The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook (Hank the Cowdog 31) [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Hank the Cowdog (Book 31)

For starters, he's the star of the hilarious, best-selling series that USA Today calls "the best family entertainment in years." He's also a tough-talking, big-hearted, West Texan cowdog whose position as Head of Ranch Security consistently lands him in all kinds of amusing trouble. Even after an exhausting morning defending the ranch, Hank still has energy left for a fishing trip. But what starts as a routine expedition turns into a first-class crisis when Hank reels in more than he bargained for. A fishhook finds its way into Hank's stomach, which is just about the worst news a dog can hear. Is there hope for Hank, or is it curtains for everyone's favorite cowdog?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Erickson once again captures the voice of a gullible, lovable dog in this new installment about a big-eared pooch who lives on and guards a ranch. He decides to "help" Slim Chance, the ranch's hired hand, deliver a calf, resulting in an "enraged heifer" and lots of laughs. Later that day, when the five-year-old son of Hank's owner disobeys his mother and goes fishing on his own, he takes the dog with him. Unable to resist, Hank eats the liver that the boy is using as bait. It doesn't take long for the pup to put two and two together and discover that a missing fishhook is in his stomach along with the liver. Slim's attempts to remove it using soap bubbles instead of surgery are wonderfully funny. The author portrays the canine's actions and thoughts in a humorous manner while using just the right amount of suspense to keep the pages turning.
Julie Shatterly, York County Public Library, Rock Hill, SC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141303565
• ISBN-13: 978-0141303567
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Popular Characters > Book Characters > Hank the Cowdog

More 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."

The road to stardom for Hank, however, wasn't all dog biscuits and gravy. Erickson graduated from the University of Texas in 1966 and studied for two years at Harvard Divinity School. He began to publish short stories in 1967 while working full-time as a cowboy, farmhand, and ranch manager in Texas and Oklahoma. Hank and his sidekick Drover are dogs Erickson worked with on the range. This mixture of true-life experience, fun, and adventure has gained Hank a loyal following of thousands of children and adults.

In 1982, however, Erickson was at his rope's end. "I was working out in the cold; there was 8 inches of snow on the ground," he says, "I had just gotten a couple of rejection slips from New York publishers, and I had a wife with two kids and another one on the way." So, with $2,000 in borrowed money, Erickson started his own publishing company, appropriately named Maverick Books.

Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults. An obvious favorite of readers, Erickson included two of Hank's humorous stories in Maverick Book's first publishing effort, The Devil in Texas (1982). Erickson began selling books from his pickup truck at cattle auctions, rodeos, and just about any place cowboys gathered.

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. Not long after that first printing, the book was recorded word-for-word on audiotape. Since then, every Hank book has been recorded, making Hank the longest-running successful children's series on audio, ever. (Source: Billboard)

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. When used with the books, Hank tapes increase reading skills rapidly. And, in response to popular demand from the growing bilingual market, the first two Hank the Cowdog adventures are available in Spanish.

Although the Hank books began as a regional phenomenon, CBS Television heard about them and brought out a thirty-minute cartoon of the first book. It aired in May 1985 as part of a series called "CBS Storybreak."

Erickson has also written several books for young adults, the "Riley McDaniels Series". The first book of the series, "Moonshiner's Gold", won the 2003-2004 Lamplighter Award. The second book in the series, "Discovery at Flint Springs," was a finalist for the Lamplighter Award the following year. He has also written several books about cowboying based on his own experiences.

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."

For more information about John R. Erickson and the Hank the Cowdog books, please visit www.hankthecowdog.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unquestionably the best Hank book yet!, January 28, 1999

By 

Gayland R. Darnell (Borger, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook (Hank the Cowdog 31) (Paperback)

I admit it...I am definitely "hooked" on Hank's latest adventure. Here's why:

1) John Erickson gets better with each Hank volume. In each new book in this series, he fine tunes the characters, until they become more and more life-like. Although I enjoy Hank, Pete, Slim, Loper and all the other characters, Drover is my favorite...and in this adventure his true "Droverness" comes shining through. This new book is a wonderful example of Mr. Erickson's talents. It is great reading for kids of ALL ages!

2) I didn't actually count them, but it seems there are more illustrations in this book than in the previous Hank titles. Gerald Holmes really knows how to capture Hank and his cohorts in his drawings. The text is hilarious, and the illustrations really bring the book to life.

3) Hank is now being published by Puffin Books, and the book itself is a higher quality than seen before.

4) I hereby affirm and admit that I am a Hankoholic, but even if I had never read a Hank adventure before, I would enjoy this latest story immensely. This is a "must-have" for anyone who enjoys reading...

5) You may have noticed from my e-mail address that I am a big admirer of Hank. I want to let you know that I am in NO way associated with the author, illustrator or publisher of the Hank the Cowdog books. I am the fire chief in a community of about 16,000. There have been times in my career when I have had to make a tough decisions. I then ask myself, "what would Hank do in this situation?" And, he hasn't steered me wrong yet. I'm just one of Hank's biggest fans...in fact I weigh about 170 lbs. :-)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critique of The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook (Hank the Cowdog 31) (Hardcover)

I liked the book, The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook, because it was funny. One of the funniest parts of this book was when Hank, the cowdog, ate the soap. Hank had swallowed a fishhook. Then he swallowed soap to help him spit the hook out. This is the funniest "Hank" book written by John R. Erickson. I give this book a five-star rating and I recommend that you read it immediately!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down, January 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook (Hank the Cowdog 31) (Paperback)

This book is very good because Hank go's fishin' with little Alfred and gets very mad at Drover because he eats the bait and while hank was yelling at Drover Hank found some of the bait and ate it. To find out if there was a fishhook attached to it read the book.