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Koala and the Flower
By Mary Murphy
(Check Catalog)

Koala, who likes to ask questions and learn new things, learns how to grow flowers after a new friend takes her to the library.

School Library Journal
PreS-K-Poor little gray Koala lives with Badger and Raccoon, who "see things in black and white. They are always sure that they are always right." Koala likes to look at things from all sides and in all colors. When she brings home a lovely yellow flower, her stodgy friends think she is silly. The know-it-alls cannot answer her questions about where flowers come from, but they each make up a story. Finally, Koala meets a donkey that takes her to the library where she reads and then goes home to plant seeds and wait for them to grow.

When a sea of pretty blossoms bloom, Badger and Raccoon claim to have expected this all along. The opening scenes have mostly black, white, and gray tones. As Koala ventures out into the world, pastel colors are added to the art and her surroundings become more lighthearted. Now the library is rendered in bright primary colors, and Koala's garden is bursting with magentas, oranges, and purples.

The dialogue balloons, different palettes, and the mixed-media illustrations could be confusing to some children, but they will appreciate the fact that Koala learns to make and trust her own decisions.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.