KOALA LOU

KOALA LOU
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 1989. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts.San Diego: Voyager Books. ISBN 0152005021.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Koala Lou was loved by everyone, especially her mother, who verbally expressed that love often. As time passed and the family grew the mother was busy and didn’t tell Koala Lou as often as before that she was loved. Koalu Lou missed hearing she was loved. Koala Lou enters the Bush Olympics hoping to win and hear her mother tell her she loves her. Although she trains very hard she does not win; dejected she goes off alone and cries. Upon returning home her mother hugs her and tells her she loves her and always will.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Koala Lou’s story is an expression of mother’s love and childhood insecurity. This story depicts a universal story of a busy mother and the insecurity of growing up while using animals, plants, language, and artwork to establish an Australian setting. Animals mentioned in the story, such as koalas, emus, platypus, and kookabubrra support the Australian setting. Reference to the Bush Olympics further supports the setting. Pamela Lofts’colorful illustrations enhance and support the story and setting of this book. Vivid, expressive pictures of all the characters bolster the words of this story. At the beginning, the illustrations show a confident Koala Lou, then a busy, distracted mom, a lonesome, confused Koala Lou and finally the secure child Koala Lou was at the beginning of the story.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Kirkus Review (1989)
As a baby, cuddly Koala Lou is everyone's favorite, especially her mother's; but as more little koalas join the family, her mother forgets to say, "Koala Lou, I DO love you!" So--hoping for attention--Koala Lou trains mightily for the Bush Olympics, only to come in second. Surprisingly, this disappointment makes her wish come true; her mother is there to comfort her with the treasured words and a big hug. This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated--bright colors, soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals. Another winning import from one of Australia's favorite authors.

Publishers Weekly (August 11, 1989)
Fox's two new books join Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge as perfect examples of why the Australian writer has become one of today's top authors of children's books. 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. In Night Noises , elderly Lilly Laceby lives with her fat old dog Butch Aggie. While Lily dozes in front of the fire, Butch Aggie becomes increasingly concerned by the sounds of cars, voices, knocking and shouts. At last, Lily finally wakes up to answer the door, where a veritable mob waits to wish her a happy 90th birthday. Denton uses cartoon balloons and large letters to show the simultaneous action. Both of Fox's books send out positive messages to children about the wonders of being human: Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child without the sentimentality of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever , and Night Noises lovingly bridges the generation gap. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can draw pictures of themselves with their mothers, write about how their mother loves them, and list people who love them.
Other books about mothers and children:
Braun, Sebastien. I LOVE MY MOMMY. ISBN 0060543108
Harper, Jo. I COULD EAT YOU UP!. ISBN 0823417336
Tedesco, Donna. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? ISBN 0027891208