Through Time and the Valley [Hardcover]

John R. Erickson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press; First Edition edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929398955
• ISBN-13: 978-0929398952
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,673,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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 Quality Time in a Quality Valley, April 26, 2005

By 

Steve Whipple (Canadian, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through Time and the Valley (Western Life Series) (Hardcover)

Erickson's story of traveling through the Canadian River in the Eastern Texas panhandle on horse back with photographer and childhood friend Bill Ellzey is a wonderful tale told by a true to life cowboy/yarnspinner. Once in the late seventies I took a photography course under Ellzey and his photos tell a pretty good tale of their own. The cast of characters introduced are all very real and I know(or knew) most of them. Some are still around and some have passed on to their reward. But John's story and his cast will always be interesting reading for anyone that has ever dreamed of time in the saddle and sleeping under the stars. It should be required reading for any Texan or those that wish they were a Texan. Do yourself a favor and get this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devoted to the Art of Photography, July 6, 2002

By 

C. Dwayne Shafer (Stephenville, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through Time and the Valley (Hardcover)

In this book, Erickson proves that his ability to tell a story is not limited to tales for children, but the real jewel is in the work of Bill Ellzey. I first met Bill as a young teenager, and new even then that he saw things that other people did not see, and that he could get what he saw onto film. As we drove across the hot Texas Panhandle in his blue Dodge (with the windows down!) his dimples danced and shown through an already graying beard, and he began to teach me how to "see" like an artist. Bill's photographs will remind you of what you have seen, or let you see what you always hoped was out there somewhere. Enjoy this book, and let Erickson tell you tales, while Ellzey lets you see the indescribable. What a great combination these two boyhood friends have become!

PS: Bill, I'm sorry that I didn't have enough sons to name one of them Ellzey.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a GREAT book about the Panhandle of Texas, February 25, 1999

By 

Darren Rushing ([e-mail]) (Marble Falls, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through Time and the Valley (Hardcover)

In an overall sense, this is one of the best books I have ever read. Arguably, Erickson is the best author living in Texas. Over and over, I think children would definitely consider him a wonderful storyteller. And, who is a better judge of storytelling than kids. I don't generally read Hank the Cowdog books, but I was very fascinated with the idea of reading this book. It was outstanding. Erickson, a Perryton (Texas) rancher/author, has written a great book about the Canadian River valley. The author does a great job of taking the reader along the journey. Erickson, makes the reader understand the past events and people groups who have lived or live in the central to eastern Panhandle of Texas. I think many would agree that the Panhandle is not one of the most beautiful areas of our world. Afterall, it's not as popular as the European Alps, Hawaiian islands, or even the Chesapeake Bay region - but, it is distinctive. One thing can certainly be said about the Panhandle - the places and people are REAL. What you see is what you get, so to speak. I appreciate John Erickson for being a real writer and a real storyteller. I appreciate John Erickson for writing about something he has a great understanding of.