Children’s book illustrator and graduate Jon Klassen wins top children’s literature prize

Sheridan graduate Jon Klassen has won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, becoming the first Canadian to receive the prestigious prize. Valued at nearly $750,000, it is the largest award of its kind.

Klassen, a 2005 alumnus of Sheridan’s Animation program, was named as the 2026 laureate on April 14. Created by the Swedish government in 2002 to honour the memory of famed children’s author Astrid Lindgren, the prize is presented annually to an author, artist or storyteller who has made outstanding contributions to literature for children and young adults. The award will be presented in May by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at a ceremony in Stockholm.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment for Jon, and Sheridan is deeply proud of his incredible work,” says Sheridan President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Cindy Gouveia. “His bestselling stories have delighted millions of children around the world, and it is incredibly inspiring for our current students to see him recognized with the top prize in children’s literature.”

Klassen is the author and illustrator of the Hat Trilogy, which includes I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat. This is Not My Hat earned him won both the Caldecott Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal. He’s also the illustrator of the Now I See Series written by Mac Barnett. Earlier this month, Shape Island – a stop motion production adapted from Klassen’s and Barnett’s book series of the same name – received a nomination for a Peabody Award. Klassen is also a recipient of the Governor General's Award for English-language Children's Illustration and, in 2018, he was named to the Order of Canada.

Graduates from Sheridan’s Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design (FAAD) are internationally renowned for their contributions to arts, design and media.  Sheridan alumni have received other top honours including Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Emmys and Canadian Screen Awards. FAAD is the top animation school in Canada and continues to respond to the needs of creative industries, helping students unlock innovation and success. Most recently, FAAD launched Canada’s first master’s in animation, games, and immersive experiences. Last year, Sheridan was named as an Apple Distinguished School, launched the Honours Bachelor of 3D Animation and Emerging Technologies (3DAET), and unveiled Nova, an interdisciplinary initiative designed to explore changes in creative industries.

— Image courtesy of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award