Jon Klassen, a children’s book author and illustrator originally from Winnipeg, has been honored with the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, valued at almost $750,000. This prestigious award, presented annually by the Swedish Arts Council, recognizes individuals or organizations for their significant contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Judges commended Klassen’s collection of work for its thoughtful and witty exploration of profound questions.
Among his notable works are “I Want My Hat Back,” a story about a bear in search of his distinctive red hat, “This Is Not My Hat,” featuring a small fish sporting a bowler hat pilfered from a larger fish, “We Found a Hat,” depicting two turtles vying for ownership of a cowboy hat, and the Governor General’s Literary Award-winning “Cats’ Night Out.” In 2018, Klassen was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his influential role in enhancing children’s literature.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Klassen stands as the first Canadian to receive this esteemed accolade. Established by the Swedish government in 2002, the award carries a value of five million kronor, approximately equivalent to $744,000 Canadian dollars.