Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Hank the Cowdog #6

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

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Hank the Cowdog (Audio)) [Audio Cassette] [Aug 01, 200...

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Animals, Audiobook, Comedy

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

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

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed until I cried.

[Sahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio version is a masterpiece! You have a secret admirer, Mister!

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that Drover complains about his leg. I like that Hank the cow dog thinks he is in charge but he is really not. Pete the cat is not in this book, and there were horses, and Hank saved little Alfred.

[Pantheios · Rating 5 out of 5]

"آدم های اداره ی پست به بدنامی شهرت دارند چون بدون اجازه توی جاده ها رانندگی می کنند. بدون اجازه وارد مزرعه می شوند. یواشکی سراغ صندوق پست می روند و حرکت های مشکوکی می کنند که هیچ کس تا بحال به خودش زحمت نداده علت آن را برایم توضیح بدهد، بعدش هم با عجله می روند.
چرا آن ها این قدر مشکوک هستند؟
واقعا توی آن صندوق پست چه می اندازند؟
و چرا با آن عجله از مزرعه می روند؟
یک سگ تا وقتی به جواب این سوال ها نرسد، نمی تواند پستچی را به امان خدا رها کند."

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to the audiobook with my five-year-old on a recent trip out of town. And we listened to the sixth in the series because that is what the library had. The author reads his own work, which doesn’t always work but it does here because he does excellent voices for the different characters and is an engaging narrator. However, there was constant distracting music in the background that I could have done without. The buffoon (who thinks he’s the smartest dog on the ranch) character of Hank was amusing, as were the reactions of his human owners. Some of the language and humor here was a bit above my five-year-old, so we might wait to read these when he is older. The detective aspect of the book was a bit tiresome for me because I had it figured out almost immediately, but my son enjoyed it. However, there is no real character development here, and I dislike characters who cause their own problems but take no responsibility for those problems (even in Children’s literature). Hank remains exactly the same and no revelations of solving the mystery actually affect who he is. A deep character study this ain’t, but it is a fun ride, even if the character of Hank got slightly on my nerves.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s never time to rest when you’re Head of Ranch Security, and this time there’s fowl play. After finding the piddling remains of two chickens, Hank knows it’s up to him to figure out the suspects and catch the killer. But things don’t go according to plan, and Hank finds himself in the pokey and set up for execution. What can he do to clear his name?

This is a fun addition to the series. Between Drover and Pete outsmarting Hank and the mystery of who is killing chickens, this is one of my favorites so far. The ending heroic battle was also a nice touch and shows just how loyal a dog can be, even when he’s been maligned. If you enjoy a short read with heart, this book is for you. It’s also an excellent place to start if you don’t care to go in order.

[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.

[Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably my favorite from what I’ve read! It is very funny!!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was excellent to read! I love Hank The CowDog!

Question??
Can Hank solve the crime and prove his innocence before he’s relived of his commands?

[bear.hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgot about these books. Read them all as a kid and suddenly remembered them, thought I had imagined them. Very good books fornyoung readers, probably helped feed me love of dogs and true crime.

[Water Viper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hilarious entry in the Hank the Cowdog series. Barney Fife and Hank the Cowdog are kindred spirits.
Listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books!

[SSM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lol, liked the music in this one-really funny. Will Hank ever stop falling for Beulah!? :)

[Rietta Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, the kids loved it. This might have been their favorite in the series.

[Kayla Upshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

very entertaining! though I'd consider each chapter like loosely bound short stories. it's Hank the cowdog so it's not about the narrative right?

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this series aloud to my 3rd grade son. Because he has dyslexia, his reading interests exceed his ability to read, so I'm glad he's picked an entertaining series for me to read to him. Hank is quite a character, with lots of personality, and the books are well written, fun to read aloud, and full of humor. The pace of these books is a bit slow; it's not about the plot, but about the characters, the language, and the wit that makes you smile frequently more than laugh out loud. It's true the same tropes keep occurring again and again from book to book, but instead of becoming completely boring because of this, the result is more like a warm laugh at an old friend. There are tons of books in this series, and we've or listened to (on CD) maybe 9, so we'll see how long it takes him to bore of them.

[DocHolidavid · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a dark and stormy night. Lightening split the western sky creating ghostly figures of the surrounding characters – possibly the perpetrators.

Hank yelled to his sidekick, under sheriff, Segundo, i.e. his confidant Drover. They continued to howl to each other in the clatter and confusion of the storm, but only confusion prevailed.
Three laid dead in the barnyard which reeked. Was it ozone, or was it MURDER?! Who did it? The mystery in this one hangs like the stench of a humid henhouse. It’s on the edge of what your pre-adolescent should endure.

In this one there are no clues, no evidence and everyone is a suspect. Hank knows where the bodies lie, the buzzards roost and the words of one who is cocksure. Is it the polecat, Drover, or is it Ha…? And, will Little Alfred survive?

This one’s hard to put down.

[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.

[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.

[Cherise Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i learned that hank just wanted to rest because he was an old dog, but there was a new puppy who kept him on his tip toes.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

i started reading this series because i started running out of books to read during my 4th grade but it was good

[Jenny]

im readin dis bukk and i really dnt likk HANK THUHH COW DOG bcuz juhs not intrestid in it buht i still am readin it!

[Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

How come coyoties are the killer?

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

when there's a chicken killer on the loose Loper says that there can be no more chicken killing or else.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hank investigates the murder of two pullets. The story has the usual humorous conversations between Hank and Drover.

[Allison McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I thought it was so cool and fun because I love hank the cowdog books and because it was just special

[M Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ralph is funny!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books as a kid!