year, or if Erickson stops with this last volume, I'll finish up when I'm in my mid-nineties. That's not gonna work, so I'm gonna have to step it up. Judging by the first book, that shouldn't be difficult at all.
Hank the Cowdog is Head of Ranch Security. Which is a tough job, but someone's got to do it. With his flaky sidekick Drover, Hank is tasked with keeping predators away from the livestock. Only problem is, Hank himself has quite a taste for chicken. So when something starts sneaking into the farm and killing chickens, and Hank rationalizes that since the chicken's already dead there's no sense letting it go to waste, he finds himself accused of the murder. Hank and Drover have to solve the murders--but Hank, ever proud, is so miffed that the humans would think he killed the chickens (despite him being caught with his nose, quite literally, in a mess of blood and feathers) that he would rather run off and join the local outlaw coyote band...
It's a fun little story, kind of basic (the complexity of the mystery is right in line with those in the Encyclopedia Brown books I was so fond of back in the seventies; does anyone still read those? If not, rediscover them, they're awesome), but what really struck me is how Erickson gets at the heart of a concept I had a great deal of trouble understanding when I was that age, the unreliable narrator. Erickson goes out of his way to cast Hank as an unreliable narrator without ever seeming like he's going out of his way, which is an admirable thing. While it seems a touch simplistic for the mid-grade crowd, it's a fun little story, and I'll definitely keep going with the series. ***
 Outlaw or Cowdog - you'll find out!May 17, 2010
Hank the Cowdog was the Head of Ranch Security until there were two murders (chicken murders) on his shift. While trying to investigate the situation, and have a little snack, Hank was caught with some chicken feathers and was believed to be the culprit. Hank couldn't live with people who didn't believe in him so he decided to become an outlaw. He left the only job he had ever known. He soon teamed up with a group of coyotes that live in the area, in truth they caught him flirting with their sister Missy and they told him if he wanted to marry her he would have to get to know the whole family first. Hank thought being an outlaw was a lot of fun, until one night they decided to go back to Hank's old stomping grounds with plans of an attack on the dog that replaced him as head of security and the chicken house. Hank went along begrudginly, soon he would have to make a decision. Should he help his old friend or does he stick with the coyotes so he can get married and have coyote pups.
Hank the Cowdog books are written from the dog's perspective. He is witty and has a pretty high self esteem. I enjoyed reading the book and look forward to reading other books in the series. These books are written for middle elementary students who can easily read chapter books and understand a little bit of crazy humor that is built in to the story. I know my 8 and 10 year olds definitely enjoyed reading it!
By Kerri J. Busteed
Author of Will's First Hunt Will's First Hunt
Hank is Cool!May 12, 2010
Hank the Cowdog is a book about a ranch. Hank's job is to protect the ranch as Head of Ranch Security. Drover is a cowdog and Hank's helper and whenever he sees danger, he runs to the shed. Drover and Hank think the porcupine, the cow, and a raccoon are the murderer, but they're wrong. Hank becomes an outlaw so he can figure out who is the chicken murderer. He goes to Coyote Village and he lives with all the other coyotes because he wants to marry Missy Coyote. Hank doesn't have fun in the coyote village because the babies bite his tail, and his ears, and his paw. Hank goes back to the ranch with the coyotes because they want to kill Drover and the chickens. He fights the coyotes because he doesn't want them to kill Drover. Hank becomes a cowdog again, not an outlaw.
I am Alexander, I wrote this book review*. I am six years old. I am in first grade. I read this book out loud with my mommy. My mom reads the left page and I read the right. I liked this book because Hanks figures out the murderer. Reading the book was fun. I want to read the next Hank the Cowdog book. I think other boys would like this book and other girls, too, even in other grades.
*Narrated to my mom and typed by her.
Hank the Cowdog 1Mar 01, 2010
Awesome Christmas gift for a child at heart, who grew up listening to Hank the Cowdog stories on tape. Brought back many good memories.
Great use of puns. Good book for dog loverJan 30, 2010
Fun kids book that works well for adults, too. The humor is simple, but there is a LOT of it, plus a look into real ranch living (as seen from the dog's point of view, of course) You will fall in love with Hank, and his pals, IF you can stand the puns.
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