Panhandle Cowboy

by John R. Erickson, Bill Ellzey (Photographer)

First published in 1980, this classic description of the cowboy life by master storyteller John Erickson is now back in print. His observations about the Crown Ranch in particular, and the cowboy lifestyle in general, are filled with humor as well as pathos. Erickson describes the ranch, individual cowboys, roundups, wild cattle, and horses.

207 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1980

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

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Avis Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good memoir about ranch life. Erickson writes with intelligence and wry humor. The author has written a number of fine nonfiction works about western life, and I've enjoyed reading and recommend all these other books by him: Through Time and the Valley, LZ Cowboy, Good Smoke Bad Smoke, Prairie Gothic, The Modern Cowboy, and Catch Rope.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Erickson is an easy-to-read storyteller par excellence. Even if you're not really into horses, cattle ranching or cowboys, you can appreciate these stories, which recount four years the author spent as the manager and sole employee of a five thousand acre cattle ranch in the Oklahoma panhandle in the mid-1970's. If you ARE into any or all of those subjects listed above, you will read this book in a hurry. As they say, "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll (well, you won't hurl)."

[Grant Umble · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good book and an easy read. It vividly describes the life of a Oklahoma panhandle rancher. 5 out of 5

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stars about some ranch/cowboy history of tx/ok panhandle area. 4 stars when the author is telling stories about horses. 3 total. one of the best books about modern ranching in panhandle. also one of the only books, so not much competition.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my review at my blog.