Culture 1: International Literature

 

Koala Lou
Written by: Mem Fox
Illustrated by: Pamela Lofts

Bibliography: Fox, M., & Lofts, P. (1998). Koala Lou. Voyager.

ISBN: 978-0152000769

Plot Summary: Koala Lou is a heartwarming picture book about an eager young koala named Koala Lou. While Koala Lou is beloved by all of the animals in her community--the emu, platypus, and fellow koalas--her mother loves her most of all, repeating the affirmation daily of "Koala Lou, I DO love you!" Koala Lou's mother is always proud of her accomplishments and independence, but as Koala Lou gets older and her siblings are born, her mother's attention is divided. Suddenly, Koala Lou doesn't hear her mother's reminders that she loves her, although of course her mother still does love her. Yearning to hear her mother say "Koala Lou, I DO love you" again, Koala Lou decides to compete in the gum-tree climbing event in the Bush Olympics. This way, her mother will be so proud of her and she will say that she loves Koala Lou, just like she used to remind her all the time. Koala Lou determinedly trains and trains for the event, and ultimately she faces off with Koala Klaws in the gum-tree climbing event. Koala Lou is hopeful she will win the race and make her mother proud. However, despite her extensive training and impressive climbing abilities, Koala Klaws wins the race. Koala Lou, defeated, runs off by herself and cries. Upon returning home after her defeat however, Koala Lou's mother gives her a big hug and says the words Koala Lou has been longing for: "Koala Lou, I DO love you."

Critical Analysis: Koala Lou  is a heartfelt story crafted by Mem Fox that tells a sweet and simple, yet impactful story about the love between mother and daughter. Fox creates a character in Koala Lou that is endearing and determined, as she sets off to train for the Bush Olympics to make her mother proud after feeling like she has lost her mother's attention as her family grew. Despite the story having animal characters, Fox writes with an expressive voice that depicts a very relatable situation for many people. Readers may be able to relate to the struggle of not having the same attention from a parent as they become busy over time, and Koala Lou's despair over this feeling are captured perfectly through Fox's descriptions. 

    The illustrations are an essential element to the overall story and plot; the expressions and actions depicted in them express to the reader how Koala Lou feels throughout the story--from the absolute contentment and joy when being the center of her mother's attention, to the confusion and sadness when her mother becomes busy with the other baby koalas, to the heartbreak upon losing the race to Koala Klaws. All of these illustrations are the perfect companion to the words crafted on each page, and both work in tandem to weave together an impactful story. The colors used in the illustrations remind the reader of the setting of lush green forest full of colorful animals. Both author and illustrator teach the reader about the Australian bush setting through the specific details (gum trees, kookaburra, etc.) and lively pictures. 

Awards and Recognition:

KOALA Children's Choice Awards, 1999

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: "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."

From Horn Book: "...a first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud."

Connections: Readers may want to check out Mem Fox's vast repertoire of picture books, including Possum Magic, Where is the Green Sheep?, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Hello Baby!, and A Giraffe in the Bath. Additionally, readers who want to read more books set in the Australian bush or outback could read Edward the Emu (and Edwina the Emu) by Sheena Knowles, Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan, and Miss Lily's Fabulous Pink Feather Boa by Margaret Wild.

Grandma's Roof Garden
Written by: Tang Wei
Translated by: Kelly Zhang

Bibliography: Tang, W., & Zhang, K. (2024). Grandma’s roof garden. Levine Querido.

ISBN: 978-1646147014

Plot Summary: Grandma's Roof Garden is the story of a friendly grandmother in southwest China who tenderly cares for her garden on the rooftop of her apartment building. Granny doesn't just tend to her garden like most however; she goes to the market and specifically chooses the damaged and imperfect vegetables that others do not want. From sunup to sundown, Granny works in her garden, making sure to not let anything go to waste; if there are fruits or vegetables that are not able to be eaten, they are fed to the chickens and geese or put in the compost bin. Granny intuitively knows what each fruit and vegetables needs, almost as if she can hear their desires. Her harvesting begins and she eagerly gives baskets of food to her neighbors. Finally, Granny takes her food to cook for her family, using each ingredient to make a flavorful family meal, and when everyone is happy and taken care of, Granny finally relaxes at the end of the day.

Critical Analysis: Grandma's Roof Garden brings life and zest to the story of an elderly woman who gives care and attention to not only her garden but also the people in her life. Granny is a vivacious and unique character who marches to the beat of her own drum, not caring if others view her as strange or different. Wei brings earnestness and love to Granny's character, as all of Granny's actions are for the benefit of someone (or something) other than herself. Wei's writing style is incredibly descriptive and full of sensory language; the reader feels both the hustle and bustle of the city and the vivid symphony of the garden through elaborate adjectives and imagery. Instead of simply being a story about a grandmother caring for her garden, Wei brings the story to life with her own unique writing style.     The culture of the story is shown in particular through the meals that Granny makes with the ingredients from her garden; the cultural details are subtle but impactful as the family eats their meal together at the end of the story.

    

    The author's note at the end of the story explains why Wei chose to write this story and also the journey behind the illustrations, which are done in colored pencil. The illustrations tie in beautifully with the descriptive word choice in the story, depicting the browns and grays of the city, the lush greens, reds, and yellows of the garden, and the blues and oranges of the family home. The choice of drawing the illustrations in colored pencil just adds to the comfortable, familiar feeling of the story, making the reader feel like Granny could be their relative serving thoughtful comforts to her family and neighbors. 

Awards and Recognition:

Golden Pinwheel Illustration Award, 2021

USBBY Outstanding International Books List selection, 2025

Review Excerpts:

From Publisher's Weekly: "Wei’s whimsical vegetable-studded spreads complement rhythmic text in this buoyant, character-driven debut.”

From Booklist: “Bursting with vibrant color and detail… the poetic translation from the Chinese is spiced with flavorful language and occasional rhyme… readers will relish this joy-filled soul who sows with enthusiasm and reaps a bounty of love to share with all.” 

Connections: Readers who are inspired to read more about characters who have a love for gardening may enjoy My Garden by Kevin Henkes, Over in the Garden by Janna Matthies, Grandpa's Garden by Stella Fry, and Grow Happy by Jon Lasser. 

Stateless

Written by: Elizabeth Wein

Bibliography: Wein, E. (2023). Stateless. Little, Brown and Company.

ISBN: 978-0316591249

Plot Summary: Stateless tells the adventurous story of teenage British pilot Stella North as she competes in the 1937 youth air race across Europe. As the only female pilot of the group, Stella faces the increased pressure to succeed, with public scrutiny from the ever-present reporters as well as the charged world tensions arising before the onset of WWII. Stella looks up to Lady Frith, the famous female pilot in charge of the race, and is eager to win the race for the British, although Stella has a secret about her identity that is a constant presence on her mind throughout the race. Soon after the race starts however, Stella witnesses a brutal and violent plane crash that results in one of the competitors going missing. Tensions between all pilots grow as they suspect each other of sabotage, and Stella and her fellow competitors try to solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt.

Critical Analysis: Stateless explores many important themes including identity, gender stereotypes, and perseverance. Because the story is told through the lens of seventeen-year-old Stella, young adult readers are able to relate to a character living through a time in history that they have only read about in history books. Stella is headstrong, brave, and self-sufficient, yet she also struggles with finding her place in the world when she feels that she doesn't have a home or family unit to return to. Despite this being set in the past, these are very relatable struggles that many people face now, and Wein expertly brings Stella's internal dialogue to life as she navigates this journey. 

    Many events in the story center around aviation, as the plot focuses on the youth air race taking place in Europe at the time. Wein carefully weaves together a fast-paced, action-filled story with detailed descriptions about aviation and 1930s-era planes that help the reader feel immersed in the time period. Additionally, this creates a sense of how passionate the pilots are about flying, thus building a sense of anticipation for Stella to be successful in the journey. While there are many details about aviation throughout the novel, the descriptions and language are accessible to readers who have limited background knowledge about planes or flying.  

    Wein is able to blend together the historical details of the plot with timeless themes of unlikely friendship and found family. While only a few of the young pilots are main characters in the story, each pilot is still developed enough for the reader to recognize their fondness for each other by the end of the story. Tony and Sebastian, two pilots from different walks of life, become immersed in Stella's journey to unravel the mystery unfolding throughout the race, and both characters have distinct characteristics and character arcs that are apparent by the end of the novel. Even when Stella is trying to evade the attention of the suspected killer, Wein still builds a solid relationship between Stella, Tony, and Sebastian that set the stage for a satisfying conclusion. 

Awards and Recognition:

USBBY Outstanding International Books List selection, 2024

International Thriller Writers Thriller Award: Best Young Adult Novel, 2024

YALSA Odyssey Award Honor Book, 2024

Review Excerpts:

From Horn Book: "Wein’s familiarity with small planes and her love of aviation give this suspenseful adventure both speed and loft; at the same time, it’s packed with the historical politics and culture of Europe’s pre–World War II era, some of which resonates in our current world, as an appended author’s note addresses. Wein cleverly interweaves gripping storytelling and romance with the sobering, practical damage of combat, of growing up stateless in a disrupted world and knowing that today’s peace is fleeting. 

From Kirkus Reviews: "The aeronautic and historical details woven into the story make for informative and fascinating reading. The ending will feel bittersweet, as readers know that many of these new allies will shortly be on different sides of a horrific war. A thrilling, terrifying read."

Connections: Readers who enjoyed this book will want to check out Elizabeth Wein's novel Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, or Enigma Game. Books that are set in the time of World War II for young adults include The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Another connection to this text would be to study the events leading up to World War II, as well as studying nonfiction texts about famous aviators of the time period. 

Dragonfly Eyes
Written by: Cao Wenxuan
Translated by: Helen Wang

Bibliography: Cao, W., & Wang, H. (2022). Dragonfly eyes. Candlewick Press.

ISBN: 978-1536200188

Plot Summary: Dragonfly Eyes is a novel about Ah-Mei and her beloved grandmother Oceane, or Nainai, throughout their lifetime. The story primarily follows Nainai's journey from a young Frenchwoman who falls in love with a Chinese man, embracing the culture and traditions of a Chinese family. Nainai and Ah-Mei share a special bond, with some characters wondering if they even knew each other in a past life--that is how strong and deep their bond runs. Nainai and Yeye (Ah-Mei's grandfather) face hardships throughout the years as Yeye's family silk business in Shanghai goes from successful and able to provide the family with great wealth to being affected by economic hardships and ultimately giving it up altogether. Nainai receives a special family heirloom called a dragoneyes necklace fromYeye's father early on upon arriving in Shanghai, and this becomes one family item that Nainai is unable to voluntarily part with in her life, even when having to make difficult decisions to keep the family afloat. Nainai and Yeye's love for their family drive their actions and choices throughout the years, and as political tensions rise, Nainai is accused of being a foreign spy. The family is relentlessly persecuted by unruly adversaries and experience increasingly heartbreaking obstacles and hardship. However, the love that each family member shares carries them all through each obstacle, even to the end of their lives. 

Critical Analysis: Dragonfly Eyes brings readers on an emotional rollercoaster as it tells the story of Ah-Mei's family throughout generations. Each chapter starts off as a different anecdote as Nainai tells Ah-Mei about how she met Yeye, how she moved from her native France to Shanghai, China, and how she supported Yeye as his family's silk business went under. Cao's writing brings Ah-Mei's and Nainai's love for each other to life; above all this is a story of the power of enduring love and sacrifice. Nainai goes through terrifying ordeals in the story, as she is relentlessly persecuted by people accusing her of being a foreign spy. Despite all of the persecution she is facing, Nainai still puts Ah-Mei first, trying to save her precious piano from being sold to pay for expenses. The reader is able to connect with Nainai's endless love for her granddaughter, and this makes all of her experiences as the novel goes on even more heartbreaking.

    Themes of cultural identity are central throughout the story, as Nainai, who is originally from France, fully embraces the Chinese traditions of her husband's heritage. Yet, she is still never enough for other characters in the story, although she does not let this change her and remains strong in her own sense of identity. Chinese culture is beautifully embedded in every detail of the narrative, and Cao creates an authentic portrayal of the history leading up to the Cultural Revolution in China with a powerful message of family and identity at the story's center.

Awards and Recognition:

2023 Batchelder Award Honor Book

2023 ALSC Notable Children's Books selection

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: "This atmospheric work translated from the Chinese renders the trials and tribulations befalling the family of Du Meixi. . . By turns sentimental and tragic, the plot juxtaposes quotidian details against factual historical background, including Japan’s 1937 invasion of China, in illustrating the family’s plight."

From Publisher's Weekly: "Told via an omniscient third-person perspective that alternates between Nainai’s past and Ah Mei’s present day, Cao delicately portrays atrocities alongside peaceful, idyllic life with aesthetic prose and nostalgic imagery, providing a tender look into one transnational family’s ancestry."

Connections: Readers who want to read more about Chinese characters and books set in China or other countries in Asia may enjoy My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Jin Cheng, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, The Emperor's Riddle by Kat Zhang, or In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. Another possible connection with story may be studying books about family and multi-generational stories such as The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani and Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee.