John R Erickson Books in Order

Hank the Cowdog introduces readers to working cowboys and their horses. Trail-driving history, horse selection and training, roping techniques, and ranch duties explain the skills needed to handle livestock and work effectively in the saddle.

Hank the Cowdog and familiar ranch characters introduce the work involved in raising cattle. Explanations of grass digestion, seasonal animal care, and ranch economics help young readers understand how a ranch operates and how it differs from a farm.

A troublesome visitor unsettles life on the ranch, and Hank takes the disruption personally. His efforts to restore order send him and Drover into another case where appearances are hard to trust.

When goats escape near Wolf Creek, Hank joins Slim Chance on a roundup mission. The search becomes stranger than expected when the animals they find may not be the goats they were sent to recover.

Hank the Cowdog guides young readers through the wild animals sharing his Texas Panhandle ranch. Coyotes, porcupines, rattlesnakes, rabbits, buzzards, and burrowing owls widen the picture of ranch life beyond its familiar cattle, horses, and working dogs.

A frightening fire threatens the ranch, and Hank quickly appoints himself to the emergency response. He must sort out the danger before panic, smoke, and his own bad judgment make matters worse.

An unexpected three-toed sloth brings a strange new problem to Hank's territory. Determined to identify the intruder and protect the ranch, Hank launches an investigation full of confusion and comedy.

John Erickson answers readers' questions about the origins of Hank the Cowdog, his characters, and their names. Memories of growing up, recording audiobooks, writing songs, and finding ideas reveal how real experiences became the series' fictional ranch world.

When a deer is found buried, Hank knows something unusual is happening on the ranch. He and Drover follow the evidence through a mystery that tests Hank's detective instincts and nerve.

Hank the Cowdog explains how weather shapes ranch work throughout the seasons. Blizzards, drought, and other changing conditions reveal the efforts cowboys make to keep cattle alive and healthy, helping young readers understand ranching's dependence on nature.

A red rubber ball becomes the center of a ranch investigation. Hank treats the small mystery like a major security threat, but finding the truth means handling a string of comic complications.

Cold weather puts a rodeo in jeopardy, and Hank sees a chance to prove Ranch Security is essential. The rescue effort brings slippery conditions, confusion, and plenty of room for heroic misunderstandings.

After witnessing devastating Texas Panhandle wildfires, rancher John Erickson explores fire's destructive power and its useful role in managing grasslands. Personal experience meets research on climate and range management in an account of ranchers' complicated relationship with smoke and flame.

John Erickson and archaeologist Douglas Boyd discuss discoveries on Erickson's Texas Panhandle ranch, including a settlement dating to around 1300. Their conversational introduction explains archaeological methods and explores how earlier inhabitants worked, raised families, and survived on the land.

A lost camp turns Hank's ordinary ranch duties into an expedition. He and Drover must keep their bearings, follow the clues, and avoid letting Hank's confidence lead them deeper into trouble.

Hank faces a new ranch mystery when missing teeth set off alarms. With Drover nearby and his reputation as Head of Ranch Security on the line, Hank digs into the trouble his own way.

An incredible ice event turns the ranch into a dangerous, slippery place. Hank sees a major security emergency and tries to protect his friends while coping with the frozen chaos.

Double trouble arrives at the ranch, leaving Hank with twice the confusion and twice the work. He and Drover try to untangle the problems before they overwhelm Ranch Security.

An invasion from above threatens Hank's ranch, and he refuses to be caught unprepared. He investigates the airborne intruders with courage, suspicion, and his usual dramatic sense of duty.

The ranch's Fourth of July picnic is threatened by a wart-spreading toad and two troublesome town visitors. Hank must defend the celebration from this sudden wave of invaders.