Greek Myths for Young Children

Featuring vibrant colors, detailed borders and comic-strip panels spilling over with farcical antics and asides, Williams's watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork is reminiscent of her illustrations for Joseph and His Magnificent Coat of Many Colors . Though readers on the young edge of the intended audience may miss the moral of some of these familiar and lesser-known myths, Williams has condensed the plots deftly, adding pithy comments (``Fat chance''; ``Where's the welcoming committee?''; ``This village is a dump!'') that help to modernize the material. Although she does not shy away from the beatings, killings and bloodshed incorporated in a few of the myths, her drawings will be deemed gory by only the most conservative viewers, and are not likely to pose a problem for children. Rather, this animated, oversize volume offers a lighthearted look at some timeless tales. Ages 5-up. (Oct.)