Canadian author and illustrator Jon Klassen, known for his book “I Want My Hat Back,” has been honored with the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, valued at nearly $750,000. The award, presented by the Swedish Arts Council, recognizes individuals or organizations for their significant contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Judges commended Klassen’s work for its nuanced, insightful, and humorous exploration of deep existential themes.
Klassen’s notable works include “I Want My Hat Back,” a story about a bear on a quest to find his missing red hat, “This Is Not My Hat,” depicting a small fish in a bowler hat and the larger fish it pilfered from, “We Found a Hat,” narrating the tale of two turtles vying for ownership of a cowboy hat, and the award-winning “Cats’ Night Out.” In 2018, he was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his transformative impact on children’s literature.
Residing in Los Angeles, Klassen is the first Canadian to receive this esteemed award since its inception by the Swedish government in 2002. The prize, equivalent to five million kronor or approximately $744,000 CAD, highlights his outstanding contributions to the literary world.
