My siblings have enjoyed Hank’s stories for years now, and recently, when trying to decide what to read to my youngest sisters at bedtime, one of them helped pick this book out. I’ve been intrigued about it for a while, so it was fun to finally get to read it. This story made for a great bedtime story (most of the time, anyway—we had to read an extra chapter here and there when it got too scary!). My sisters and I had great delight in calling Hank a bit of a dunce and dumbbell here and there (don’t let him hear that; it’ll hurt his feelings), and overall, it was a delightful read. Highly recommended! ( )

Hank the Cowdog thinks he's brilliant, but he's not. In fact, he's gullible enough to fall for Pete the Barncat's corncob trick. I enjoyed how Hank and Drover let their imagined wealth go to their heads. Felt a bit sorry for High Loper and Slim when their faithful cowdog fell down on the job. It was nice to see Missy Coyote again, though not her nasty brother. Hank's spoonerisms and malapropisms were fun. So were his battles of wits with Pete. Drover demonstrates that there are times he lacks the common sense of your average desert rock.

The usual sound effects and old-time music enhanced the narration. I don't recall the names of all of the songs (never knew the dun-dun-dun-dun-DUN dundundundun for villains), but here are the ones I know: 'I've Been Working on the Railroad,' 'The Sun Shines Bright on My Old Kentucky Home,' 'Turkey in the Straw,' 'The Stars and Stripes Forever,' 'Red River Valley,' and 'I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair'.

Hank's song, 'I'm rich!' is as joyful as might be expected, while his duet with Missy Coyote, 'My Heart Goes Wild For You' shows the fair Missy has a very sweet voice.

As usual, Hank the Cowdog would make fine family fare -- with no commercials! ( )