Mem Fox- KOALA FOX

Mem Fox – Koala Lou
Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 – 15 -200502- 1
Summary
Koala Lou the first born in her family and was loved by all, the emu and the platypus, but most of all by her mother. Koala loved hearing her mother say “I DO love you”. As the years passed Koala had many brothers and sisters that took much of mother’s time. Koala missed hearing those special words of love from her mother. Koala decides that if she won the Bush Olympics her mother would hug her neck and say “I DO love you” once again. Koala does not win and after many tears and sadness comes home to find her mother waiting for her. Mother hugs her neck and says those magical words “I DO love you”. Letting Koala Lou know that she is loved no matter what place you win.
Analysis
In this story the reader feels Koala Lou’s feeling of loss when she must share her mother’s love with many brothers and sisters. The feeling of competition within the family was translated in Koala’s idea to compete in the Bush Olympics. The sadness that Koala experienced when she lost was soon replaced with her mother’s love. Koala was reminded that she is loved no matter what place she received in the competition. This is an important message for children to hear and Mem Fox conveys this message through delightful characters and Pam Lofts’ expressive illustrations that allow children to understand Koala Lou’s feelings. The story offers glimpses of Australia with references to the bush country and the gum trees that are favored by koalas. The theme of a mother’s love is not confined to one region and one that many children can make a connection no matter where they live.
Reviews
Horn Book starred (February, 1990)
In a gentle tale set in the Australian bush, Koala Lou wants to win the Bush Olympics. A good choice for story hour, bedtime, or reading aloud. Review, p. 757.
Kirkus Review (1989)
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)
…as perfect examples of why the Australian writer has become one of today's top authors of children's books.



Connections
Many young children deal with sibling rivalry and missing their mother’s attention. Stories about this theme can help children realize they are not alone in these feelings.
Audrey, Penn. 2006. THE KISSING HAND. ISBN – 13-978-1-933718-00-2
A delightful story of how a mother was able to make the transition from home to school much easier for her little one.
http://www.carolhurst.com/index.html
This website is a wealth of information on many different books and themes for children of all ages.

http://www.memfox.net/welcome.html
In Mem Fox’s website she reveals that Koala Lou is one of her favorite books and the very interesting background of how the book came to be. This information is interesting to budding young authors in the early grades.