Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story [Hardcover]

M. Night Shyamalan (Author), Crash McCreery (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Reveals the narf, a rare sea nymph who lives beneath a swimming pool until she is seen by a person who, after that experience, will someday do something important for the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. "There are ways to know if they are in your backyard," reads the first line of Shyamalan's debut picture book, an effort as creepy, suspenseful, and flawed as many of the director's post-Sixth Sense films. They are sea nymphs called narfs, who reside beneath swimming pools and magically transform the lives of the humans they encounter. Moody, silvery scenes by film-industry-artist McCreery amplify the mystical qualities of the telling; less successful are the book's puzzling elements--from the curious hieroglyphs appearing on every spread to the overzealous use of white space, which makes both art and text seem too sparse. The story is loosely based on Shyamalan's PG-13-rated film by the same name, and despite the fact that the book appears to have been conceived with younger children in mind, its sophisticated qualities make it most appropriate for readers old enough to see the movie. This will also attract high-school film buffs (and many adults) who are curious to see Shyamalan's brooding creativity expressed in a new form. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (June 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316017345
• ISBN-13: 978-0316017343
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.5 x 12.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #626,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent! NOT THE SAME PLOT AS THE MOVIE!!!, June 13, 2006

By 

Z. Pace (San Juan Bautista, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story (Hardcover)

Purchased this for my younger daughter and we read it together. It is one of the best children's books I have seen! The story is written in charming prose and coveys a complex message in suppressing brevity. The illustrations are both clever and beautiful and do an excellent job of conveying the mystery surrounding the story! I strongly recommend this book to young and old alike. I think I got more out of it than my daughter!

***THIS book has a plot ENTIRELY SEPERATE of the movie. This is about a kid's back yard pool, while the movie is about a pool at a motel. They are only similar in that they share the same kind of creature, a water nymph. This book DOES NOT reveal the plot of the movie!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Minimalistic story, infinite possibilities, October 9, 2006

By 

Carolyn P - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story (Hardcover)

Though some readers will find this 'bedtime' story too creepy for their own children, others will see that Shyamalan has created a charming fairy tale that invites children to exercise their vast imaginations. Lady in the Water lays the basic framework for a children's tale, explaining the fictional creatures, but not delving into the intricate interactions of the creatures. Shyamalan also does not have a main character, but rather suggests that the child reading the story is the main character, and the events are occurring in the child's own backyard. This framework, paired with extraordinary illustrations is rich fodder for any child's imagination.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Has Not Been Said . . . . ., June 28, 2006

By 

The Silent Gondolier - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully done book. The story is quiet and intriqueing, even in its brevity, and the illustrations are incredible. I just sit and look at them, seeing something different or feeling something different each time. I was at first taken aback at the sparseness of the layout, and I still wish there were at least more illustrations. I have taken a star off of my review for that reason. However, one of the things I like most about this book is WHAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID, and I think the layout is meant to convey that (but little children would probably not think of it in this way---they will feel it, though). Because of the things not said, the reader and listener can continue to tell the story in his or her mind. This is a book significant to the imaginations of both children and adults.