The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve

Hank the Cowdog #13

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

Hank is looking forward to a long winter's nap when duty calls him to accompany Slim into town for a last-minute Christmas shopping spree. Along the way, Hank and the gang are struck not only by the meaning of Christmas but also by a twenty-five-pound buzzard!

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

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

[lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

hank the cowdog audiobooks are a treasure.

[bear.hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud

[Qt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Hank books when I was younger and it was so nice to revisit them; I had never read this one, oddly enough, and it was a good seasonal story. Although I thought some of the other Hank books were better, I still enjoyed this one and was happy to finally read it.

[Marina Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened to come upon this gem checking through the used book section of a neighborhood flea market. I tell you this book had me laughing and guffawing several times while reading this. Hank the Cowdog is so funny and quite often comes to the wrong conclusions but when Hank sets out with Slim, Drover, Little Alfred, and meets up by accident with Wallace the Buzzard and his son Junior the story is truly hilarious.
The gang sets out to do some Christmas shopping when unfortunately Wallace the Buzzard crashes into Slim's car and goes through the windshield. All kinds of different situations ensue, including Hank getting into a fight with a poodle, Slim getting beat up by the lady who owns the poodle, Drover facing an attack by a bunch of bully dogs and Little Alfred joining Santa in the parade.
I have to say a tear came to my eye as I read the song that Junior the Buzzard sang about his pa, and praying that Hank and his friends would help save the Buzzard.
Overall, a lovely and entertaining holiday story which anyone young at heart would enjoy.
This is number 13 of this series and I'm definitely going to get more of these books.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this at a garage sale this summer and it reminded me of my childhood. I remember reading these books in elementary school. I remember there was some kind of competition for designing a bookmark and I drew Hank on my bookmark and won a pile of books. Good memories.

And my niece and nephew have finished preschool and are beginning to learn to read. I'm sure children's books will be around more now and I'll probably end up reading to them. There have been Dr. Seuss packages around this Christmas. Oh, what it was like to be 5 years old...

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids most recent bedtime book. We read through this one much quicker than we usually do. The kids may have stayed awake longer because they like listening to the story, so we read more chapters each night than usual.

It was good, classic Hank the Cowdog. I recommend it for anyone with kids, or anyone young at heart. I’ve loved Hank the Cowdog since childhood myself. It does take place on Christmas Eve so it would be fun to read near the holidays.

[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.

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank the Cowdog’s rip-roaring’ ride through Christmas Eve!
My Full Review

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Hank the Cowdog - there is nobody like you. So much fun!

[Grace Hampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Hank the Cowdog but it didn't talk that much about the wounded buzzard but it was supposed to be the main idea of the story.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank's adventures and mishaps continue to delight and tickle my family and me. Quite possibly my current favorite.

[Books On the Ponderosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great Christmas story for every cowkid! We really enjoyed this one!!

[bookloverk8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love these books. They are so witty and funny. This one was focused on Hank, Slim, and Alfred and I had a great time!

[Hope Hillier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to my students at Christmas time. Very cute and they enjoyed it!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed a lot of Hank the Cowdog books, but this was not my favorite. I think you need to have read enough of the other books to get a feel for Slim, to know about Drover's bum leg, and to appreciate the characters of the buzzards.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as children's chapter books go, I love Hank. I get a lot of laugh's out of the story that go over Gabe's head, but he still gets enough to really enjoy it. Tom does a great job with the voices.

[Barb Keltner · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students don't know it yet but they're going to get to participate in a distance learning program with Hank the Cowdog author John R. Erickson in December, and this is the book from which he will be reading, so I wanted to read it myself. It's typical Hank humor -- just goofy!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did 15.10. I read Hank the cowdog the wounded buzzard on christmas eve. Hank goes to town with slim, but ends up in the bottom of the pick-up when something crashes in through the window. Do they save it, or do they leave it? This book was very funny and was 112 pages long.

[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.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire Hank the Cowdog Series is great. Listen to the audio versions- better than reading, for this series.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hank is funny by himself. Hank with Drover, Little Alfred, and senile buzard...hilarious.

[Cws]

JM4 Eri

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few of this series with my daughters. Cute books. Listening to them on CD is the best way to enjoy them because the voices are done so well.

[Ratforcekids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank the Cowdog is always looking for an adventure...usually in the wrong place! Wildly funny antics and mysteries galore.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

when Hank and slim and drover are going to shop for Christmas a buzzard bangs into there window on Christmas eve they don't know what to do with the buzzard.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love reading these books with my boys. (Listening is even better. The author does a fabulous job of it.)

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny when you throw Hank and a buzzard into the same story. Add Slim and Little Alfred and the story will split your sides!! Recommend to anyone who wants to laugh!!

[Shailah.S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and i'm going to try and read all the season's

[SSM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when Hank talks to the poodle "FooFoo" it's hilarious. A good X-mas one :)

[Joshua McKey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting some of my childhood memories. This is one takes me back to those days, and the story telling is still as good as I can remember.