Jon Klassen, a 44-year-old Canadian picture book author and illustrator, has been named the 2026 laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. According to SVT Kultur, Klassen described being shocked by the news, which came when the Alma Prize jury woke him up in the middle of the night. He told the outlet that he knew he was nominated but had thought the healthiest attitude was not to expect anything. The award, established in 2002 by the Swedish government to safeguard children's right to good stories, is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.
Klassen was born in Winnipeg in 1981, according to major media reports. Before his breakthrough as a children's book author, he worked as an animator on major films such as 'Kung Fu Panda' (2008) and 'Coraline' (2009), as reported by major media. He broke through in 2011 with the picture book 'I Want My Hat Back', which is about a bear who loses his hat, according to major media. That book was on the New York Times bestseller list for over 40 weeks, major media reports indicate.
I am shocked.
Klassen is best known for his bestselling hat trilogy, which in Swedish consists of the titles 'I Want My Hat Back' (2011), 'This Is Not My Hat' (2012), and 'We Found a Hat' (2016). Official sources describe his authorship as characterized by humorous explorations of existential questions, where shock and tension play a significant role. Major media reports describe his works as simultaneously humorous, subtle, and sharp. He is known for books such as 'I Want My Hat Back' and 'The Rock from the Sky', according to official sources.
As recently as last year, Jon Klassen published two books in an ongoing board book project: 'Your Forest' and 'Your Farm', according to major media. In addition to his own creations, he has also worked as an illustrator with several authors, major media reports. His illustrations adorn, among others, 'The Dark' (2013) by Lemony Snicket, the 'Pax' series by Sara Pennypacker, and a bunch of books he created together with Mac Barnett, including 'Triangle' (2017) and 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' (2023), as reported by major media.
You want to say something insightful or wise, but instead I mostly made a lot of noises, I couldn't get anything sensible out at all.
The prize will be presented by Crown Princess Victoria at the Konserthuset in Stockholm on May 25, according to major media. The Alma Prize jury's motivation states that with precision, feeling, and witty humor, the challenges of existence of uncertainty and hopefulness are portrayed, always through the interaction between color and form. The jury also stated that Jon Klassen's brilliant stories are characterized by simple elegance and interpretative depths. According to SVT Kultur, Klassen described wanting to say something insightful or wise but instead mostly making a lot of noises and not being able to get anything sensible out at all.
Jon Klassen's books have been published in Swedish, primarily by Lilla Piratförlaget but also by Hippo, according to major media. According to SVT Kultur, Klassen described particularly liking Pippi Longstocking, noting that they watched the movies and read the books over and over again as children, and they were at the library when he grew up in Canada. He also told SVT Kultur that he has realized he is more interested in catharsis than in establishing some kind of morality as an author. The exact date in 2026 for the award ceremony beyond May 25 has not been specified, and it is unclear which other authors or illustrators were nominated for the Alma Prize 2026. The total number of books Klassen has published, the exact title of his ongoing board book project, and the specific criteria used by the jury to select him over other nominees have not been disclosed.
I have realized that I am more interested in catharsis than in establishing some kind of morality as an author.
I knew I was nominated but had thought that the healthiest attitude is not to expect anything.
I particularly like Pippi Longstocking. We watched the movies and read the books over and over again as children, they were at the library when I grew up in Canada.