AustLit

'Oscar's grandfather tells him that remnant Ancient Spirits which created the world still live in the rock formations on his farm. Their faces are in the stone for those who know how to look. Grandfather Grumps has cared for the Spirits all his life and now needs to hand over their custody to someone with the superpowers required to understand the Spirits' wisdom. Oscar believes he has the powers, and this is confirmed by Grumps and Bart, the fierce dog. Eight-year-old Oscar, accompanied by Bart, bravely treks among the boulders at night to hear the Ancient Spirits' message: that all living and non-living parts of the Earth are connected; that Ancient Spirits in rocks made soil for plants to grow; that wind in the trees and birds talk to seeds under the ground; that bark fallen to the earth unites with microbes that link it with all other trees in a forest. Oscar understands that we must look after and respect every aspect of our natural world.' (Publication summary)