by Jon Klassen. I first saw Jon. Klassen's work in some samples sent in by his
agent, Steven. Malk. I had that feeling editors or art directors don't get very often ...
by Jon Klassen A Note
from the
Editor I first saw Jon Klassen’s work in some samples sent in by his agent, Steven Malk. I had that feeling editors or art directors don’t get very often but know to trust when it happens — a strange sort of calmness mixed with a deep bubbling excitement. Something is exactly right, but you can’t articulate why yet. Let’s just say that Jon’s work — for me — is like a portal to an alternative (and better) world. His color palette and his sense of humor are deliciously subtle; his landscapes are often haunting, with a sense of vastness and possibility. If there is a human presence, it’s often off-kilter (a shopping cart in the woods) or minimal (a tiny boat among icebergs). His work resonates with a love of nature. I Want My Hat Back marks a fabulous debut for Jon as an authorartist; the all-dialogue text and the simple illustrations use repetition to wonderful and hilarious effect, and there is a moral certainty that underpins all the action. I laugh out loud every time I read this book, and I think readers will too.
