Jon Klassen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Klassen
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Jon Klassen in 2016.
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| Born | November 29, 1981 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Occupation | Illustrator, writer |
| Period | 2005–present |
| Genre | Children's picture books, animation |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Governor General's Award 2010 Caldecott Medal 2013 Greenaway Medal 2014 |
Jon Klassen (born November 29, 1981) is a talented Canadian writer and illustrator. He creates amazing children's books and also works in animation. He is famous for winning two major awards for children's book illustration: the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal. He won both for his 2012 picture book, This Is Not My Hat, which he also wrote. He was the first person ever to win both awards for the same book!
This Is Not My Hat is a follow-up to Klassen's earlier book, I Want My Hat Back (2011). This first book was his debut as both a writer and an illustrator. Both books were very popular, staying on the New York Times Best Seller list for over 40 weeks. By April 2014, these books had been translated into 22 languages. Together, they sold more than one million copies worldwide. Judges for the Greenaway Medal recommended both books for children aged 5 and up. Klassen finished his "hat" series with the book We Found a Hat, published in 2016.
Contents
Jon Klassen's Early Life and Education
Klassen was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1981. He grew up in Niagara Falls and Toronto, both in Ontario. He studied animation at Sheridan College and graduated in 2005. After finishing college, he moved to Los Angeles to start his career.
Jon Klassen's Creative Career
In 2005, Jon Klassen created an animated short film called An Eye for Annai with Daniel Rodrigues. He also worked on animation for big movies like Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Coraline (2009). He was also the art director for a music video by the band U2 in 2009.
Awards and Early Book Illustrations
In 2010, Klassen became well-known internationally. He won the Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration. This award was for his illustrations in the picture book Cats' Night Out, written by Carolyn Stutson. He also illustrated the first three novels in a series called The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. He even illustrated the first hardcover edition of the fourth book in that series.
The Famous "Hat" Books
His first picture book that he wrote and illustrated himself was I Want My Hat Back. It was published in September 2011 by Candlewick Press. The story is about a bear looking for his lost hat. He eventually finds it on a rabbit who stole it. The ending of the book has been talked about a lot. Klassen said there was "no other way for it to end."
The New York Times Book Review called I Want My Hat Back one of the "10 Best Illustrated Children's Books for 2011." The book became very popular and even turned into an internet meme. People started making their own funny versions of the story online. Many people loved the book, calling it "charming" and "wicked." They enjoyed how the pictures helped tell the story. Some discussions happened about the ending, wondering if it was right for a children's book. Despite this, the book was a runner-up for the American Geisel Award and was shortlisted for the Greenaway Medal.
A year later, Klassen released a companion book, This Is Not My Hat (Candlewick, 2012). This book features a small fish who steals a hat from a big fish. The little fish tries to get away, but in the end, the big fish swims back into the story wearing his hat, and the little fish is gone. This book won both the Caldecott and Greenaway Medals. The award committees praised Klassen's illustrations. They noted how small changes in the characters' eyes and the setting told the story. The Greenaway judges also said the book's layout perfectly showed the underwater world. They loved how the text and pictures worked together for great comic timing.
Klassen also illustrated The Dark (2013), written by Lemony Snicket. This book was also shortlisted for the Greenaway Medal. In 2014, he worked with Mac Barnett again on another picture book, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.
In 2019, all three "hat" books—I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, and We Found a Hat—were released together in a special collection called Jon Klassen's Hat Box.
Jon Klassen's Awards and Honors
Jon Klassen has received many awards for his amazing work:
- 2012 Honor, Irma Black Award
- 2013 Honor, Irma Black Award
- 2013 Honor, Caldecott Medal
- 2013 Winner, Caldecott Medal
- 2013 Winner, Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Best Picture Book
- 2015 Winner, Irma Black Award
- 2015 Honor, Caldecott Medal
