LS 5653: MODULE 1: KOALA LOU

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. Illus. by Pamela Lofts. (city not listed): Ian Drakeford Publishing. ISBN: 0-15-200502-1

Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. Illus. by Pamela Lofts. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN: 0-15-200502-1

PLOT SUMMARY

A young koala bear is loved by all who know her. But most of all, she is loved by her mother. However, as she grows up, her mother has other koala children, and Koala Lou worries that she has been replaced in her mother’s heart. She devises a plan to win back her mother’s attention and affection. Koala Lou works hard but falls short of winning the competition she believes will return her mother’s love. Despite her apparent failure, she discovers that her mother’s love had always been with her and will never leave her.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The unconditional love of a mother is something that most individuals experience. Most individuals also experience some type of life event that makes him/her question that same mother’s love.

Koala Lou is a lovable koala bear. She is surrounded by friends and a mother who love her dearly, yet she is still insecure about her mother’s love. She worries that she will be replaced. This vulnerability makes Koala Lou more appealing and credible. She has weaknesses and lets them show. Her actions and thoughts are consistent with those of a young child. Children will relate with her.

The plot and the setting are simple. The plot is easy to follow and logical. The climatic events at the Bush Olympics are disappointing for Koala Lou but allow her to mature and realize that a mother’s love is not based on being the best, but rather being oneself. Although the setting is not explicitly stated, the animals that are present lead the reader to believe the story is set in Australia.

The theme of the unfailing and unchanging nature of a mother’s love is important for young children, and even older individuals, to grasp. While it is an integral part of the story, it emerges naturally. Readers may expect Koala Lou to be victorious at the Bush Olympics. However, if she had been, the theme would unravel. Actions are not what elicit love. Love simply is; it is not earned.

Ms. Lofts’ illustrations are colorful and bring the characters to life. All of the animal characters are detailed and realistic. Despite the animal bodies, each character seems to have human-looking eyes. These eyes look out at the reader and draw him/her into the story of Koala Lou. Many of the illustrations are framed with a thin border. This border does not limit all of the illustration but frames a portion of it. The borders do not keep the all of the illustration within it. Several pictures branch out from this frame, making the two dimensional picture appear three-dimensional.

KOALA LOU is considered International literature. It has been published in many different countries and for many different readers. The text, theme, and illustrations are capable of overcoming and transcending all differences and creating a story that is appealing to all readers. Students could develop interest in the animals of Australia after reading this text. This is not the author’s true intent. The characters could be from any continent. This allows the story to appeal to all cultures. It is not culturally or nationally specific. A mother’s love exists in all nations.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

From 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.”

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Koala Lou is appealing and truly believable…Fox brings out the best in her characters, and also conveys an important message about competition.”

From THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINE: “A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour or reading aloud.”

CONNECTIONS

This is a bibliography of other books about Australian wildlife.
Australian wildlife for children

This website would be an excellent resource to use for an author study.
Mem Fox » Welcome!

The following are websites about koala bears.
San Diego Zoo's Animal Bytes: Koala
Koala facts
Koala -- Kids' Planet -- Defenders of Wildlife