Jon Klassen, a children’s book author and illustrator originally from Winnipeg known for creating I Want My Hat Back, has been honored with the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, carrying a value of nearly $750,000. The prestigious accolade, managed by the Swedish Arts Council, is bestowed annually to individuals or entities in recognition of their contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Judges commended Klassen’s collection of works for its clever, perceptive, and amusing exploration of profound life questions.
Among his notable creations are I Want My Hat Back, a story featuring a bear on a quest to find his distinctive red hat, This Is Not My Hat, portraying a small fish sporting a bowler hat taken from a larger fish, We Found a Hat, narrating the tale of two turtles vying for a cowboy hat, and the award-winning Cats’ Night Out. Additionally, in 2018, he was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his significant impact on children’s literature. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Klassen has become the first Canadian recipient of this esteemed award, established by the Swedish government in 2002, with a prize sum of five million kronor, equivalent to approximately $744,000 Canadian dollars.
