Jon Klassen, a children’s book author and illustrator originally from Winnipeg, has been honored with the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, valued at nearly $750,000. Presented annually by the Swedish Arts Council, this award recognizes individuals or organizations for their outstanding contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Judges commended Klassen’s work for its subtle, insightful, and humorous exploration of profound questions.
Among Klassen’s notable works are “I Want My Hat Back,” which tells the story of a bear in search of his lost red hat, “This Is Not My Hat,” depicting a small fish wearing a bowler hat stolen from a larger fish, “We Found a Hat,” centering on two turtles vying for a cowboy hat, and the award-winning “Cats’ Night Out.” In 2018, Klassen was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his significant impact on children’s literature.
Residing in Los Angeles, Klassen is the first Canadian to receive this prestigious award since its establishment by the Swedish government in 2002. The award’s value of five million kronor translates to approximately $744,000 Canadian dollars.