Billy worked and saved to get two hounds, Old Dan and Little Ann. Together they explored the woods and rivers of Cherokee country as Billy trained them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Old Dan had physical strength, balanced by Little Ann’s brains. Word of the trio’s success spread but their true victory lay in the bonds of friendship they formed.

Where the Red Fern Grows was read by Steven Hauck.

Steven made his professional acting debut twenty years ago as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Since then he has appeared in over one hundred stage productions across the United States and Europe.

What do YOU think?

Why did Billy want dogs? Have you ever wanted something as badly as Billy wanted dogs? What did you do to get it?

Why did Billy like to hunt?

What makes Old Dan and Little Ann unique?

Over the course of the book, does Billy’s dad change how he behaves towards Billy? Can you identify a point where it did change?

What does the red fern symbolize?

What would you describe as the main theme of Where the Red Fern Grows?

Did author Wilson Rawls rely on stereotypes to portray some of his characters? Which characters?

Fun & Adventure Beyond the Book

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. This site has photos of 100 different breeds as well as information on what you need to know before you become a pet owner.

Old Dan and Little Ann were redbone coon hounds. Billy took them to a big coon hunt were the dogs were judged both on their appearance and hunting skills. This website will tell you what the judges were looking for and the history of the breed.

Hunting is a popular pastime in Vermont. You may or may not like the sport, but for many Vermonters, it is a way of life. See what several hunters have to say about why they enjoy hunting on this “scenes of Vermont” website.

The title of Where the Red Fern Grows is taken from a Cherokee legend. You’ll have to read the book to learn the legend...but you can learn other native Indian legends from Indian Legend.com . To learn more about Cherokee Indians in general, check out their website. While you’re there, be sure to look at their page on the Cherokee alphabet. It gives you both sounds and words, so you could teach yourself the Cherokee language.

Billy grew up during the Depression…remember, he worked two years to raise the money to buy Old Dan and Little Ann. It was a time of great economic upheaval and it truly shaped the people that grew up in the midst of it. Check out the internet project students in Mooresville High School of Mooresville, Indiana did! They gathered oral histories, both in-person and via e-mail, of people who grew up during the Depression. The project is called "We Made Do" By reading transcripts of the oral histories, you get a sense of how rough life was back then…plus great details like a loaf of bread used to cost a dime. For photographs of the era, check out the collection on this website .

If You Like This Book, Check Out...

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