Books with author John R. Erickson

Pete the Barncat isn’t known for his reliable story-telling, but when his report about a strange, tree-devouring creature is corroborated by another source—namely J.T. Cluck, the ranch’s head rooster—Hank decides to investigate. However, just as the plot begins to thicken, Pete claims that it was all a joke and that the creature, a Three-Toed Tree Sloth, was really just a porcupine! Fortunately, Hank realizes that that’s just what a sneaky cat would say to throw him off the trail, and his continued investigation soon leads him to a strange, bumbling little creature—the Tree Sloth at last! With the finely-tuned instincts of a Head of Ranch Security, Hank realizes that he must arrest this intruder! However, things don’t turn out quite like he’d planned, and Hank soon has a very serious problem on his hands...

Children will enjoy these great adventures of Hank the cowdog! The popular Hank the Cowdog stories are based on the humorous antics of the canine Head of Ranch Security, told from the viewpoint of Hank. (#11) Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest; (#12) Case of the Fiddle Playing Fox; (#13) The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve; (#14) Hank the Cowdog and Monkey Business; (#15) The Case of the Missing Cat; (#16) Lost in the Blinding Blizzard; (#17) The Case of the Car-Barkaholic Dog; (#18) The Case of the Hooking Bull; (#19) The Case of the Midnight Rustler; (#20) The Phantom in the Mirror.

Everyone knows that a cowboy will rope anything that moves: cows,dogs, cats, bales of hay, unsuspecting fellow-cowboys So, when some local goats escape their pen and turn up near Wolf Creek, Deputy Kile knows just who to ask to help him round them up: Slim Chance. Hank and Slim spring into action and go in search of the lost goats, but they could never have foreseen the dangers and surprises they’d face in the course of this rodeo rescue mission. Who is this mysterious and majestic sheep-king and his subjects that Hank finds? And, if they aren’t the little show-goats Deputy Kile described, what are they doing on the ranch? This may not be Hank’s first rodeo, but it’s certainly the strangest!

Hank the Cowdog is about to go on the ride of his life! When the old pickup truck breaks down, Slim ends up with a brand-new model on loan while the old one gets fixed. But Hank is used to the simple life on the ranch and doesn't know what to do when faced with power windows and door locks. With just one accidental push of a button, Hank manages to get himself into a whole heap of trouble! Will Hank be able to find a way out of this latest mess, or will this high-tech truck be the end of him? Hear Hank sing "I Lost My Pal in a Pile of Dough" and "Walking with My Honey."

The popular Hank the Cowdog series is based on the humorous antics of the canine Head of Ranch Security. The stories are told from the viewpoint of Hank, who sets out to solve a series of baffling murders on the ranch and to protect all who are within his territory. Books include: (#1) Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog; (#2) Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog; (#7) Curse of the Incredible Priceless Corncob; (#11) Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest; (13) Wounded buzzard on Christmas Eve; (#20) Phantom in the Mirror; (#36) Case of the Raging Rottweiler; (#41) Case of the Shipwrecked Tree.

When a funny turn of events brings a parrot to the ranch, Hank is not worried. After all, what harm can one copycat bird do? So he decides to go about his business. The only problem is, Loper and Sally May don't seem to appreciate his heeding their requests to bark louder and dig up the flowers. What's really going on here? Hank's not sure, but he's determined to find out! Picknickers sing "Because Thy Lovingkindness," and Drover sings a little number called "There Once Was a Doggie."

Of all the mysteries Hank has faced in his illustrious career as the Head of Ranch Security, the only one that still has him truly stumped is the key to unlocking Miss Beulah’s heart. Why on earth would she go for a bird-brained bird dog when a specimen like Hank stands ready to sweep her off her feet? Could there be more to this problem than meets the eye? When Plato wanders off Billy’s ranch and Beulah discovers he’s lost, she tries to enlist Hank’s help to rescue him, and this presents Hank with a real moral dilemma: Will he help find his rival, or will he leave Plato to face the dangers of coyote country by nightfall alone?

After his many years as a typical bachelor cowboy, Slim Chance is convinced—against his will — that he needs to build his own herd of cattle and invest in the future. So, he takes the plunge, takes out a loan, and takes his newly-bought heifers to a pasture on Viola’s father’s ranch. But, just about the time his new herd is calved-out and his investment is beginning to look promising, the dry and windy weather conditions put the entire county on High Alert for fire-danger. Hank is sure that he and Slim can defend the ranch against anything that comes their way, that is, until they come face-to-face with a wild fire unlike any grass fire they’ve seen before. Will Slim be able to get the cattle to safety in time? And, more importantly, what about Slim himself? You won’t want to miss this hair-raising and heart-warming tale of cowboy-bravery, true heroism, and the blessings of friends and community!