Book excerpt: "Wood conveys a sense of something larger in the world, and gives voice to the human longing to understand." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Grandad is the boy’s best friend. Being with him always makes the world seem right. And how vast that world is: a world of tall trees that reach for the clouds and sun and moon and stars — and what else is reaching for heaven but a prayer? Each time he and Grandad walk in the woods, the boy listens for the prayers of the earth. And finally the boy asks: "Are our prayers answered?" One day, long after Grandad is gone, long after the boy is grown, he understands Grandad’s reply: "If we listen very closely, a prayer is often its own answer." Douglas Wood, author of Old Turtle, has written a wise and moving story for all ages, beautifully illustrated by the acclaimed P.J. Lynch.