1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 1988.KOALA LOU. ILL by Pamela Lofts. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152005021
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This story is about Koala Lou who likes her mother to tell her she loves her. But when her mother’s attention begins to be shared with the new additions to her family, Koala longs to hear her mother say “Koala Lou, I do love you.” Koala decides to compete in the Bush Olympics in hopes to win back her mother’s attention. When Koala doesn’t win the race up the gum tree, she begins to realize that her mother loves her for who she and not because she wins or loses the race.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kola Lou is a heartwarming story about a Koala who feels insecure with the arrival of her new siblings and her mother’s attention that must now be shared. Young readers will be able to relate to this story and the emotions that it presents. Mem Fox, who is the author, is a native of Australia and brings to the story her knowledge and background which creates a story with authenticity. There are several cultural markers that are found throughout the story. These markers include the setting which takes place in the Outback of Australia and incorporates a koala as the main character which is a native animal of that region. Other animals that Fox presents in the story include the emu, platypus, kookaburra, and the kangaroo which are all natives animals found in Australia. When Koal decides to enter a tree climbing contest to help get back her mother’s attention, Fox chooses to use a gum tree which is also native to Australia. The language that Fox uses reflects the region of Australia and is evident when Koala Lou’s mother asks, “ How’re ya goin’ blossom?”
Pamela Loft illustrates this story with colored pencil drawings that are bright, colorful and creatively done. The illustrations enhance the already heartwarming text together to bring both emotion and visual imagery to the story which will invite readers to read this story time and time again.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book Guide: “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”
Publisher Weekly: “Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species”
5. CONNECTION:
Other books by Mem Fox
Fox, Mem. POSSUM MAGIC. ISBN 9780152632243
Fox, Mem. WHOEVER YOU ARE. ISBN 9780152060305
Fox, Mem. TOUGH BORIS. ISBN 9780152018917
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Shadows of Ghadames
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stolz, Joelle. 1999. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York; Delacorte Press. ISBN 0440419492
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Shadows of Ghadames is a historical fiction which takes place in the Libyan city of Ghadames at the end of the nineteenth century. The story is about eleven year old Malika who is quickly approaching her twelfth birthday where she will be at the marriageable age and be restricted to the world of women. In Ghadames, these restrictions confine woman to doing their house duties on the upper levels of their homes and visiting with each other on the roof tops while men conduct business in alleyways and boys play in the streets. Malika dreams of traveling beyond her city but must comes to terms that she is tied to the traditions of her people, until one night when a stranger comes into their home and offers her a chance to grow and explore the world outside her city by teaching her to read.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joelle Stolz has written a story that portrays the life and traditions of Ghadames, a Muslim community in Libya around the end of the nineteenth century.
Stolz weaves several cultural markers which creates a sense of accuracy and authenticity to the story. Within the story the cultural markers include married women wearing veils to cover their faces and gold coins across their foreheads, the uncle having authority over the women of the house when the brother is gone and the discussion of two sets of descendents one of lighter skin and the other darker skin and the Berber dialect and the soft sounding Hausa language. The Muslim culture is explored and helps readers understand the issues and restrictions that are put on the Muslim women living in Ghadames. These restrictions include women being confined to their homes and only being allowed to roam the city by rooftops, taking off their jewelry when the man of the house is gone, and performing daily chores that include housekeeping, cooking and food preservation. Through the point of view of a twelve year old girl, Malika, readers will see the strained relationship between Malika and her brother because of Malika’s jealousy toward him because she is not allowed to attend school, learn to read or travel with her father throughout the city. The author also reveals the submissiveness that women are under when Malika makes the statement, “men step putting their heels down first, in manly, self-confident fashion, and women put their toes down first, timidly, in a way that befits and inferior creature. That’s how we’re taught to walk by our mothers when we’re very little and heaven help us if we forget it!”
The dialect that Stolz uses helps to connect the reader to the Muslim Cultures. This dialect included vocabulary such as Jinn(spirits), malafa (rectangle of embroidered wool tied under the chin with laces that girls wear on their heads until married), Kerna (wide, hard base of a palm tree branch) and burnoose (clothing). This vocabulary helps to enhance and give authenticity to the culture and story.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist: “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”
5. CONNECTION
Other fictional books that deal with the Middle East:
Nye, Shihab Naomi. SITTI’S SECRET. ISBN 9780689817069
Khan, Rukhsana. THE ROSES IN MY CARPET. ISBN 9781550050691
Stolz, Joelle. 1999. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York; Delacorte Press. ISBN 0440419492
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Shadows of Ghadames is a historical fiction which takes place in the Libyan city of Ghadames at the end of the nineteenth century. The story is about eleven year old Malika who is quickly approaching her twelfth birthday where she will be at the marriageable age and be restricted to the world of women. In Ghadames, these restrictions confine woman to doing their house duties on the upper levels of their homes and visiting with each other on the roof tops while men conduct business in alleyways and boys play in the streets. Malika dreams of traveling beyond her city but must comes to terms that she is tied to the traditions of her people, until one night when a stranger comes into their home and offers her a chance to grow and explore the world outside her city by teaching her to read.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joelle Stolz has written a story that portrays the life and traditions of Ghadames, a Muslim community in Libya around the end of the nineteenth century.
Stolz weaves several cultural markers which creates a sense of accuracy and authenticity to the story. Within the story the cultural markers include married women wearing veils to cover their faces and gold coins across their foreheads, the uncle having authority over the women of the house when the brother is gone and the discussion of two sets of descendents one of lighter skin and the other darker skin and the Berber dialect and the soft sounding Hausa language. The Muslim culture is explored and helps readers understand the issues and restrictions that are put on the Muslim women living in Ghadames. These restrictions include women being confined to their homes and only being allowed to roam the city by rooftops, taking off their jewelry when the man of the house is gone, and performing daily chores that include housekeeping, cooking and food preservation. Through the point of view of a twelve year old girl, Malika, readers will see the strained relationship between Malika and her brother because of Malika’s jealousy toward him because she is not allowed to attend school, learn to read or travel with her father throughout the city. The author also reveals the submissiveness that women are under when Malika makes the statement, “men step putting their heels down first, in manly, self-confident fashion, and women put their toes down first, timidly, in a way that befits and inferior creature. That’s how we’re taught to walk by our mothers when we’re very little and heaven help us if we forget it!”
The dialect that Stolz uses helps to connect the reader to the Muslim Cultures. This dialect included vocabulary such as Jinn(spirits), malafa (rectangle of embroidered wool tied under the chin with laces that girls wear on their heads until married), Kerna (wide, hard base of a palm tree branch) and burnoose (clothing). This vocabulary helps to enhance and give authenticity to the culture and story.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist: “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”
5. CONNECTION
Other fictional books that deal with the Middle East:
Nye, Shihab Naomi. SITTI’S SECRET. ISBN 9780689817069
Khan, Rukhsana. THE ROSES IN MY CARPET. ISBN 9781550050691
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