"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 sharp-shooter.

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!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The witty, thought-provoking fable of a lion whose marksmanship makes him world famous, but who discovers that ¿¿¿success ' is not to his liking. ¿¿¿A most amusing book, written in an easy, mildly mad style.' 'C.

Author Biography: Shel Silverstein, renowned creator of songs, cartoons, plays and author was best known for his children's books, which have sold over 18 million copies in hardcover and have been translated into 20 languages.

Silverstein's friend, Tomi Ungerer, suggested he write for children and introduced him to the editor, Ursula Nordstrom, who published his first book for children, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. But it was his second book that catapulted him into the spotlight as a bestselling author/illustrator. Published in 1964, The Giving Tree, was hailed all over the country as an inspirational parable. With over five million books sold, The Giving Tree is a childhood classic, which celebrates it's 35th anniversary this fall.

Shel Silverstein wrote nine books for children including Falling Up; A Light in the Attic; Where the Sidewalk Ends; The Missing Piece; The Missing Piece Meets the Big O; and A Giraffe and a Half.