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Hank the Cowdog #2
The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Hank the Cowdog almost loses his job as Head of Ranch Security when he develops a case of Eye-Crosserosis.
127 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1983
160 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
John R. Erickson
231 books341 followersJohn 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
February 3, 2018
Hank’s in trouble with a burrowing owl, a Doberman Pincher and the dreaded Eye-crosserosis. And again, he must tolerate airheads, birdbrains, clodpolls, dimwits, ignoramuses, and jackasses. Well actually, no donkeys in this story.
Say what you want to about Dickens, Tolstoy, Hemmingway or Nicholas Sparks. I’ll take John R. Erickson every time. Pure genius.
Page 93:
“ … You might say I run the ranch. So my opinion carries a little weight.”
“Ah, so you run this ranch?”
“Yes ma’am, and have for several years. …”
“I see. Do you make the sun rise?”
“Uh … not exactly.”
“Do you tell the trees when to shed their leaves?”
“Well … no
“Did you teach the fish to swim?”
“No ma’am.”
Recognize it? Check out Job 38 & 39
Closing P. 127:
Those of us who live on the heights must live with the judgments of small minds. We can only hope that in the next life justice will reign.
It reigns here, but it also hails.
Beautiful!! Eat your heart out Margaret Atwood.
Say what you want to about Dickens, Tolstoy, Hemmingway or Nicholas Sparks. I’ll take John R. Erickson every time. Pure genius.
Page 93:
“ … You might say I run the ranch. So my opinion carries a little weight.”
“Ah, so you run this ranch?”
“Yes ma’am, and have for several years. …”
“I see. Do you make the sun rise?”
“Uh … not exactly.”
“Do you tell the trees when to shed their leaves?”
“Well … no
“Did you teach the fish to swim?”
“No ma’am.”
Recognize it? Check out Job 38 & 39
Closing P. 127:
Those of us who live on the heights must live with the judgments of small minds. We can only hope that in the next life justice will reign.
It reigns here, but it also hails.
Beautiful!! Eat your heart out Margaret Atwood.
December 4, 2013
This was a very cool book. I like this book because I like how Drover is so scared and runs away every time there is a murder. I also like that Hank calls an airplane silver monster bird. When the owl fixes Hank's problem and then he has to do a riddle, Hank solves the riddle. The owl is amazed because no one figures out the owl's riddles.
This book was also really funny. I enjoyed it a lot.
This book was also really funny. I enjoyed it a lot.
May 24, 2022
Lots of fun!
I bought the first book in this series from the author and read it to the kids in my 5th grade class. It was great fun, so I ordered this one from kindle with the corresponding audio book. I was not disappointed and neither were the children. No spoilers, but thank sure can get in a mess!
I bought the first book in this series from the author and read it to the kids in my 5th grade class. It was great fun, so I ordered this one from kindle with the corresponding audio book. I was not disappointed and neither were the children. No spoilers, but thank sure can get in a mess!
December 10, 2022
"در آن تاریکی ردپای موجودات مختلفی از قبیل موش ها، موش های صحرایی، مارمولک ها، قورباغه ها، مارها (البته قبول دارم که مارها پا ندارند تا ردپا داشته باشند اما یک بابایی آن جا خزیده بود) دیده می شد، همین کافی بود تا هر حیوانی را که حال خوشی نداره زهره ترک کند."
August 16, 2021
So good, so funny, so McConaughey in disguise.
October 7, 2023
This was an especially good one.
Read
July 1, 2025Childhood comfort at a time when it was needed. Really hope my kids are into this series one day.
February 20, 2024
Another fun read-aloud with my oldest two. They were once again weirdly fascinated by the coyotes. Erickson certainly has good writing style and creativity.
Read
June 3, 2024My boys will consistently quote these books throughout the day. The winners in our home include the “Worthless Coyote” song and the stuttering buzzard. I’m pleasantly surprised at how many laugh out loud moments are sprinkled throughout the story. Very funny. I’m a fan.
Out of a stack of books they were given to choose from for their next rest-time read, they picked out the third Hank the Cowdog. On we go!
Out of a stack of books they were given to choose from for their next rest-time read, they picked out the third Hank the Cowdog. On we go!
August 27, 2018
1.5 stars
I started reading this book with my daughter. She and I were both shocked at how grumpy, rude, entitled, mean, and nasty Hank was right from the start. We continued until more than half way through the book. At this point my daughter was so distressed by his attitude and his threats to Pete that he would kill him that she decided she could not finish the book. I decided to finish it on my own and see if there was anything redeeming in the last bit of the book. Though the owl was quite funny and a really lovely character, I knew this would not be enough to encourage my daughter to like the book. We definitely won’t read any others. Some of it could be funny, but we found it to upsetting to to be able to laugh at it.
I started reading this book with my daughter. She and I were both shocked at how grumpy, rude, entitled, mean, and nasty Hank was right from the start. We continued until more than half way through the book. At this point my daughter was so distressed by his attitude and his threats to Pete that he would kill him that she decided she could not finish the book. I decided to finish it on my own and see if there was anything redeeming in the last bit of the book. Though the owl was quite funny and a really lovely character, I knew this would not be enough to encourage my daughter to like the book. We definitely won’t read any others. Some of it could be funny, but we found it to upsetting to to be able to laugh at it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2012
I got tired of reading incorrect grammer to my children. Even though it is a dog speaking, it just irks me. Add in a chapter about crossing your eyes until they stick (something I wouldn't put it past my boys to be curious enough to try), and this series is on permanent hold for us.
October 21, 2008
it's funny
December 4, 2010
i loved this book because i used to like adventuer story and this book was pperfect.
July 26, 2012
My eight year old enjoyed reading this book out loud for summer practice.
April 28, 2013
Weird owl.
July 12, 2013
I liked it.
April 28, 2014
funny series will continue reading.
May 1, 2015
I love Hank, he makes me laugh!
August 12, 2017
He is so funny!
March 28, 2011
Great story.
April 12, 2017
liked this one far better than #1. more representative of the series.
July 14, 2015
Great book...my 8-year old son is loving it!!
May 29, 2019
Good old Hank the Cowdog. They are some of the funniest, wittiest stories I have ever read. Not witty in the sense of the plot, (which is usually pretty basic or non-existent) but witty in the jokes and the play-on-words. I think the writing is fantastic. You can hear the actual cowboy voice as Hank speaks. Well, especially if you listen to it on audio like I did, BUT even if you read it with just the text the voice comes through wonderfully.
In this particular Hank the Cowdog, I loved how even though Hank got the bad end of the stick in many ways, he came through in the end and was able to sort things out for the most part. Did everything end up all happy for him? Of course not. That’s not how the stories go. Hank will always get in trouble for something at the end despite the good he may (or may not) do.
Oh, and if you’re looking for a funny book on audio complete with background organ music, this is your gem.
In this particular Hank the Cowdog, I loved how even though Hank got the bad end of the stick in many ways, he came through in the end and was able to sort things out for the most part. Did everything end up all happy for him? Of course not. That’s not how the stories go. Hank will always get in trouble for something at the end despite the good he may (or may not) do.
Oh, and if you’re looking for a funny book on audio complete with background organ music, this is your gem.
May 25, 2020
Well, I wanted to like it, wanted to LOVE it, because my good friend’s whole family LOVES it and listens to the audio versions over and over again. I grew up in The South, and watched many “Western” movies, so many of the figures of speech are familiar. But, I’m much older now, and see things differently. About 40 years have passed since this series was written. Our culture is more sensitive to different people groups. Also, I’ve moved around the country, and made many friends who could be called Native Americans, Indians, African Americans, Blacks, Oriental, Asian, Chinese, Refugees, Immigrants, Foreigners, or Middle Easterners. As I’m reading this with my little grandchildren in mind, I don’t want to be the one to introduce racial prejudices to them; nor, bullying, drunkenness, witchcraft, sex-trafficking... I will look for other books to give them. My opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2020
Summary: This book is about all the adventures that hank went on. He pays attention to detail and whats around him. A chicken is killed and him and his friends go on an adventure to find the killer. They on an adventure to find the killer but keep finding other things.
Analysis: I like this book and the descriptions in the book. I also like that it describes everything very well. I would use this in my classroom. This is very well written in my opinion. Even thought there is no pictures I can still see it in my mind.
Use in the classrooms: I could use this book to make an adventure that the students have to solve. It would be fun to do it over time. I could make a bunch of different activities with this book. I could also get the images and get kids to draw what they imagine.
Analysis: I like this book and the descriptions in the book. I also like that it describes everything very well. I would use this in my classroom. This is very well written in my opinion. Even thought there is no pictures I can still see it in my mind.
Use in the classrooms: I could use this book to make an adventure that the students have to solve. It would be fun to do it over time. I could make a bunch of different activities with this book. I could also get the images and get kids to draw what they imagine.
August 4, 2020
This book is funnier than the last. After receiving the infamous eye crosserosis Hank attempts to scare Plato off his ranch after seeing "Plato" with Beulah. "Plato" turns out to be an abusive doberman who THIS INFORMATION IS CLASSIFIED. After the fight Hank returns to the ranch and feels ill. During Hank's weakness Drover shames him and decides he can do what he wants. Hank decides to follow Pete the Cat in an attempt to lure him into a trap, ignoring his eye crosserosis. As it turns out, Pete tricks the trickster, and deserts him in the forest. What follows next is yours to learn in this book!
December 12, 2021
I used to listen to these audiobooks with my parents as we traveled around in the car. It was fun to revisit one of the stories. In my humble opinion, It is great fun. I like how we give human personalities to animals and the author is able to create a world with family friendly entertainment. It's not going to be for everyone and I'm sure it is only a matter of time before the P.C. police find something wrong with this series. Until then, I highly recommend listening to or reading these books. I hope you have fun.
April 24, 2018
This is a book that kept me snickering, although I did feel sorry for Hank. (Sorry, Hank, I kept the chapter you told me to cut out.) Hank gets pretty low in this book, mostly due to the dreaded Eye-Crosserosis and its affects. Fortunately the plucky cowdog perseveres and all is well.
I think it is fun for people who like dogs. While you don't have to have read the first book in the series, it makes it easier to keep up with who is who.
I think it is fun for people who like dogs. While you don't have to have read the first book in the series, it makes it easier to keep up with who is who.
July 2, 2021
Hank the Cowdog, head of ranch security, find his reputation in tatters, after losing a fight to a neighbor's Doberman pinscher in front of his crush Beulah. Hank must not only redeem himself, but find a cure for a case of Eye-Crosserosis which was major factor causing his defeat. Hank seeks help from the mysterious Madam Moonshine to help cure his illness, so he can restore himself to his rightful place as top dog.
June 13, 2023
Hank the Cowdog
By John Erickson
I don't care how old you are, these are fun books! Hank has a bit of Cliff from "Cheers!" In him.
Hank goes cross-eyed for some reason. We'll, Hank can tell you, but they don't quite sound just right. While cross-eyed, Hank gets taken advantage of left and right and even loses a dog fight.
He goes on a quest around the ranch trying to get it corrected so our hero, the head of ranch security, can once again take charge.
By John Erickson
I don't care how old you are, these are fun books! Hank has a bit of Cliff from "Cheers!" In him.
Hank goes cross-eyed for some reason. We'll, Hank can tell you, but they don't quite sound just right. While cross-eyed, Hank gets taken advantage of left and right and even loses a dog fight.
He goes on a quest around the ranch trying to get it corrected so our hero, the head of ranch security, can once again take charge.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews