Jon Klassen
A master of minimalist, deadpan humor in picture books, he became the first to win the top illustration awards in the US and UK for the same book.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Canadian writer and illustrator·Birthday: November 29·Millennials
Biography
Jon Klassen trades in subtle tension and sly, subversive humor, building worlds with a few carefully placed lines and evocative, textured colors. His background in animation, working on films like 'Coraline,' honed his sense of timing and visual storytelling. He broke out with 'I Want My Hat Back,' a deceptively simple tale of a bear’s quest that delivered a famously dark punchline, captivating children and adults alike. He followed it with 'This Is Not My Hat,' a tiny fish’s ill-fated heist narrated with brilliant dramatic irony. That book made history, winning both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal—an unprecedented double. Klassen’s work, often created in collaboration with author Mac Barnett, respects the intelligence of young readers, trusting them to read between the lines and find the comedy in the quiet moments of mischief and consequence.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jon was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- First person ever to win both the Caldecott Medal (US) and the Kate Greenaway Medal (UK) for the same book, 'This Is Not My Hat'.
- Wrote and illustrated the bestselling and critically acclaimed hat trilogy: 'I Want My Hat Back', 'This Is Not My Hat', and 'We Found a Hat'.
- His distinctive illustration work has influenced a generation of children's book creators with its minimalist, deadpan style.
Did You Know?
He worked as an animator for the film 'Coraline' and designed characters for 'The Simpsons'.
Klassen was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and now lives in Los Angeles.
He often uses a limited, muted color palette dominated by browns, greens, and blacks.
“I like the idea of the reader being a little bit ahead of the characters, or at least having a different set of information.”
