“Hank the Cowdog” Creator John R. Erickson to Appear in #TXBookChat Virtual Author Chat, June 10


June 1, 2026

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book is pleased to announce a special #TXBookChat webinar on Weds., June 10, at 10 a.m. CDT. In this free, virtual book event, beloved Texas author John S. Erickson will discuss his autobiography, Small Town Author, and the inspiration behind his timeless Hank the Cowdog series.

Readers of all ages are invited to register at www.tsl.texas.gov/txbookchat.

The Center recently announced Hank the Cowdog #83: The Case of the Poison Toad and Small Town Author as the 2026 Texas Great Read Youth and Adult Selections, respectively. This marks the first time the Texas Center for the Book has selected Adult and Youth titles by the same writer.

Erickson’s Hank the Cowdog series has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and are many students’ first chapter books. Small Town Author, published by Texas Tech University Press, is Erickson’s autobiography, sharing his journey from the small town to the big city and back again. Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Poison Toad, published by Maverick Books and illustrated by Nicolette G. Earley, continues Hank’s adventures with his sidekick Drover, on their ranch in West Texas. 

The Center invites Texans to read Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Poison Toad and Small Town Author, available at your local library and at bookstores in your community. Texas Talking Book Program patrons may also check out Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Poison Toad from the TBP collection.

Read more about John Erickson, his work, the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock and their Ranch Life Learning Series featuring Hank the Cowdog, over on the Texas Bookshelf Chronicles blog, at www.tsl.texas.gov/tcfb.

There are 56 Centers for the Book, representing each state and U.S. territory, affiliated with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Annually, these affiliated Centers for the Book select “Great Reads from Great Places.” In most cases, these books are written by authors from their state or territory, take place in their state or territory and/or celebrate local culture and heritage. Each Center for the Book affiliate chooses its Great Reads titles by convening expert panels and/or welcoming nominations from the public.
For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/greatreadtexas.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.