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 theNew York Times,Timemagazine, andPublishers Weeklyand a starred review fromKirkus. Now celebrating its sixtieth anniversary,Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Backis 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 asA Giraffe and a Half,Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?,The Missing Piece,The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favoriteThe Giving Treeand of classic poetry collections such asWhere the Sidewalk Ends,A Light in the Attic,Falling Up,Every Thing On It,Don’t Bump the Glump!,Runny Babbit,andRunny Babbit Returns.

You don’t have to shoot me, says the young lion