From high school failure to award winning author & illustrator
Josh Langley was told he would amount to nothing in life, having failed high school (twice) and being unemployed for several years, but that didn’t stop Josh from becoming a multi award-winning radio copywriter and award-winning children’s author.
Josh’s debut children’s book, Being You is Enough changed the trajectory of his life. Written as a love letter to his 8-year-old self, it’s message of self-acceptance and love resonated with kids and parents around the world. He went on to publish 9 books and in 2018 won the Australian Book Industry Awards Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of Year, for his second children’s book It’s Ok to Feel the Way You Do (Big Sky Publishing 2017).
His advertising background and direct way of talking about important things, is encapsulated by Josh’s unique philosophy, KISS – Keep it Simple and Silly!
Now his ground-breaking children’s books, programs and school talks on self-acceptance, resilience, understanding emotions and kindness, are helping thousands of kids make friends with themselves.
Josh lives on 7 and a half acres in the Southwest of Western Australia with his husband and his favourite food is tortellini. Josh is the ambassador for the Children’s Tumour Foundation and Camp Quality and was voted a Westfield Local Hero for the work he does with CTF.
My Philosophy
"The more we support kids upstream, the less we’ll need to rescue them downstream."
The earlier kids learn important social and emotional skills, then they’ll be better equipped to navigate life’s challenges as they get older and reduce the risk of mental health issues. That’s why I create unique kid friendly resources to help parents, teachers and child health professionals help kids build emotional and mental resilience.
Below are the core messages and themes that underpin my work.
- Emotional regulation
- Talking about feelings
- Self-awareness
- Self-acceptance
- Resilience (learning from mistakes and failures)
- Kindness and empathy
- Gratitude
- Curiosity and wonder
- Creativity / Imagination / Free play
JOSH LANGLEY
GETS TO KNOW
Check out the podcast where Josh Langley gets to know
the movers and shakers around WA, Australia, & the world.
