This web page is dedicated to the characters in the book The Magic Gum Tree - A Children's Fantasy Story About Meditation by Sarah Wood Vallely
Activity Sheets
Honey, Felix, and Timber together Download
Honey and the magic gum tree Download
Felix in outer space Download
Timber and his singing bowl Download
Honey’s cubby house Download
Timber’s magic tail Download
The Magic Gum Tree Mad-Libs Download
Practice Printing with Timber Download
Practice Cursive with Honey Download
Practice Math with Felix Download
Brushtail Possums in Australia
Honey, Felix and Timber are fictional brushtail possums. Trichosurus vulpecula, the scientific name for this possum species, means furry-tailed little fox. Brushtail possums have pink noses, large ears, a pointed faces and dark fur around their eyes. Their bodies are either silver-grey, brown, black or gold and are about the size of a domestic cat.
Brushtails live primarily in Australia and some live in New Zealand. Many brushtail possums live in rural areas but some live in cities. Brushtail possums are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and are awake at night. They den in hollow logs and tree trunks, as well as within spaces underneath rooftops. Brushtails enjoy eating eucalyptus leaves, grass, buds, fruits, nectar and some small animals. City-dwelling brushtails eat food scraps whenever they can find some.
Brushtail possum babies are born after being inside their mother’s womb for only seventeen days. Brushtails are marsupial mammals, along with wallabies and kangaroos. This means they crawl into their mother’s pouch after they are born and live there for four or five months. A young marsupial is known as a joey. Next, the joey climbs out of his mother’s pouch and travels with her on her back for another month or two. Finally the young possum lives on its own.
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| Honey | Felix | Timber |
Gum Trees in Australia
Some eucalyptus trees are called gum trees because of the sap that comes out of breaks in the tree’s bark. Eucalyptus trees are known for the oil their leaves secrete. Eucalyptus oil is used for cleaning, making things smell good and taste good. For example, eucalyptus oil is found in some candy, cough drops, toothpaste and decongestants. Eucalyptus oil is also does a good job keeping insects away and is found in some mosquito repellents.
Eucalyptus trees are also known for their unusual flowers. Unlike most flowers, which show with opening peddles, eucalyptus flowers show with many stamens sticking out from their centers. Eucalyptus trees’ flowers come in either white, cream, yellow, pink or red. Not purple, like in The Magic Gum Tree.
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| Gum tree | Gum tree flower |