Faded Love

Hank the Cowdog #5

by John R. Erickson

Hank's thoughts turn to romance. He decides that he has been working too hard and needs a vacation. So, he goes to visit his true love, Miss Beulah the collie, the pitter in the patter of his heart. On the way, Hank encounters all kids of challenging situations on the way. Will his intuition and investigating powers be enough? The songs include Hank and the coyote brothers belting out a raucous polka called "Rotten Meat" and Hank singing a tender love song called "Beulah's Song.

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

Audio Cassette

First published April 1, 1985

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

[Melissa]

Johnny gave this one a 5-star rating but said he’s biased he just loves Hank books.
Mav gave it a 3. He can be a tough crowd if you’ve seen my other reviews.
I liked this one!! Miss Scamper calling Hank “big boy” all the time got a ton of laughs.

[Logan]

Great, fun story as always!

[Andi]

Picked this book up for Teilee. Completely inappropriate for her age and I wouldn't recommend it for any age. She adored it after a few pages and I couldn't convince her to stop so we continued with the book changing much of the wording. Inappropriate language, improper English, adult topics, all around BAD book.

[DocHolidavid]

You can’t be readin’ this one to family under seventeen. You know. Love scenes, and … a death scene. Edgy stuff.

First thing, Hank seeks “the whole story” from a fowl character with a speech inpedimun … impedime… . Poor speech. He then confronts snakes-in-the-grass, coyotes, a putrid polecat, a collie, a beagle and a Doberman. You’re thinkin, it can’t get any worse. Right?

It does. It involves the most treacherous animals on earth. Women. Hank and I have suffered thousands of them. Well hundreds. A dozen? Okay, one or two.

Some shocking passages.

[Jean]

Hank the Cowdog tickles my funnybone. His proclamations about what life is are so funny! I have to admit I felt a little sad about his love life, and I could see the train wreck in that love life coming, but I still laughed (albeit with a hint of guilt).

And yes, I need to read the next book in the series. Note that this book is simple enough for a child to understand, but obviously amuses adults as well.

[Anthony]

Another miscommunication from Drover, and prank from Pete along with a run in with Sally Mae sets Hank to change his outlook as head of ranch security and he decides to seek love. Who better to fulfill his lonely heart but his beloved collie Beulah, so off Hank goes to begin a meaningful courtship. Adventure travels along the journey of love.

[Parker]

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.

[Kristin]

As always, a good Hank the Cowdog adventure. The kids loved it, as always with Hank. There’s this one kinda outdated pretty unhealthy part where he dramatically threatens to commit suicide because his love doesn’t love him, but honestly that was a trope of the times. I just changed that sentence a bit when I read it to the kids. They love this book! Highly recommended for Hank the Cowdog lovers!

[Janie Litzler]

my grandson loves Hank the Cowdog

My husband and I read Hank the Cowdog to our 7 year old grandson whenever he spends the night with us. (About once a week.) He always asks us to show him the pictures, which are very simple drawings that he enjoys greatly. The books are entertaining to him but we enjoy them as well!

[Nannette McMurtry]

Reading these books allowed to Caden. He loves them! I only have to do a tiny bit of editing along the way just to help him understand what’s going on and maybe what doesn’t age well. But there’s still a delight and the podcast that goes along with them is so fun too!!!

[Tiffany]

I thought this book was good for middle school aged kiddos. Definitely good to read! It’s a chapter book. Start with book 1 to 31

[Heather]

So silly, but fun — my boys love these audiobooks!

[Levi W. A.]

I would give it a 7 out of 10 🌟. 📙

[David West]

4.26.21 Read to Naomi and Julia

[Amy Rogers]

Funny as always.
The Hank the cowdog books always make me and my siblings laugh.

[Ann]

We love Hank and were all a little shocked when he died. I think the adults might have liked this one better than the kids.

[Water Viper]

Great book

[Minnesota Boy]

Weird Hank Book

[Anna]

Not the best Hank the Cowdog, but still very funny.

[D✮hlia]

Such a good and funny book!

[Oliver]

I love that Hank beat the snake.

[Kayla Upshaw]

the story is typical Hank fare. not as clever or as on topic as I'd like. one thing to note -- there is a brief mention of suicide in chapter 11.

[Cassie Kelley]

Once again, Hank has been driven from the ranch by the thoughtlessness of the humans he works with, and this time Drover is with him. On a mission for love, the two dogs head off for places unknown. Well, not entirely, but dang it, it's far enough away that it's unknown where they'll get their next meal. But alas, away from their beloved ranch lies many dangers, including nefarious coyote. But all's fair in love and war, and Hank is determined to win both.

If you enjoyed the first few books, this is a good one to read. Full of danger and beautiful dogs that must be wooed, this adventure is just as funny and charming as the others.

[Darryl Cole]

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.

[Sydney]

when hank is on his way to Belulah's house he meets his old friends rip and snort who are coyotes and they convince him that a smell of a stinky and dead scent will make a love potion so Hank goes to Belulah's house with his unusual smell and Belulah doesn't fall in love with Hank.

[Kristen Holland Shear]

We listened to this as an audiobook. Hank the Cowdog is such a great series. The kids love it and it has as much adult humor as possible in a kids book. I can't recommend the series enough to anyone with kids and this book in particular is a hoot!

[Renee]

I like this book because its about dogs falling in love and stuff.....

[Cws]

JM4 Eri

[Kat Hammock]

my favorite childhood book series. sooo funny and fun to read

[Payton]

Male dogs can be weird around female dogs.