Koala Lou Review by Dana Williams

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. Koala Lou. San Diego: Voyager Books, 1988. ISBN: 0-15-200502-1. 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
Young Koala Lou is the oldest daughter of a large koala family. She loves her family and adores her mother for always making her feel loved. But as the family expands, Koala Lou gets less time and attention with her mother, so she decides to train for the Bush Olympics and to win the gum tree climbing event, so her mother will notice her and tell her how much she is loved.  

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In Koala Lou, Australian author Mem Fox and illustrator Pamela Lofts portray a sweet koala's life surrounded by other native creatures in the outback. Koala coexists not just with other koalas, but also with emu, platypus, the kookaburra, and more. Although all of the species aren't identified by the text, Lofts does a lovely job portraying the diversity in a koala's natural environment. 

Koala Lou is her mother's first born, and for a long time, she has her mother's complete attention. Her mother is constantly telling her, "Koala Lou, I DO love you!" But as the koala family grows, Koala Lou hears those words less and less. Rather than directly asking her mother for them, Koala Lou believes she needs to earn them by winning the gum climbing competition in the Bush Olympics. She feels that surely a big show of effort and hard work would earn her mother's love and attention, and she'll be able to hear her favorite expression of motherly love again. Koala Lou trains hard. Will her effort earn her those words? Readers have to go along with Koala Lou on her adventure to find out what happens. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal (March 2004)
"This charming story of a young koala bear who dreams of entering her own Bush Olympics. Despite all her hard work and dedicated training, Koala Lou comes up short and takes second prize. But that doesn't mean her mother cares for her any less..."

5. CONNECTIONS
Children's connections to parents and caring adults are the primary ways they interact with the world. In the story, Koala Lou worries that her busy mother doesn't hold the same affection for her. Many children who are older brothers and sisters might be able to relate with Koala Lou's feelings. 

Creating a unit based on emotions, what the facial expressions look like, how to describe, and talk about them is an integral part of social-emotional connection at every age. Feelings aren't easy, especially when emotions make you question your value in the eyes of your loved ones. 

Singing songs like "If you're happy and you know it" or its spin off "If you're angry and you know it" can help young children relate and understand expressions behind feelings. Using other texts like The Way I Feel (978-188-474-4717) and The Way I Act (978-188-473-4991) both by Steve Metzger and Ed Emberley's Glad Monster, Sad Monster (978-031-657-3955) will help young children see other ways emotions can be communicated.