Moon Was Tired of Walking on Air
by Natalia Belting
Houghton Mifflin, 1992

Moon Was Tired of Walking on Air, a collection of South American Indian creation myths told by Natalia Belting, introduces a folklore strikingly different from that of other cultures.

Long a devotee of Joseph Campbell, Will found in these myths a primordial energy that he felt challenged to capture visually. Will realized that these myths would be totally unfamiliar to children.

Upon reading the works of Russell Freedman, he had reflected that often an author or illustrator introduces the child to a culture or a piece of history for the very first time. He felt strongly that the illustrations should convey the myths in a way intelligible to children.

He wanted "to make contemporary stories that are thousands of years old." Finding inspiration in the spirituality of Gauguin's Polynesian motifs, Will used a flat primitive style with dark hues and simple strokes to depict a world struggling to find a form.

The characters in these tales are truly born of earth. They seem to emerge from physical matter much as a sculptured figure emerges from a block of stone. They are heavily physical yet embody a simple spirit of life. They are earthen in color, in contrast to the cool blues of the moon and waters and the warm yellows and reds of the sun.

The only nod to ornament is the occasional use of simple patterns. Unlike Will's previous stories which evoke a strong sense of place, these tales are unrooted; they seem to occur in territory as yet uncharted.