Sally's Children's Book 1/8

Koala Lou

Written by: Mem Fox

Illustrated by: Pamela Lofts

This picture book was my childhood favourite which I read over and over again, although I had not read it for a very long time. I thought this course was a great opportunity to look back on one of my favourite books and see how my view and interpretation of the story may have changed. I found that by looking back at this story as an adult I was able to identify the underlying meanings and life lessons that were present, even though as a child I most probably was unaware of the depth of the story.

This story describes a beautiful mother-daughter relationship between Koala Lou and her mother and displays the unconditional love a mother should provide for her child. This was a crucial aspect of the story that I was, and still am able to understand and relate to. This story also deals with issues regarding the changes in a child’s life including the arrival of new siblings and the importance of trying our best rather than winning or losing. 

The characters and settings illustrated in this book are stunning and beautifully represent our country and our wildlife. I think this is an important aspect of this book, as many children’s books focus on jungle animals or pets and I believe that it is essential for students to be exposed to the nature and animals that are native to our country.   

Overall I think this is a wonderful story with soft detailed illustrations that depict the story perfectly. Now looking back at the story as an adult I have developed a deeper appreciation and love of the story and the meaning and messages which are conveyed.