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2. Read a children's book - review it
With two young boys, I read children's books on a daily basis. But for the mini-challenge, I wanted to read a children's book that would appeal only to me - and that's why I selected Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back by Shel Silverstein (who, by the way, is my favorite children's writer, cartoonist and poet).Lafcadio was originally published in 1963. Its content certainly wouldn't fly nowadays. Lafcadio is a lion who ate a hunter, confiscated his rifle and then how learned to shoot very accurately. He emigrated to the city and became a famous sharpshooting lion with the circus. He loved marshmellows and unleashed a mighty ROAR when he didn't get his way. Lafcadio became more man-like as he lived in the city, and he realized that he was not happy. He returned to the jungle and determined that he didn't like being a lion either. Lafcadio was torn, and the story ended with him roaming the countryside.
Readers of The Giving Tree will recognize Silverstein's trademark "open" ending - allowing the reader to interpret the story's meaning. To me, the moral of the story is be careful what you wish for. But others could draw other meaningful lessons. Overall, once I got over the inclusion of guns and human death in a child's book (!), I thought the story was very lyrical and fun to read.
- Location:home
- Mood:
cheerful
