Hi Hank-Fans! 

Have you ever thought of having a Hank-themed birthday party? Over the years, we've received countless emails from Hank readers (parents and kids alike) asking for ideas for how to throw a Hank the Cowdog party. And, here's our answer! And, please be sure to email us (using the "Get in Touch" option: http://www.hankthecowdog.com/author) or comment at the bottom with any additional ideas you've come up with on your own! 

1) Food: So, Hank is pretty obsessed with eating, right? Juicy, fatty ends of bacon, steak, chicken dinners, or...well, just about anything that comes out of Sally May's kitchen. When throwing your Hank the Cowdog party, be sure to take a look at our recipes section on the site for menu ideas. 

2) Cake: This one is FUN! You can:

     (A) Draw out a classic Hank the Cowdog face in icing on your cake like this fan did: Hank the Cowdog Birthday Cake Idea, or...

     (B) You can use our "Learn to Draw Hank" printout for some help: "Learn to Draw Hank", or...

     (C) Combine some icing-outlines with a cake that is cut into the shape of either the classic Hank-profile picture (shown above) or Hank's security-badge picture (at the top of each page of the site). 

3) Games: As you know, a Head of Ranch Security has very little time for frivolous things like games, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun at your party! Here are a few ideas... (and, remember, these are just a few possibilities! We'd love to hear what you've come up with!)

     (A) Sharks and Minnows, DROVER-STYLE: Have all party-goers start out on one side of the yard, field or room, with one person in the middle of the room. The people at that one side will be "Drovers", while the person in the middle (doing the tagging) is called "Tuerto" (see book 8, The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse). The two "safety" ends at either side of the yard are the "Machine Sheds." 

Instructions: The person in the middle will call out for the "attack" and the "Drovers" must try to make it to the Machine Shed on the opposite side of the yard. The "Tuerto" will then specify how he wants the Drovers to cross the room (running backwards, forwards, hopping on one foot, limping, etc…).  Tuerto will then chase the Drovers in the same manner that he has called out. If one of the Drovers are tagged, they sit right where they were tagged and become Tumbleweeds. These Tumbleweeds have to stay on their backsides, but they can still try to tag other Drovers that are crossing (as long as the Tumbleweeds remain sitting). Any Drovers tagged by sitting Tumbleweeds while trying to get to the Machine Shed must become Tumbleweeds as well!

     (B) Telephone: Remember that time Hank thought the sky was falling (book 45)? And, that's certainly not the only time hilarity has ensued when Hank has misheard something... Why not play a good old-fashioned game of telephone with a small twist? 

Instructions: Take some of your lesser-known favorite lines from Hank books (the crazier the phrase, the better it'll work!) and start the "rumor" at one end of the line. It should then be repeated in a whisper down the line (so that only the person next to you can hear what you repeat). The person at the end will then announce what they've heard to the rest of the group. You'll be amazed by what can happen to even the simplest phrases...

     (C) Group Knot: Every good pirate (book 41) knows that you can't set sail if your ropes have knots in them! Help Hank untangle this big knot of hands and arms! 

Instructions: Have the party-goers stand in a tight circle, with their hands in the center. Then have them grab other hands at random. The puzzle is for the whole group to work together to get themselves untangled, without letting go of the hands they're holding! (Sometimes you’ll find that the group has actually formed several smaller circles.) 

     (D) Print-outs: Looking for something a little more low-key? Check out some of our printouts in the Fan Zone! Offer a prize for the first person to finish the Mazes, etc., you get the idea...

(4) Lastly, Have Fun and Be Creative! Check out some of these great ideas (Hank the Cowdog Birthday Party Ideas) that a Hank fan posted a few years back! Not only did she take the plunge and create a Hank cake shaped like Hank's head, she even made Emerald Pond Jello! (Now, that's creative!) Our favorite idea of hers? Pin-the-Tail on Pete the Barncat. Tee hee.

Be sure to email or comment with your ideas and suggestions!