A Christian picture book · published 2026

The Bubblegum Tree

A story of faith, family, and God’s grace, told through a boy, his grandfather, a little white dog named Pixie, and a tree like no other. Written by Brenda Oney Morris and published by Christian Faith Publishing.

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The story

Troy spends his days at his grandfather’s side, learning the patient work of the garden: when to plant, how much to water, and how long to wait. One afternoon, tucked away in the shed, he comes upon a small and colorful box. Inside is a seed his grandfather has kept for many years, a gift from his own father long ago. It is the seed of a bubblegum tree.

Together they plant it, with Pixie the dog keeping faithful watch, and then comes the hardest part of all: waiting. Grandpa reminds Troy that everything grows in God’s good time, and that faith means believing in what we cannot yet see.

When the tree at last rewards their patience, Troy discovers that not everyone is ready to believe what he has seen with his own eyes. And as the seasons turn, he learns that even when a good season ends, God leaves something beautiful behind.

Grandpa and Troy peer at something in the shed together. — A little colorful box in the shed.

Troy in striped pajamas throws his arms wide at a tree covered in colorful gumballs. — The morning the gumballs arrive.

Lessons from Grandpa’s garden

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Life’s seasons Good things come and go, as surely as summer gives way to fall. When one season closes, God has a new kind of beauty waiting just beyond it.
A grandfather’s wisdom Those who came before us have so much to teach, if we will sit a while beside them on an upturned bucket and listen.
Faith in the unexpected Troy plants a seed and keeps believing, even when no one else does. Faith, Grandpa shows him, is trusting in what we cannot yet see.
Grace Grandpa kneels to meet Troy eye to eye and tells him that God’s grace is always found there, down upon your knees.
Family bonds Love is handed down like a seed saved for just the right day, from father to son, and from grandfather to grandson.

Grandpa kneels beside buckets full of gumballs and rests a hand on Troy's shoulder. — Eye to eye.

Where the idea came from

Brenda’s father was a gardener at heart. He taught all six of her children how to plant, and on summer mornings he would sit them on an upturned bucket, tweezers in hand, to pick the squash bugs from the leaves. Years later, Brenda and one of her sons sat turning a quarter gumball over in their hands and wondered aloud: what if gumballs grew on trees? The question stayed with her for a few years, quietly taking root, until at last it became this book.

The grandfather in the story is drawn from Brenda’s father, with a little of her oldest son in him too. Her dad grew up poor, ran a grocery store, and never let anyone leave his home without fruit, a jar of honey, or a warm meal. He passed away in 2026, a few months before the book came out.

From the dedication page

Dedicated to my Dad, Troy, and my children. Grandpa Troy shared his skills and love of gardening, as well as making sure no one ever left his presence hungry or without the fruits of his labor. Thank You, Dad. We miss you.

And yes, Pixie, the little white pit bull, is the family’s very own dog. The story simply wouldn’t have been complete without her.