International Literature: Koala Lou

Koala Lou

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Fox, Mem. 1989. Koala Lou. Illustrated by Pamela Lofts. Orlando: Voyager Books. ‎ ISBN ‎ 978-0440846512

Plot Summary:

Koala Lou is loved and adored by everyone in her world, especially her mother who takes every opportunity to tell her "Koala Lou, I DO love you" (Fox 1989). But as the years go by, Koala Lou's family continues to grow until her mother no longer has the time to tell her how much she loves her. Devastated and hurt that she has lost her mother's love, Koala Lou sets off to win it back. She trains for the gum tree climbing event in the upcoming Bush Olympics. On the day of the big event, Koala Lou gives a very impressive performance but still comes in second place. She runs off to hide and cry. She returns home to find her mother waiting to embrace her in a giant hug and the comforting words she longed to hear, "Koala Lou, I DO love you" (Fox 1989).

Critical Analysis:

Koala Lou is filled with universal truths that will resonate with readers young and old. It captures common feelings of older siblings: feelings of losing the affection of someone you love; feelings of being replaced or pushed aside; feelings of working hard and still falling short and; feelings of coming home to find comfort. It is more than a simple story about a koala.

 

Fox's lyrical text is expertly paced. Each page has a small to moderate amount of text with just the right dose of repetition to keep even the youngest readers engaged. Fox effortlessly weaves simple sentences with complex to create an accessible story for her young readers. The repeated use of the line, "Koala Lou, I DO love you" brings continuity throughout the story and clearly conveys the power of a mother's unconditional love. Mem Fox honors the big feelings of her young readers through Koala Lou's thoughts, actions, and lessons learned along the way.

Lofts' detailed illustrations are both vibrant and soft at the same time. The blends of colors and texture soften the images to match the sweetness of the text, yet the occasional use of bright pink, orange, and purple make the images pop off the page.  The white background strategically focuses the reader's attention on the character's facial expressions and emotions throughout the story to make Koala Lou even more relatable to her readers. Splashes of bright color are added into trees, flowers, and the animal's accessories (specifically hats) capturing the magic and celebration of the Australian outback. 

Cultural markers for this text are beautifully woven into the rich story through the illustrations. Set in the Australian outback the illustrations include a wide variety of fauna native only to Australia including the koala, kookaburra, Tasmanian devil, platypus, echidna, emu, and more. Lofts took great care to capture the flora of Australia as well including the very recognizable red flowering gum tree, kangaroo paw, and old man banksia. With the exception of the colorful hats worn by the animals, every image reflects the unique Australian landscape. Fox adds to the authenticity of the story by including  an Australian colloquialism, "How're ya goin'?" and using meters to measure the distance Koala Klaws and Koala Lou climb on the gum tree. Together, the illustrations and the text, prove to be a celebration of the Australian landscape and culture, while offering a story that resonates with readers across the globe.

 

Review Excerpts & Awards:
 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (August 11, 1989) "Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child without the sentimentality of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever."

KIRKUS REVIEWS (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." 

 

• KOALA Children's Choice Awards Shortlist, 1999 (10 years)
  

Curricular Connections: 

• Pair with an informational text on koalas for some partner research or whole class learning. 
• Conduct a koala directed drawing lesson encouraging students to use a variety of hues to color their koala like the illustrations from Pamela Lofts.
• Research Australian flora and fauna to identify the animals and plants used in the illustrations.
  
• Highlight the importance of sportsmanship and hard work while playing a variety of Minute to Win It games with a Bush Olympics theme.
•  Share the background story of Koala Lou from Mem Fox's website and facilitate a discussion about how writers get ideas, develop their stories, and revise their work.
  

Calamity Jack

Calamity Jack

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. 2010. Calamity Jack. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books. 1599903733

Plot Summary:

A clever twist on a classic tale, Calamity Jack introduces Jack as a natural born schemer with an unfortunate streak of very bad luck. Beginning with his childhood years, Jack grows up running money making schemes on the streets with his partner in crime, a fairy named Prudence. One day his biggest "take" leads to some very poor consequences. After stealing a goose that lays golden eggs from Blunderboar the Giant, cutting down a beanstalk which inadvertently kills another giant and destroys part of his town, and disappointing his mother beyond measure Jack must flee to escape Blunderboar's wrath. Jack returns to town after a jaunt in the West with his courageous and feisty friend, Rapunzel.  However, Blunderboar has taken over the town and stolen Jack's mother, so Jack and Rapunzel must find a way to save Jack's mother, take the city back from Blunderboar, and fix all the mistakes of the past in Jack's most daring and important scheme yet.

Analysis:
Shannon and Dean Hale take a classic fairy tale character and add dimension and complexity to the traditional tale while gearing the story toward a more mature audience. Jack is a relatable and likeable character from the beginning. Well-meaning for the most part, Jack continues to find himself in sticky situations that just never seem to work out. Rapunzel is the perfect match for Jack, giving him the courage and strength to follow his heart and do the right thing no matter what the cost. The rapport between the characters drives the plot and enhances the realism of the characters and conflict. The plot is well developed and exciting to read as it loosely follows the traditional tale with plenty of twists and turns along the way. This unique tale is a well-crafted coming of age story that captures the ups and downs of adolescence while highlighting the emotions and struggles of accepting the responsibility and consequences of one's actions. 

The vibrant, detailed illustrations create memorable characters, increase suspense and action, and set a mood for the entire story. Nathan Hale has expertly created a graphic novel that appeals to the masses. Each page is laid out to keep the pace of the novel and provide flawless storytelling. The detailed facial expressions, particularly the eyes of each character convey the character's mood and motives. The comic panels, witty dialogue, and text boxes all work together to create a memorable read for fairy tale fans of all ages. A solid follow-up to Rapenzel's Revenge.
 

Awards & Reviews:

• 2010 Utah Book Award - Children's Winner
• IRA/CBC Children's Choice
• Texas Maverick Graphic Novel List
• Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (YALSA)
• Great Graphic Novels for Teens (YALSA)

From School Library Journal: "The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive."

From Publisher's Weekly: "The dynamic artwork fits well with Jack and Rapunzel's quick tongues, as they flirt their way through numerous hair-raising situations."

From Booklist: "Shannon and Dean Hale have done an excellent job stretching the bones of the traditional fable into a high-action coming-of-age story that will keep young teen readers excited and engaged."

Connections:
More Middle Grade Reads by Shannon Hale:

• Princess Academy. 1619636131
• The Goose Girl. 1681193167
• Book of a Thousand Days. 1681193159
• Real Friends. 1626727856

More Fairy Tale Inspired Tales:

• Buckley, Michael. Fairy Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm #1). 1419720058
• Gidwitz, Adam. A Tale Dark and Grimm. 0142419672
• Shulman, Polly. The Grimm Legacy. 9780142419045
• Levine, Gail Caron. Ella Enchanted. 0064407055

Suggested Curricular Connections:

• Write your own fairy tale spin-off comic strip. Choose a well-known fairy tale character, change the setting, and create a comic of one of their adventures.
• Compare and contrast Calamity Jack with a traditional Jack and the Beanstalk story.
• Examine the character traits of Jack and Rapunzel. How are they similar and different to their original characters and to each other in this story?
• Create a wanted poster for one of the characters in the story.