Koala Lou (Mem Fox)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. Orlando: Voyager Books. ISBN 0152005021

PLOT SUMMARY
Koala Lou is the much loved eldest child in a growing family. However, Koala Lou longs for reminders of how much she is loved as her mother becomes increasingly busy with the care of Koala Lou’s younger siblings. When Koala Lou learns of the upcoming Olympics, she hatches a plan to win a gum tree climbing race, and more importantly, win her mothers attention. As the heartwarming story unfolds, Koala Lou and the reader are reminded that a mother’s love is unconditional.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Koala Lou is a universal tale of a mother’s enduring love. Set in the beautiful Australian bush, illustrator Pamela Lofts gives energy to the story with vivid illustrations of Australian foliage, such as the gum and eucalyptus trees. She brings Mem Fox’s cast of native Australian animals to life. Each koala, kangaroo, emu, and kookaburra has been depicted with soulful eyes and animated facial expressions that will engage readers of all ages. An air of playfulness was added to the Bush Olympics with illustrations showing each animal wearing a colorful hat and one lucky numbat carrying the olympic torch.

Readers will find themselves making personal connections to Koala Lou as they sympathize with the plight of many older siblings around the world. Many young readers, thrilled with the quick paced tale, will be appalled when Mem Fox takes a departure from the typical children’s book and allows the Koala Lou to lose the big race.  Upset readers will be assuaged, however, when Koala Lou gets what she really wanted all along- the loving reassurance of her mother. The book will leave readers with a smile, cheerfully repeating the story’s catch phrase- “Koala Lou, I DO love you”.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus Reviews- “Another winning import from one of Australia's favorite authors.”

Publishers Weekly- “Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully”

The Horn Book- “A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud”

CONNECTIONS
Introduce students to traditional Australian animals through an assortment of entertaining books, including Koala Lou of course! Afterwards allow students to pick their favorite animal and begin a fact search.
Bancroft, Bronwyn. An Australian ABC of Animals. ISBN 9781877003974
Fox, Mem. Hunwick’s Egg. ISBN 9780152163181
French, Jackie. Diary of a Wombat. ISBN 9780547076690
Knowles, Sheena. Edwina the Emu. ISBN 9780064434836

Explore the Olympics and enjoy a few topical read-alouds.
Christopher, Matt. Great Moments in the Summer Olympics.  ISBN 9780606261593
Hamm, Mia. Winners Never Quit!, ISBN 9780439849302
Krull, Kathleen. Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman. ISBN 9780152020989
Osborne, Mary Pope. Hour of the Olympics, Magic School House 16. ISBN 9780679890621

Begin an author study and explore a few more of the popular works of Mem Fox.
Fox, Mem. Possum Magic. ISBN 9781862910959
Fox, Mem. Time for Bed. ISBN 9780152881832
Fox, Mem. Whoever You Are. ISBN 9780152060305