Tag Archives: Hank the Cowdog

Comprehension Questions – Hank the Cowdog #3 It’s a Dog’s Life

It's a Dog's Life

By John R. Erickson

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fiction; 720L; AR pts: 3.0

Summary by Marcus Schlairet Russ (11 yrs old)

Have you ever wanted to get back at someone? Hank’s sister, Maggie, does in this story.

In the beginning, Hank gets in trouble because he messes up Sally May’s house. He was investigating something, Pete, the Barncat, told Drover.

Then, he ran away to visit his sister, Maggie. She tricked him into eating a bar of soap because he pushed her into the sewer when they were puppies.

In the end, the dogcatcher put him in the pound for rabies, because he was foaming at the mouth. He escaped and went home. He got revenge on Pete scaring him into the water trough.

You will laugh when you read about Hank’s adventures and eating the bar of soap. I know I did!

Comprehension Questions (written by Steven Schlairet)

Chapter 1

  1. What did Hank send Drover to do? Bark at the mailman. Pg. 2.
  2. Why did Hank say he had fleas? Because Loper only bought him 1 gunny sack a year. Pg. 4.
  3. Why did Hank say cowdogs barked at mailmen? Because they always did. Pg. 7.
  4. What news did Drover hear? It was the end of the world. Pg. 9.

Chapter 2

  1. What did Hank think was wrong with Pete? He swallowed a chicken bone. Pg. 11
  2. Why did Pete think it was the end of the world? Cat’s intuition. Pg. 13.
  3. What did they learn from the interrogation of Pete? Sally May wrote on her calendar. Pg. 15.
  4. What was the clicking time bomb? Drover’s chattering teeth. Pg. 16.
  5. How did Hank want to check out the problem? Penetration of the house. Pg. 18.

Chapter 3

  1. What did Hank think smelled like a skunk? Loper’s boots. Pg. 25.
  2. What did Hank find on the table? 3 T-bone steaks. Pg. 29.
  3. Why did Drover call “mayday!”? Because Sally May came home. Pg. 29.

Chapter 4

  1. What did Hank do when Sally May caught him? Knocked the jelly jar off the table. Pg. 31.
  2. Did Hank think it was his fault? No. The cowboys had plenty to eat. Pg. 34.
  3. What did Hank think of cat’s cleaning? Dirty from spit; not clean from the sewer. Pg. 37.
  4. Why was Hank going to leave to visit his sister? Let it blow over. Pg. 39.

Chapter 5

  1. Who did Hank meet playing the banjo and singing? Junior. Pg. 45.
  2. What did Hank teach Junior about singing? How to howl. Pg. 48.
  3. Who joined them in singing? Rip and Snort. Pg. 50

Chapter 6

  1. What was the clothes’ line pole with a shoe? A woman’s leg. Pg. 57.
  2. What did Maggie smell? Hank’s smell from the sewer. Pg. 59.
  3. Did Maggie want Hank to stay? No. Pg. 61.
  4. Why did Hank stay? To tell the kids stories. Pg. 63.

Chapter 7

  1. What did Maggie want to be called? Margaret; she didn’t like nick names. Pg. 65.
  2. What did Hank teach them first? To dig under the fence. Pg. 68.
  3. What did they eat from the garbage? A bunch of fish heads. Pg. 70.
  4. Who made fun of the pups? A cat on the fence. Pg. 72.

Chapter 8

  1. What does urchins mean? A mischievous child poorly dressed. Pg.74.
  2. What do the cats do? Sing a song mocking the dogs. Pg. 76.
  3. What do the dogs do back? Sing a song mocking the cats. Pg. 77.
  4. What do the dogs finally do? Start barking. Pg. 81.
  5. Who arrives after the neighbors get upset? The city dogcatcher. Pg. 83.

Chapter 9

  1. What is the bullet that Hank dodged? Getting his siter’s kids thrown in the pound. Pg. 84.
  2. What does Hank tell Maggie he did with the kids? They were just singing. Pg. 85.
  3. What does Maggie give Hank to eat? An Ivory Dog Bar. Pg. 89.
  4. Why did she give it to Hank? He pushed her into the sewer and she cried. Pg. 92.
  5. Why did the dogcatcher take Hank? He thought he was rabid. Pg. 95.

Chapter 10

  1. What did the dogcatcher do to Hank in the cage? Poke him with a stick. Pg. 99.
  2. What did the dogcatcher say about Hank? He tried to attack a child. Pg. 99.
  3. What test would they run on Hank? Cut off his head to check for rabies. Pg. 100.
  4. What did Ralph keep doing? Falling asleep. Pg. 106.

Chapter 11

  1. Did Hank believe his sister gave him soap on purpose? No. Pg. 108.
  2. What happened when Hank rammed the cell door? He passed out. Pg. 110.
  3. How did Ralph get in Hank’s cell? He just opened the latch. Pg. 110.

Chapter 12

  1. What else did the dogcatcher do besides chase hank? He started shooting at him. Pg. 116.
  2. What was Hank’s plan? To run around the Waterhole until Jimmy Joe ran out of gas. Pg. 117.
  3. Who drove Hank back to the ranch? Slim. Pg. 120.
  4. How did Hank get back at Pete? Shoved him into the water trough. Pg. 125.

Expressions used in the Story

Dodge a bullet.  Pg. 84

Mum’s the Word. Pg. 85.

Spill the beans. Pg. 87.

Toss your cookies. Pg. 94.

Comprehension Questions – #2 The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

by John R. Erickson

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; 750L; AR pts: 3.0

Comprehension Questions (by Steve)

Chapter 1

  1. What was
    the silver monster bird a cross between? A bird and a reptile. Pg. 1.
  2. What
    kind of noise do they make? A LOUD roar. Pg. 2.
  3. What did
    Hank say he saw the monster pick up and eat? A whole steer. Pg. 6.
  4. How did
    Hank fight back the monster? He tore off its leg. Pg. 9.

Chapter 2

  1. Where
    does Hank like to bath? In the green water of the septic tank. Pg. 12.
  2. Why did
    Sally May throw out the egg? She busted the yoke. Pg. 13.
  3. Why didn’t
    Sally May give hank the egg? He fought with the cat and smelled. Pg. 16.
  4. Why was
    Loper mad at Hank’s barking? He woke the baby. Pg. 20.

Chapter 3

  1. Why
    could Hank hear every sound when asleep? He had sensitive ears. Pg. 23.
  2. What
    natural beauty of cowdogs attracted women? Their noses. Pg. 24.
  3. How did
    Hank try to fix his eyes? A mud pack. Pg. 27.
  4. Why did
    Hank not tell off Plato? He had the wrong pickup truck. Pg. 32.

Chapter 4

  1. Why was
    Beulah’s hair so coarse? Hank was talking to a bale of hay. Pg. 35.
  2. Who was
    Rufus? The Doberman pinscher who’s top dog at Beulah’s ranch. Pg. 38.
  3. Why did
    Hank fight Rufus? He forced Beulah to kiss him. Pg. 40.

Chapter 5

  1. What
    warning did Hank issue about the fight? Don’t let children know about it.
    Pg. 44.
  2. How does
    Hank say Dobermans got their name? They can pinch with their teeth. Pg. 46.
  3. Where
    did Drover bite Rufus? On the rump. Pg. 49.

Chapter 6

  1. Who was
    Hank waiting for by the fence? Drover. Pg. 53.
  2. Who was
    Hank waiting for in front of the shed? The cowboys. Pg.55.
  3. What did
    Loper say Hank should do if he can’t win the fight? Avoid the fight. Pg. 57.
  4. What did
    Drover do to Hank? Stuck out his tongue, threw dirt, paraded. Pg. 61.

Chapter 7

  1. What
    bothered Hank in the morning? Big green flies and ants. Pg. 64.
  2. What did
    Loper give Hank to feel better? Eggs and milk. Pg. 65.
  3. Who came
    to take his grub? Pete the Barncat. Pg. 66.
  4. What
    mess happened when Hank followed Pete? He got lost in the woods. Pg. 71.

Chapter 8

  1. What
    animal was hank afraid of in the woods? Snakes. Pg. 73.
  2. What did
    Rip and Snort ask Hank? Why are you alone? Pg. 76.
  3. What
    did Hank make them promise? To believe what he told them. Pg. 78.
  4. What did
    they think would happen? The moon would come down to be eaten. Pg. 79.

Chapter 9

  1. Who were
    the 2 voices that Hank recognized up in the tree?  Wallace and Junior. Pg. 82.
  2. What
    happened when Wallace flew down? He got hung upside down in vines. Pg. 85.
  3. Who did
    Junior say could fix Hank’s eyes? Madame Moonshine. Pg. 88.
  4. What
    worried Hank about the cave? Snakes. Pg. 90.

Chapter 10

  1. Who did
    Madame Moonshine say she didn’t believe in? Dogs. Pg. 92.
  2. Why did
    Madame Moonshine doubt that Hank controlled everything? Because he didn’t
    control fish, sunrise, ants. Pg. 93.
  3. Who was
    the rattle snake? Timothy. Pg. 96.
  4. Madame
    Moonshine would not let Hank leave until what? He solved riddles. Pg. 100.

Chapter 11

  1. What did
    Hank think Madame Moonshine was better than? Loper’s Black Draught. Pg. 103.
  2. Who was
    hiding in the post pile? Plato. Pg. 104.
  3. Why did
    Hank want Plato to Distract Rufus? So he could blind side him. Pg. 106.
  4. Who
    helped Hank and Plato? Beulah joined the fight. Pg. 111.
  5. How did
    Billy feel about Rufus getting beat up? Discussed; wanted to sell him. Pg.
    113.

Chapter 12

  1. What
    did Pete and Drover decide to do? To make a play making fun of hank. Pg.
    116.
  2. What
    happened when Hank chased Pete into the feed barn? He got his head stuck.
    Pg. 121.
  3. What did
    Hank do when Drover hid? Tore up the Feed barn. Pg. 123.
  4. How did
    Loper know Hank tore up the barn? Red paint on his paws. Pg. 127.

Comprehension Questions – The Original Adventures of Hank the CowDog #1

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

by John R. Erickson

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts: 3.0

Hank has been accused of murder! In a fit of despair, Hank resigns his position as Head of Ranch Security and decides to join the outlaw coyotes. There he's known as Hunk (that's Hank in coyote language). Hank meets Missy Coyote, sister to Scraunch — the meanest, roughest, toughest, most notorious coyote in the whole country. If Scraunch found Hank with his sister... Well, look out for trouble.

Vocabulary (by Steve)

Comprehension Questions (by Steve)

Chapter 1

  1. What was
    Hank’s job? Head of Ranch Security Pg. 1.
  2. Why did
    Loper shoot off the gun? Hank was barking at the coyotes. Pg. 3
  3. Who was
    Beulah? The neighbor’s collie that Hank liked. Pg. 4.
  4. What did
    Hank and Drover think killed the chicken? A coyote or a coon. Pg. 8.

Chapter 2

  1. Where
    did the porcupine stick Hank? In the face, nose, and paws. Pg. 12.
  2. What did
    Pete, the barn cat,  do to Hank? Flicked
    his tail on his nose. Pg. 14.
  3. How did
    Loper feel about Hank’s quills? It was Hanks fault for messing with a
    porcupine. Pg. 15.
  4. Why did
    Loper throw the pliers at Hank? He wet on his pants. Pg. 17.

Chapter 3

  1. What did
    Loper feel about Hank and the dead chicken? He barked all night and was expensive
    to feed. Pg. 19.
  2. Why did
    Hank tell Drover he was useless? He was playing with a frog. Pg. 22.
  3. What did
    Drover find in the night? A big monster with horns. Pg. 25.
  4. What did
    Hank actually attack? The milk cow. 
    Pg. 28.

Chapter 4

  1. Why was
    Slim nice to Hank? He wanted to wipe the dip stick on his ear. Pg. 31.
  2. How
    did Hank feel about Drover’s help the night before? He was not happy he
    didn’t give any . Pg. 33.
  3. Why was
    Drover not afraid to pee on the Boxer’s truck? He was chained up. Pg. 35.
  4. Why did
    Bruno get in trouble? The men thought the other dogs were asleep. Pg. 39.

Chapter 5

  1. What did
    Hank decide to do instead of guarding the chicken house? A steak-out. Pg.
    44.
  2. Why did
    Hank fall asleep? Because he dreamt he was awake. Pg. 45.
  3. Who
    found Hank with the dead chicken? Sally May. Pg. 48.
  4. What did
    Loper do to punish Hank? Made him wear the dead chicken head. Pg. 50.
  5. What did
    Hank decide to do because he was punished? Leave and become an Outlaw. Pg.
    53.

Chapter 6

  1. What
    did Hank think Loper and Sally Mae would feel about him being gone? They’d
    miss him. Do anything if he’d come home. 
    Pg. 57.
  2. How did
    Hank feel about the spring pool? A sewer is better. Pg. 58.
  3. What did
    Junior think about Hank? Thought he was d-d-d-dead. Pg. 59.
  4. What
    gave the signals that something was dead? The chicken head around hank’s
    neck. Pg. 62    .

Chapter 7

  1. Why did
    the dog look headless? A Hawaiian Punch can was stuck on its head. Pg. 67.
  2. Why
    couldn’t the coyote understand hank? It didn’t speak Doglish. Pg. 69.
  3. Did Hank
    like the coyote’s name? No. Girl-Who-Drink-Blood. Pg. 72.
  4. Who was
    the coyote’s brother? Scraunch. Pg. 73.

Chapter 8

  1. Who is
    Chief Gut? The coyote father of Missy and Scraunch. Pg. 75.
  2. What did
    the coyotes call cowboys and guns? Big-hat and boom-boom. Pg. 76.
  3. What did
    the coyotes call Hank that upset him? Chicken dog. Pg. 77.
  4. Why
    didn’t the coyotes attack Hank? They were going to make him part of the
    tribe. Pg. 84.

Chapter 9

  1. Why did
    Hank’s secret work? Coyotes are superstitious. Pg. 85.
  2. What Did
    Hank’s mom say about coyotes? They were lazy, sneaky, undisciplined. Pg. 87.
  3. What did
    Rip and Snort want to do? Go carousing in the silage pit. Pg. 88.
  4. What is
    silage? Grass that ferments and turns into alcohol. Pg. 88.
  5. What did
    Drover think about Hank with the coyotes? He was a traitor. 95.

Chapter 10

  1. What did
    the coyote pups do to hank? Bit his tail. Pg. 99.
  2. How did
    Hank feel about coyote life? Told Missy too much noise. Pg. 102.
  3. What was
    the mutton feast? A piece of aged meat that was green with maggots on it.
    Pg. 103    .
  4. What did
    Missy’s mom think made Hank sick? Brackish water. Pg. 105.

Chapter 11

  1. What did
    the coyotes like to eat and why? Juicy chicken because they are easy. Pg.
    107.
  2. Who made
    the speech to the village? Scraunch and then led the raid. Pg.107.
  3. Where
    did Hank hope Drover was? Hiding in a corner of the shed. Pg. 109.
  4. What did
    Scraunch want Hank to do? Kill Drover, but he tried to save him. Pg. 114.
  5. When
    Hank “heard Saint Peter blow” what did he think? He was going to die. Pg.
    116.

Chapter 12

  1. What did
    Loper do and why to Hank? He smiled; glad he was back. Pg. 119.
  2. What did
    everyone think happened to Drover? He was dead. Pg. 120.
  3. What did
    Hank tell Drover he was doing with the coyotes? He was undercover. Pg. 122.
  4. What
    did the Badger tracks turn out to be? Skunk tracks. Pg. 125.
  5. What did
    Hank do to Sally May? Run in to her clean laundry with skunk smell. Pg. 127.