Texas Great Read 2026

2026 Texas Great Read Youth Selection
Hank the Cowdog #83: The Case of the Poison Toad by John R. Erickson

Cover of Hank the Cowdog The Case of the Poison Toad showing a drawing of a brown dog snarling at a toad on a porch while a white dog looks on behind a fence behind the brown dog. At the top left is a drawing of the brown dog in the center of a metal sheriff badge

2026 Texas Great Read Adult Selection
Small Town Author by John R. Erickson

Cover of Small Town Author showing a photograph of the author John R. Erickson in a long sleeve blue shirt sitting in a river holding a dog in his arms while the dog sits on his lap

The Texas Center for the Book is delighted to announce its Texas Great Read titles for 2026. The Center has chosen Hank the Cowdog #83: The Case of the Poison Toad by John R. Erickson as the 2026 Texas Great Read Youth Selection. Small Town Author, also by Erickson, is the 2026 Texas Great Read Adult Selection.

Erickson is the beloved author of the Hank the Cowdog series, which 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 and shares 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.

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.

The Great Read titles are also recognized each year at the National Book Festival, hosted by the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The 2026 National Book Festival will take place on Saturday, August 22. Check out the Library of Congress website for details.

Erickson discusses his autobiography, "Small Town Author," and the inspiration behind the Hank series in this 30-minute video.

Reading the Books

Many libraries across Texas carry copies of Hank the Cowdog #83: The Case of the Poison Toad and Small Town Author; we encourage you to check them out! Both titles are also available in bookstores and from Maverick Books and Texas Tech University Press.

Texas Talking Book Program patrons may also check out Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Poison Toad and Small Town Author 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.

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