Helping little bodies calm down when big feelings take over.
What if the missing piece to your child's sleep, focus, and big feelings... is their breath?
A beautiful watercolour story and audio bundle that teaches children functional breathing for everyday calm — naturally, gently, and as easy as ABC.
One Little Story. A Lifetime of Calm
Who is Big AL & why this book matters
I created this book in honour of my son Alex. ♥
Five years ago, I lost my precious 21-year-old son Alex to suicide. He was a beautiful young man with the kindest heart and a deep desire to make the world better for his generation.
In the depths of grief, I was led to the breath. What began as my own healing became a profound discovery — one that would change the course of my life and the lives of the families I work with.
“I wish I knew this earlier.”
I founded The Big AL Foundation and began working with hundreds of children and families through our Little Breathers workshops. Time and again, exhausted parents told me the same thing.
So I created Big AL & The Calm Crew — a gentle story, inspired by Alex, teaching children that calm is as easy as ABC. Today, his legacy lives on in every breath.
The science behind the calm
Your child’s breath may be
the missing link to calm.
Here’s the truth most parents don’t know — and very few people are talking about. When children breathe the way their bodies are designed to, something magical happens.
Nose breathing through the diaphragm, slow and deep, activates the calm response and signals safety to the body and the mind.
This is called functional breathing — when children breathe this way their body operates from optimal emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
Instead of fight or flight. Calm becomes their natural state — not something they have to find, but something they remember.
of children shift to mouth breathing by age 5 — affecting sleep, focus and emotional regulation
parents of children with ADHD or anxiety — every single child mouth breathes or snores
Scientifically proven to impact
Unleaded fuel — the right fuel for a high-performance engine. The body runs exactly the way it was designed to. Calm, focused and regulated.
Diesel in a petrol engine. It creates burnout — and we are seeing this earlier and earlier in children. The breath is trainable. And it starts here.
It’s something they need to remember.
Big AL & The Calm Crew gently guides children aged 3–10 back to natural breathing through the ABC Method.
No pressure. No fixing. Just remembering. ♥
YOU ARE YOUR CHILD' PRIMARY REGULATOR
This family resource is not just the run of the mill bedtime story - it is a lifelong tool for regulation.
Children don't learn calm by being told to "calm down".
They learn calm by feeling safety in their body and that begins with the breath.
When you read this story with your child you are teaching nervous system regulation early.
Supporting healthy brain and emotional development.
Giving them the language for self soothing and becoming their primary regulator, not their fixer.
You are planting a seed that can support them for life.
Meet Big AL & The Calm Crew
Discover 3 Essential Tools Your Child Needs For Everyday Calm
Set in the beautiful Australian outback, this hand-illustrated watercolour story follows Big AL on his walk to school as he meets three bush friends who teach him a simple, lifelong skill - ABC Breathing.
This is not breathwork — it is functional breathing. The way children are designed to breathe.
EVERYTHING INCLUDED
Big AL & The Calm Crew Digital Bundle
What's included:
Instant ACCESS
Landscape PDF Digital Book:
Enjoy the beautifully illustrated digital version of Big AL & The Calm Crew instantly on any device.
Audiobook Version:
A narrated version of the story by the Author that children can listen to anytime for comfort, connection, and calm.
Meditational Audiobook:
A gentle calming version designed to help regulate the nervous system and support relaxation through breath and story.
Interactive Flipbook:
A fun digital page-turning version of the book that creates an engaging reading experience for children.
🎁 Plus These 2 Beautiful Bonus GIFTS 🎁
BIG AL & THE CALM CREW DIGITAL FLIPBOOK WITH AUTHOR RECORDED AUDIO
Children can listen and follow along with the story at the same time for a calming interactive experience.
The Grateful Child Daily Practice Bundle
Support daily calm through gratitude and feelings.
Includes a gratitude journal, 80 prompts, and a child-friendly feelings workbook.
Today: $22
Frequently Asked Questions
still not sure.....your questions answered.
Question 1: What age is Big AL & The Calm Crew suitable for?
Big AL & The Calm Crew is designed for children aged 3–10 years, however many parents tell us they enjoy the stories and breathing exercises just as much as their children. The simple techniques are easy to understand, fun to practice, and can become part of your family's daily routine.
Did you know? Research suggests up to 80% of adults may have a dysfunctional breathing pattern. Many parents discover they benefit from learning these simple breathing habits alongside their child.
Question 2: What is "Functional" breathing?
Functional breathing is breathing the way the body was designed to breathe — through the nose, using the diaphragm, with a calm, relaxed rhythm.
When children learn healthy breathing habits early, it can help support emotional regulation, focus, sleep quality, resilience, and a calmer nervous system. We teach this through our simple ABC framework:
A – Always use your nose.
B – Belly breaths.
C – Closed mouth, calm breathing.
Question 3: How is this different from a normal children's book?
Big AL & The Calm Crew is more than a story.
It combines lovable characters, storytelling, practical breathing exercises, guided audio experiences, and family resources to help children understand big feelings and learn simple tools to return to calm. Every part of the bundle has been designed to make emotional regulation easy, engaging, and age-appropriate.
Question 4: Can this help children manage anxiety, overwhelm, and big emotions?
While this is not a medical or therapeutic program, many parents use these tools to help children navigate everyday worries, frustration, stress, overwhelm, and emotional ups and downs.
The breathing exercises help children become aware of their bodies and learn practical ways to settle their nervous system when emotions feel big.
Question 5: How often should we use the breathing exercises?
A few minutes each day can make a big difference. Ultimately though the goal is to have your child breathing "ABC" all day every day.
The best results come from practicing when children are calm, not just when they are upset. Just like learning to ride a bike, breathing becomes easier and more natural with repetition. Many families enjoy using the book, audio stories, or calming exercises as part of their bedtime routine to create meaningful habits.
MEET THE author
Hi, I'm Trish!
I'm a Mum of seven, Alex's Mum, Author, C.Hypnotherapist, Breath Educator, and the Founder of The Big AL Foundation – Emotional Fitness for the Next Generation.
After losing my beautiful son Alex to suicide in 2021, I made it my mission to help children and families build emotional awareness, resilience, and calm through simple breathing practices from as early as possible. Early prevention is at the the heart of this book and what I am most passionate about.
Through my work in schools, communities, and with families, I've seen first hand how something as simple as the breath can help children navigate big feelings and return to calm in a world that is simply too chaotic and loud for their developing nervous systems.
Big AL & The Calm Crew was created with love in honour of Alex and to give educators, parents and children practical tools they can carry with them for life.
When we educate teachers and parents, we protect the child.
My hope is that Big AL and his three cheeky characters, The Calm Crew (who were named after his family members btw) will lovingly help your family discover that calm lives within—one quiet breath at a time.
I hope you join me on the revolution back to calm kids together!
Because our children deserve it.
— Lots of Love
Trish xx
