Koala Lou

My Mom used to read this book to me every day when I was little, and I just bought it for a little girl that I take care of. It is still the perfect children's book, and I still love it just as much as I did when I was 3.
It is a beautiful story of a loving mother-daughter relationship; it's not too short, not too long, and the pictures are delightful and charming. I would (and do) recommend it to all my friends, and have bought it for more than one baby shower or young child's birthday.

The children just love this book. The Mother Koala told the baby Koala everyday how much she loved her. When more babies arrived the mother did
not tell the Koala everyday she loved her. So she went and joined the Olympics hoping her mother would tell her how much she loved her. Even though she did not win the olympics her mother told her that she always had and always would love her. Children never grow to old for their parents to say they love them. The colorful pictures hold the children's attention.

Popular children's author Mem Fox has penned a gentle story of a young koala who fears her mother won't love her as much now that she has younger siblings. With lovely illustrations and comforting words, this picture book has been a sure-fire hit since its first appearance in print.

I first discovered this book through one of my children's book authors courses. I was attracted by the beautiful illustrations which are colorful, expressive and capture all sorts of wildlife from the Australian bush (one of Mem Fox's intentions). Koala Lou's facial expressions truly tell the whole story, and the mother koala's face radiates love and pride. Then, upon reading the book, I truly realized the book's value.
Koala Lou received a lot of attention and affection from everyone, but it is her mother who loves her most. She would always say, "Koala Lou, I DO love you!" But then siblings were born, and Koala Lou didn't receive as much attention. To get her mother to notice her and to win back that affection, Koala Lou decides to enter the Bush Olympics. After much training, she comes in 2nd place and is devastated. When Koala Lou returns home at the end of the day sadly dragging her 2nd place medal behind her, her mother hugs her and assures her that she still loves her and always will no matter what.
The lessons children and parents can take away from this story include: winning isn't everything, and 2nd place is not the most horrible thing in the world; a parent may be busy with other siblings, but that doesn't mean a child goes unloved or unrecognized; children do not need to do spectacular things to win the love of their parents -- that love is always there and it is unconditional; and finally, as a parent, I need to let my child know how much I love her every day, all day.

My kids always loved this, so I bought it for my niece's little girl. She loves it too.