Jon Klassen, Canadian writer and illustrator of 'I Want My Hat Back,' wins $750K Swedish prize

Jon Klassen, the Winnipeg-born children's book author and illustrator, is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Carson Ellis (Mandatory Credit)

Jon Klassen, the Winnipeg-born children’s book author and illustrator behind “I Want My Hat Back,” has won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is worth nearly $750,000.

The award administered by the Swedish Arts Council is handed out annually to a person or organization for their contribution to children’s and young adult literature.

Jurors praised Klassen’s body of work as a “subtle, astute and humorous investigation into existential questions.”

His books include the tale of a bear searching for his missing pointy red hat; “This Is Not My Hat,” which follows a tiny fish wearing a bowler hat and the much bigger fish he stole it from; and “We Found a Hat,” about two turtles who find a cowboy hat they both want.

Klassen, who now lives in Los Angeles, is the first Canadian laureate of the prize.

The award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002, and is worth five million kronor, which is roughly $744,000 CAD.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2026.

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press