Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152005021
Koala Lou is so cute that everyone loves her, especially her mother. Many times a day her mother tells her, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” Koala Lou gains other siblings throughout the years that makes her mother too busy to tell her she loves her. As a result, Koala Lou devises a plan to gain her mother’s attention again.
Critical Analysis
This book describes a situation that any child, especially the oldest, can relate to, the need for attention. When Koala Lou is the only child, she has her mother all to herself. Siblings come along, and she does not like sharing. In fact, she feels sad, lonely, and misses her mother. Like any child, Koala Lou does something grand to gain her mother’s attention again. She joins the gum tree climbing event for the Bush Olympics. The resolution is very satisfying because she learns that her mother loves her no matter what she does.
The illustrations complement the story. They show how cute Koala Lou is, her animal friends, how much her mother loves her, her mother’s busyness with the other children, and Koala Lou’s efforts to win the Olympics. Lofts, the illustrator, is wonderful with showing the emotions of the characters as well as the beautiful color that can be found in the Australian outback.
The setting, the Australian outback, is crucial for a story about a little koala. The illustrations and the characters depict the setting. There are animals such as koalas, emus, platypuses, parrots, bandicoots, kangaroos, owls, and much more. Although the setting is Australian, the story is universal, a child trying to win back her mother’s attention.
Although the story is universal, the illustrations and text are full of cultural markers. The general environment, the Australian outback with all its animals and vegetation, is a major cultural marker in this book. For example, Koala Lou enters a gum tree climbing contest, which many Americans know as an eucalyptus tree. All the animals throughout the book are Australian, as well. Another cultural marker is the hats worn by the animals attending the Bush Olympics. Australians are known for their hats. How appropriate to have them come to the Olympics with hats and throw them up in the air due to the excitement. Finally, just the name of the Bush Olympics itself is Australian. I cannot define “bush” as an outsider, but it has much to do with Australian beliefs, land, and identity (Wells, et al., 2011).
My daughter read this book to me, and we both enjoyed it. She is my oldest child and was able to relate to Koala Lou wanting her mother’s attention. Her favorite part is Koala Lou learning that her mother will always love her. My favorite part of the book is the fact that Koala Lou does not win the tree-climbing contest, and her mother recognizes that her daughter needs the confirmation of being loved. The mother is supportive of Koala Lou all throughout her training and checks up on her. This book’s strength is how it deals with a subject that most children can relate to. It also sparks discussion for children and adults who are not familiar with Australia. It is enjoyable trying to identify the animals and seeing the vegetation common to Australia. Its weakness is in one of its strengths. There are some Australian cultural elements that I would like to know more about. For example, are hats usually worn to special events or are they considered practical wear due to the heat?
Awards Won & Review Excerpts
- Texas Reading Club, 2005
- Publishers Weekly: “ … 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 … “
- Australia is loved and visited by many. Try checking out a few websites about it. I like this one: http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/.
- Koala Lou is full of animals native to Australia. It is fun learning about the different animals. Try this website to help identify what some of the animals in the book are: http://australian-animals.net/.
- Koala Lou enters a gum tree climbing contest. This website has more information about gum or eucalyptus trees: http://www.gondwananet.com/australian-gum-tree.html.
Wells, Kathryn, et al. 2011. “The Australian Bush.” Australian Government. Accessed September 9, 2012. http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-bush
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