A 17-week series featuring Hank the Cowdog as he helps his friend Slim the Cowboy work on a ranch will begin in Monday's Caller-Times.
The Homeless Pooch series, presented by the Caller-Times, Flint Hills Resources and Newspapers For Literacy, is designed to improve vocabulary, promote critical thinking and reading skills in third-grade students and older.
Each Monday, the Local section will feature a chapter of "The Case of the Runaway Windmill" by John R. Erickson.
The story follows the pooch as Hank and his new friends help Slim, who gets trapped on a windmill tower after a storm blows in, and run into the coyote brothers.
Lesson plans, an activity guide and classroom sets of newspapers every Monday during the series are available for teachers. To order copies or for information, contact Education Manager Sandra Ortiz at 886-3646.