KOALA LOU

Book Review

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lofts, Pamela. 1998. Koala Lou. By Mem Fox. San Diego. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 0152005021.

B. PLOT SUMMARY

Koala Lou misses her mother’s undivided attention that she gradually lost as her mother had more children and less time. Koala Lou missed hearing her mother say the special sentence, “Koala Lou, I Do love you!” She wanted to win back her mother’s affection and hear her say those special words. Koala Lou decided to train for and enter the Bush Olympics in order to please her mother. In the end, Koala Lou did not win the tree climbing race, but she did realize that her mother still loved her if even she does not say it every day.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this book, children are exposed to many native Australian animals. The animals in the story such as: the koala, emu, platypus, kookaburra, and kangaroo are culture markers that guide the reader to understand this story takes place in Australia. The reader is able to see the animals interact together in their natural habitat as opposed to seeing them in a cage in the zoo.

Mem Fox also names the Olympics after the location they occur: the Bush which is otherwise known as the Australian Outback. The illustrations depict the eucalyptus tree, the home and food source of the koala bear. The Koala bear never gives up even though it was unlikely that she would win the race.

The illustrator colorfully depicts the Australian animals in the story and the author names some of the native animals. This gives the reader an opportunity to learn the names of a few new animals, and an opportunity to investigate the other animals that are named in the story. The reader may inquire as to if these animals would interact together under a realistic circumstance.

The main character, Koala Lou, is a determined female. Koala Lou could be seen as a role model for young readers. Even though she did not win the game, she earned the respect of her friends and family. Koala Lou also learned that her mother loved her regardless of what happens in her life.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

School Library Journal
This is a charming story of a young koala bear who dreams of entering her own Bush Olympics. Despite all her hard work and dedicated training, Koala Lou comes up short and takes second prize. But that doesn't mean that her mother cares for her any less, and the book closes by reassuring readers that winning isn't a prerequisite to being loved. The colored-pencil illustrations express that message gently and fancifully with an eclectic cast of Australian creatures.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1989)
In a gentle tale set in the Australian bush, Koala Lou wants to win the Bush Olympics. A good choice for story hour, bedtime, or reading aloud. Review, p. 757. Category: Fiction. 1989, Harcourt, 32pp.. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

E. CONNECTIONS

Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesChildren's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Texas Reading Club, 2005 ; Texas

Older students can learn more about the modern Olympics using this website: http://www.usoc.org/ and more about the ancient Olympics using the following website: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/.

These books also explore a mother’s unconditional love for her child.

Joosse, Barbara. Mama, DO Y0U LOVE ME? ISBN: 087701759X

Melmed, Laura Krauss: I LOVE YOU AS MUCH. ISBN: 0688117198

Schlein, Miriam: THE WAY MOTHERS ARE. ISBN: 0807586919

Wheeler, Lisa. TE AMO, BEBE, LITTLE ONE. ISBN: 0316614106