The Adventures of Gus and Millie
UNIQUE - INTERACTIVE - FUN
A series of unique children's stories using simple Reflexology techniques for both parents and children
Why I wrote these children's books
Throughout my career as a professional reflexologist, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful reflexology can be in helping people restore balance and calm. After experiencing long COVID, I had to step away from my business for a time. During this period, I began working in the disability sector and discovered how profoundly reflexology could support young adults and children with ADHD and Autism. The results I witnessed were remarkable — reflexology created moments of calm, regulation, and connection.
I then had the privilege of working with primary-aged children who had been diagnosed with ADHD or Autism, and the benefits continued to shine through. In conversations with both the children and their parents, one theme kept coming up: sleep, or more accurately, the struggle to achieve it. These children often couldn’t switch off their busy minds at night, leaving families exhausted and searching for solutions.
What I found was that reflexology could provide a safe, gentle way to soothe the nervous system and create the conditions for rest. I wanted to find a way to share these tools more widely — to empower children, parents, and caregivers with techniques they could use together at home. That’s when the idea for my first children’s book was born.
My husband had always created bedtime stories for our boys, and I asked him to help me bring one to life. The inspiration came from our two cattle dogs, Gus and Millie. Gus, in particular, with his boundless energy (and what I’m convinced is a touch of ADHD!), became the perfect character to embody the challenges many children face.
From there, the stories began to unfold. Each book weaves together engaging storytelling with simple reflexology techniques for the hands, ears, and feet — offering children a fun, empowering way to care for their bodies, minds, and emotions, while giving parents and caregivers a practical tool to support wellbeing at home.
Gus
Since then, I’ve created a second storybook, this time based on a simplified hand reflexology routine I used with clients during COVID. Back then, I would set up Zoom calls to guide people through easy reflexology points to help relieve their virus symptoms. Turning that routine into a story allowed me to extend its reach to families, especially children, in a gentle and accessible way.
I’m delighted to share these storybooks with the world — and I’m already working on more in the series. At the heart of them all is a simple mission: to bring reflexology into homes as a supportive, everyday tool. Whether a child is struggling with sleep, feeling overwhelmed, or simply “off” in their body, these stories provide comfort, empowerment, and practical ways to restore balance.
Millie
Gus goes to bed is a unique heartwarming bedtime story which uses simple reflexology techniques for both parents and children to help calm and relax before bed. It follows the story of Gus, who struggles to fall asleep, but with the help of his nightly 'Sleepy Time Routine' manages to fall asleep, and stay asleep, much more easily. This book is suitable for all children but especially beneficial to those with ADHD and Autism. A light-hearted, fun story which will appeal to children and parents alike.
Gus and Millie get sick is a unique and empowering story that gently supports families through the sniffles and sneezes of everyday colds. When Gus and Millie come down with runny noses and pesky coughs, Mum steps in with a calm and caring solution-simple hand reflexology techniques. As Mum shows them how to ease their symptoms with easy-to-follow reflexology moves, Gus and Millie begin to feel better, and they're eager to share what they've learned. So when Dad arrives home sneezing and sniffling, the kids step into the role of little healers, teaching him the same soothing techniques. This book is perfect for children experiencing cold and flu symptoms, offering both comfort and connection, making reflexology accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for the whole family.