Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story
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 Sensefilms.Theyare 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 MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved