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Shel Silverstein
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Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back Hardcover – Picture Book, September 24, 2013

by Shel Silverstein (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 463 ratings
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Shel Silverstein's first children's book, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back—a whimsical tale of self-discovery and marshmallows—is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary!

Is a famous, successful, and admired lion a happy lion? Or is he a lion at all? Written and drawn with wit and gusto, Shel Silverstein's modern fable speaks not only to children but to us all!

 First published in 1963, this classic picture book received rave reviews from the New York Times, Time magazine, and Publishers Weekly and a starred review from Kirkus. Now celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back is the book that started Shel Silverstein's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator.

He is also the creator of picture books such as A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree and of classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, Runny Babbit, and Runny Babbit Returns.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 9 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    112 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Lexile measure
    NC650L
  5. Dimensions
    9.2 x 7.3 x 0.71 inches
  6. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  7. Publication date
    September 24, 2013
  8. ISBN-10
    0060256753
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0060256753
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

First published in 1963, the late Shel Silverstein's children's book debut Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back, will resonate with young readers much as it did 40 years ago. The affable narrator Uncle Shelby's story begins: "Once there was a young lion and his name was--well, I don't really know what his name was because he lived in the jungle with a lot of other lions and if he did have a name it certainly wasn't a name like Joe or Ernie or anything like that." That all changes, however, when a circus man discovers the lion's skills as a marksman (the lion took a gun from a hunter he ate) and names him Lafcadio the Great. When the circus man takes Lafcadio to New York City, the story takes on a certain Crocodile Dundee quality--the lion eats the menu at a fancy restaurant, demands marshmallows (he likes the sound of them), and is captivated by the hotel elevator. As Lafcadio becomes more civilized and rich and famous, however, he becomes more unhappy. In the end, to entertain the increasingly despondent star, the circus man takes Lafcadio hunting in Africa where he encounters his old lion friends on the other end of his gun. Is Lafcadio now a man or is he a lion? He decides he is neither and wanders alone into the valley. In typical Silverstein style, this exuberantly-silly-yet-poignant fable, illustrated with simple, expressive line drawings, asks more questions than it answers. The glee the author derives from wordplay and the sound of language is positively contagious. This read-aloud classic belongs on every child's bookshelf. (Ages 6 to 10) --Karin Snelson

From the Back Cover

"You don't have to shoot me," says the young lion. "I will be your rug and I will lie in front of your fireplace and I won't move a muscle and you can sit on me and toast all the marshmallows you want. I love marshmallows."

But the hunter will not listen to reason, so what is there for a young lion to do? After eating up the hunter, Lafcadio takes the gun home and practices and practices until he becomes the world's greatest sharpshooter.

Now dressed in starched collars and fancy suits, and enjoying all the marshmallows he wants, Lafcadio is pampered and admired wherever he goes. But is a famous, successful, and admired lion a happy lion? Or is he a lion at all?

Told and drawn with wit and gusto, Shel Silverstein's modern fable speaks not only to children but to us all!

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Anniversary edition (September 24, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060256753
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060256753
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 9 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NC650L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.71 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 463 ratings

About the author

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Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein

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"And now, children, your Uncle Shelby is going to tell you a story about a very strange lion- in fact, the strangest lion I have ever met." So begins Shel Silverstein's very first children's book, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. It's funny and sad and has made readers laugh and think since it was published in 1963. It was followed the next year by three more books. The first of them, The Giving Tree, is a moving story about the love of a tree for a boy. Shel returned to humor the same year with A Giraffe and a Half, delighting readers with a most riotous ending. The third book in 1964 was Uncle Shelby's Zoo Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies, Shel's first poetry collection, and his first and only book illustrated in full color. It combined his unique imagination and bold brand of humor in this collection of silly and scary creatures. Shel's second collection of poems and drawings, Where the Sidewalk Ends, was published in 1974. His recording of the poems won him a Grammy for best Children's Album. In this collection, Shel invited children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible, from a hippopotamus sandwich to the longest nose in the world. With his next collection of poems and drawings, A Light in the Attic, published in 1981, Shel asked his readers to turn the light on in their attics, to put something silly in the world, and not to be discouraged by the Whatifs. Instead he urged readers to catch the moon or invite a dinosaur to dinner- to have fun! A Light in the Attic was the first children's book to break onto the New York Times Bestseller List, where it stayed for a record-breaking 182 weeks. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up (1996). Like his other books, it is filled with unforgettable characters. Shel Silverstein's legacy continued with the release of a new work,Runny Babbit, the first posthumous publication conceived and completed before his death and released in March 2005. Witty and wondrous, Runny Babbit is a poetry collection of simple spoonerismsH, which twist the tongue and tease the mind. Don't Bump the Glump! And Other Fantasies was recently reissued in 2008 after being unavailable for over 30 years. Shel was always a believer in letting his work do the talking for him--few authors have ever done it better.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
463 global ratings
Great Book IF you get the edition you paid for...
3 Stars
Great Book IF you get the edition you paid for...
This is a wonderful book that I ordered for my son, but it is supposed to be the 50th Anniversary Edition. As you can see there is no 50th Anniversary Edition seal on the cover and the most recent publishing date is 1991.Very disappointing.
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Top reviews from the United States

Susan Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Reject This Book Because of Its Title!
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022
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An all-time favorite children's classic! Teaches so clearly that we will never be happy trying to be something or someone we were never created to be. The language is SO appealing to children, and I must say, to adults as well. I read this book to our sons countless times and recently bought it for the son of a dear friend. It probably would appeal more to boys as it is about a lion and his adventures with hunters, but again, the language is so engaging that I think girls would enjoy it as well! It is a fairly lengthy book, at least in terms of a bedtime story, but certainly may be read in one sitting if desired. I would estimate it would appeal to children six years of age and older. I re-read it from time to time myself, and I am 70!
5 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
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One of Silverstein’s books that I like to share ❤️
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Anonymoose
5.0 out of 5 stars Great classic
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024
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Book was ex library. But condition is great, with nice protective jacket.
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Joe Crabb
5.0 out of 5 stars Love Shel Silverstein
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
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I loved this book as a child and was so eager to give it to my son. He loves it!
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Love Laughing
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read-Aloud
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2012
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I purchased this to use in my 4th grade classroom along with a TeachersPayTeachers listening unit based on the book. My students really enjoyed the story!
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clf
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
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My grandson loves Shel Silverstein’s poetry so thought he’d like this book, too. He loved it!
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Allison
5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommend this book ages 3 & up.
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2021
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I love the book. But bc it has the huge aspect of the guns or shooting I was prohibited from finishing reading the book to my pre-K class. I was disappointed as were they since it’s a truly beautiful story w great life lessons. I still highly recommend this book ages 3 & up.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lydia theTattooed Lady!
5.0 out of 5 stars Shel fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2018
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So lovely. My son enjoyed it immensely. As did i
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rajbinder singh
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on February 6, 2018
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My 7 year old loves it!
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Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a great loved of Shel Silverstein
Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2016
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I'm a great loved of Shel Silverstein. I had never heard of this book but saw it on Amazon after looking at other Silverstein books. It's about a Lion who moves to the city as the worlds greatest shot and has a great love for marshmallows. I decided to buy it for a 5th birthday present for a boy who loves marshmallows. It's a chapter book but great for a young child. Enjoyable to the adult who reads it aloud as well.
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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2021
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The book was exactly as described and arrived promptly. Very happy.
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John Saddington
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2015
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wowwwwwww
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