Utterly Lovely One

“You know, my Yummy One, the world is full of utterly lovely ones,” a spindly-legged blue crane tells her baby as they view the array of animals that surround them. In a syrupy monologue, she explains why each creature is “utterly lovely” (“[J]ust look at Baby Elephant! That wonderful nose... those kind gentle eyes”), including a jungle bird, a shy armadillo, and a crocodile “with a grin that takes up his whole head.” The crane’s observations lack substance or humor, and sometimes simply miss the mark (“Numbat is so nice that wherever she goes, everyone feels good just because she is there”). Murphy’s (Panda Foo and the New Friend) cheery mixed-media art gives the story some needed oomph, injecting the characters with personality, and should prove eye-catching to very young readers. The repetitious narrative drags on, though, as the birds hop from creature to creature, concluding with a final expression of maternal love. Murphy creates a safe, conflict-free jungle habitat, reassuring children that in a world of strange but lovely things, they remain the loveliest in the eyes of their parents. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)