KOALA LOU

Book Review: KOALA LOU




A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fox, Mem, and Pamela Lofts. Koala Lou. San Diego: Voyager Books, 1989. ISBN: 0152000763


B. PLOT SUMMARY

Koala Lou hears the same phrase, “Koala Lou, I DO love you,” repeatedly from her mother as a baby, but as she grows her mother’s attention shifts to younger koala siblings. Koala Lou decides she will compete and win in the Bush Olympics to gain her mother’s attention and hear those special words again. When she loses the competition, her mother is there for her and tells her, “Koala Lo, I DO love you. I always have and I always will.”

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

Koala Lou is a story about a koala who is trying to win her mother’s attention and affection, only to learn at the end that she was always loved and adored by her. The characters, especially Koala Lou, are not stereotypical koalas. Instead of showing Lou eating eucalyptus leaves (the primary activity of koalas), the author chose to show her lifting weights, riding in a tire swing, yawning, and even walking away sadly. The expressive pictures, which appear to be done in colored pencils, convey the many different feelings of Lou throughout the story. The story has a beautiful theme of love, shown through the strong bond of a daughter and her mother, both expressing their love in different ways.  

Lofts does an excellent job of illustrating the book in a way that is consistent with Australia. There are many interesting animals illustrated on the pages of this book, including birds, mice, owls, wombats, and dragonflies.The way Lofts illustrates the Bush Olympics shows she understands how Australian sporting events occur. Australians are very involved in their sports, and the Bush Olympics, as depicted in the story, is something that would happen in local communities in that country. The pages both show accurate detail of the natural surroundings of Australia, including wild grasses, wandering trees, and blue skies. The language in the story do no offer glimpses into the Australian culture, but the inclusion of Australian-specific animals (koalas, kookaburras, emus and platypuses) are what make the book an excellent choice to introduce children to some unique Australian animals. 

Koala Lou tells a story that is relevant for many young readers.  With colorful illustrations on every page, clear font, and easy language, this picture book invites children to sink into the story about a young koala named Lou. Readers will get a “taste” of Australia, such as their ferver for sports the country’s fun native animals. Children with younger siblings may relate directly to Koala Lou. At the end of the story, there is an excellent opportunity for parents to tell their children, “I DO love you too.” 

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

The Horn Book: "When Koala Lou’s mother becomes so busy that she forgets to tell her firstborn how much she loves her, Koala Lou enters the Bush Olympics, intending to win an event and her mother’s love all at one time. “A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud.”

Publishers Weekly: "Koala Lou is loved by everyone, but it is her mother who loves her most of all. She often tells her daughter, "Koala Lou, I DO love you." As the family grows and her mother gets busier, Koala Lou yearns to hear those words again. She sets out to win the Bush Olympics as a way to gain her mother's attention. Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species."

E. CONNECTIONS:

Possum Magic by Mem Fox, would be an excellent book to pair with Koala Lou. After reading both stories, the teacher or librarian could ask the students to pick an Australian animal and write a similar story, using comparable techniques from Fox’s writing.