Lafcadio The Lion Who Shot Back

Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back  By: Shel Silverstein

                Lafcadio is a lion who does not understand what a hunter is the day they come to shot the lions. While the other lions run, Lafcadio decides to introduce himself to the hunter. They strike up a conversation that ends with Lafcadio eating the hunter and taking his gun.  Lafcadio teaches himself to shoot and kills many hunters and uses their bullets to practice. One day a man from the circus comes to take Lafcadio away. Lafcadio loves his new life and begins to act more human like than lion like.  At the end he decides to become a hunter and is aiming for his old pride. Will he figure out who he really is or kill his family?

                This book was brought to my attention through  my sons second grade teacher. I had never heard of it before. I liked the moral that it taught about being who you really are meant to be. And maybe trying to figure out who that is as you grow.  I thought it was a funny story especially because the lion loves marshmallows and even has a suit made out of them in the city.  Without spoiling it I did think the ending was kind of sad, because you don’t really know what happens.

                This is an ok read for second grade and up, you could read it to younger students but they probably would not understand the whole idea.

I bought this book on Amazon.com

ISBN: 978-0-06-025675-3