Jon Klassen (he/him/his)
Coming to children’s literature by way of a fully-realized career in animation, Jon Klassen is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning illustrator of nearly 30 books. He began his luminous career as a storyboard artist and scenic designer for feature films such as “Coraline” and “Kung Fu Panda.” Collectively, his books have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into over 30 languages. A recipient of the Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors, multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, and a Governor General’s Award in Canada, Klassen was given the Order of Canada for his contributions to children’s literature. He is also the co-creator and co-executive producer of the Emmy-winning Shape Island, an animated series for AppleTV. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Ontario, Canada, he now lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, CA. In 2026, Klassen was awarded the biggest global prize in children’s literature, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.