Koala Lou

 


Bibliography
Fox, Mem, 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780152000769.

Plot Summary
Young Koala Lou yearns for the days when she was an only child and her mother would tell her how she loved her the most. As the years have passed and more siblings have arrived, Koala Lou thinks about what she can do to earn her mother's attention. With the Bush Olympics right around the corner, she enters the competition (specifically, the gum tree climbing event), dreaming of her victory and her mother telling her how much she loved her. Despite not winning the event, her mother is proud of her and reminds her of how much she loves her. Koala Lou learns that a mother's love is forever and does not have to win her over.

Critical Analysis 
Mem Fox has captured the sweet, eternal love a mother will always have her child. The main character, Koala Lou, recalls the moments when her mother would tell her she loved her most and how it uplifted her spirits. However, Koala Lou's family has grown since and she is starting to feel left behind, when her mother is busy taking care of her siblings. Koala Lou devises a plan to hear her mother say she loves her again by joining the Bush Olympics and winning the gum tree climbing event. Although, Koala Lou does not win the event, it turns out, she didn't have to in order to hear her mother's words. She learns a mother's love never fades away and will last forever. Fox has successfully taken Australian culture, animals, and an important lesson, captured children's attention and turned it into a memorable story.

Pamela Loft's soft and colorful illustrations perfectly capture the silly nature of Australia's wildlife. Even as the main characters featured are animals, the soft brushstrokes capture the fuzzy fur and feathers on the animals and the desert landscapes of Australia. Paired together with this sweet, innocent story, the illustrations will capture readers' attention. The illustrations will leave them wanting to learn more about the unique culture, eccentric plants, and the memorable animals featured that are native to this country.

Review Excerpt(s)
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Another winning import from one of Australia's favorite authors."
Starred review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child without the sentimentality of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever..." 
Starred review in HORN BOOK: "A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud."

Connections
- To provide background knowledge, students can attend a virtual tour of the Great Outback.
- For young fans of Australian culture and animals, they will appreciate the soft, detailed illustrations.
- A sweet story perfect for bedtime, reminding young children a mother's love is strong and never-ending. 
- Fans of the beloved author, Mem Fox, will enjoy this sweet, caring addition to her creative works.    
- Similar book recommendations:
Fox, Mem, 1991. POSSUM MAGIC. ISBN 9780152632243.
Fox, Mem, 1992. NIGHT NOISES. ISBN 9780152574215.

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