Jon Klassen, a native of Winnipeg and the creative mind behind the popular children’s book “I Want My Hat Back,” has been honored with the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, valued at nearly $750,000. The award, overseen by the Swedish Arts Council, recognizes individuals or organizations for their significant contributions to children’s and young adult literature.
Judges commended Klassen’s body of work for its subtle, insightful, and humorous exploration of deep existential themes. His notable works include “I Want My Hat Back,” a story about a bear on a quest to find his lost red hat, “This Is Not My Hat,” which tells the tale of a small fish sporting a bowler hat pilfered from a larger fish, “We Found a Hat,” depicting 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. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Klassen holds the distinction of being the first Canadian recipient of this esteemed award, established by the Swedish government in 2002 and valued at approximately $744,000 CAD.
