Editor's Note:

"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.

Photo: IC

I started reading as a little boy. Like most Chinese boys, I went from kids' stories to Chinese novels. Then I began to read English fairy tales and novels. 

I have read many what I consider or are considered to be "good works," such as Dork Diaries, Geronimo Stilton, and tons more. However, what influenced me the most was Hank the Cowdog.

Hank the Cowdog is the titular character of a popular children's book series written by John R. Erickson. 

Hank is a lovable and humorous ranch dog who considers himself the "Head of Ranch Security." Hank narrates his adventures in the first person, often with a comical overestimation of his own skills and importance.

This story takes place in Texas, the US. There is a fairly big ranch with a chicken coop and lots of other buildings and things.There's Drover, a small, white dog with no tail that is his "assistant" and is "scared of his own shadow." There are also people like Sally May, a rancher's wife, Loper, who is his boss, and Slim the cowboy. 

Although Sally May doesn't like Hank because Hank often tears up her garden, she is very kind to animals and feels for Hank at many crucial moments.

I started to read the series when I was little. I loved it so much that I read it every day and just couldn't stop. I liked the part where Hank told Drover to put its nose in the corner, I think this was very funny. There was a time when I would check every dog on the street to see if I knew it. I also loved the songs in the story so much that I used to replay the best of them over and over again.

When I was older, I started to find some things in the story that were fairly educational, like the qualities in friends and such. I started to respect Hank. I respected him not just because of the fun stories but also the simplicity in teaching kids to realize these important things in life, and in interesting ways too.

There was a time when I started to make handicrafts or drawings of Hank. I was so obsessed with the books that I made a whole model of Hank's ranch using clay and bricks. 

First published in 1983, the series now includes over 70 books and has been adapted into audiobooks, plays, and even a podcast. The stories are loved for their witty dialogue, engaging plots, and Hank's quirky personality, making them a favorite among children, parents, and educators alike.

The author John R. Erickson was able to make Hank into a true and real character in every kid's heart. 

This is very difficult even for the best writer. He started working on it when he was still young, about 30 years old, and now he is about 70 years old. 

But he is still coming up with new stories and new ideas for Hank the cowdog. This was not easy, so I also respect this author deeply.

Although this story seems a bit childlike, but its characters, big or small, are very crucial in our childhood. It gives us power, inspiration and most importantly, courage to keep on doing the things we love. 

The author is a student at Beijing National Day School