Sinbad the Sailor

Williams ( Greek Myths for Young Children ; Don Quixote ) once again dips playfully into the mythical past, here recreating--with wit and kid-pleasing visuals--the travels and travails of the entertainingly eccentric Sinbad. Her signature comic-strip-style art, busy and brilliantly hued, follows this errant sailor on seven danger-filled voyages. Sinbad's first-person narrative (addressed to a porter who is also named Sinbad) describes such exploits as landing his ship on a whale he mistakes for an island; entering ``a valley studded with diamonds and crawling with deadly snakes''; encountering a giant with lion-like claws who consumes most of Sinbad's crew; and being shipwrecked after a sea monster swallows his ship. The intrepid voyager survives it all, managing repeatedly to regain his lost wealth and return home a rich man--and each time (save the last) yearning immediately to return to the sea. Williams's fans will hope that she soon makes a return trip--to her drawing board, and another legendary locale. Ages 7-up. (Mar.)