Illustrator & Author Profile
Jon Klassen
14 Books
Jon Klassen is an acclaimed Canadian children's book author and illustrator known for his distinctive visual style and deadpan humor. He is the creator of the beloved Hat trilogy, including We Found A Hat, as well as The Rock From The Sky. In addition to writing and illustrating his own works, Klassen frequently collaborates with other authors to illustrate award-winning titles like Extra Yarn and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
A tiny fish is swimming as fast as he can, wearing a perfectly round, light blue hat. It fits him beautifully, but there is one small problem: the hat does not belong to him. He stole it from a very large, sleeping fish.
The tiny fish is absolutely certain he will get away with his crime. He is confident that the big fish will never wake up, never notice the hat is gone, and certainly never figure out who took it. But as the tiny fish brags about his flawless escape plan, the pictures tell a completely different story.
Dive into a brilliant, laugh-out-loud underwater mystery where the illustrations reveal the hilarious truth behind the narrator's bold claims. This clever tale about honesty and consequences will have you giggling at the sneaky suspense and the unforgettable conclusion.
6-8 Years
41 Pages
Two turtles are wandering through the desert when they stumble upon something amazing: a hat. It is a very good hat, and it looks absolutely perfect on both of them. There is just one big problem. There are two turtles, but there is only one hat.
Because they want to be fair, the turtles decide it is best to leave the hat behind and forget all about it. But as the sun sets and the desert sky fills with stars, it becomes clear that one of the turtles might not be able to let it go.
Step into a quiet, funny desert adventure filled with subtle humor and expressive eyes. This clever tale explores friendship, fairness, and the quiet temptation of a really great accessory. Will the turtles find a way to share, or will the hat come between them?
6-8 Years
53 Pages
Turtle has found the absolute perfect spot to stand. It is his favorite place in the world, and he never wants to leave. He likes it so much that he invites his friend Armadillo to come over and stand there with him. But as soon as Armadillo arrives, he gets a very strange, uncomfortable feeling about this spot. Meanwhile, high above them, a giant rock is falling.
Get ready for a hilarious and suspenseful story where timing is everything. With deadpan humor and brilliant visual comedy, this tale explores fate, friendship, and that funny feeling you get when something just isn't quite right. Watch closely as the characters narrowly avoid disaster and argue over the best places to stand. It is a wildly original adventure that will keep you laughing until the very end.
6-8 Years
97 Pages
Bear has lost his hat, and he wants it back. It is a very good hat, and he misses it dearly. Patiently and politely, Bear walks through the forest, asking every animal he meets if they have seen it. He asks the fox, the frog, the turtle, and the snake. Each animal says no, though some give very suspicious answers!
Just as Bear is ready to give up hope and lie down in the grass, a deer asks him a simple question. Suddenly, Bear remembers exactly where he saw his beloved hat.
This hilarious, perfectly paced mystery will have you shouting at the pages as you spot the clues Bear misses. With clever illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, this story is a brilliant exploration of honesty, memory, and what happens when a very large bear finally loses his patience.
6-8 Years
39 Pages
Otilla runs away and discovers an old mansion where a talking skull lives. The skull guards a secret that only reveals itself when night falls. As Otilla explores the eerie house, she learns that courage can be found in the most unexpected places, and that listening to the quiet voices around us can change everything. The story balances gentle suspense with warm humor, inviting young readers to confront fear while embracing curiosity.
6-8 Years
113 Pages
When a family first builds their new house, the father clears away every single tree on the perfect, tidy lawn. He wants nothing but neat grass, pulling up any wild sprouts that blow in from the surrounding woods. But his children love the wild trees nearby, spending their days playing in the thick, shady bushes.
Years pass, the children grow up and move away, and eventually, the father leaves too. The house stands empty and alone. Without anyone to pull up the sprouting seeds, the forest slowly begins to creep back into the yard.
This beautifully illustrated, poetic story captures the quiet, unstoppable power of nature. Watch as the wild world reclaims its space, gently lifting the forgotten house into the canopy. It is a thoughtful, breathtaking journey about the passage of time, the changing seasons of life, and the awe-inspiring strength of the natural world.
6-8 Years
33 Pages
The dark lives in the exact same creaky house as a young boy named Laszlo. Most of the time, the dark stays safely hidden down in the basement, and Laszlo is very careful not to visit it. You probably know exactly how Laszlo feels when the sun goes down and the shadows stretch across the walls. But one night, the dark steps out of the basement and comes right into Laszlo's bedroom to pay him a visit. You will follow Laszlo as he bravely listens to a mysterious voice and walks through his own home to confront his biggest fear. This beautifully told story helps you understand that things hiding in the shadows are not always as scary as they seem. It is a gentle and reassuring tale about finding courage when you need it the most.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Imagine finding a box of yarn that never empties. That is exactly what happens to a girl named Annabelle in a cold, quiet town where everything is gray or white. With her magical yarn, she starts knitting a colorful sweater for herself. But she has extra yarn. So she knits a sweater for her dog. And then for her neighbor. And then for things that do not even wear sweaters, like houses and mailboxes. Soon, the whole town is wrapped in bright, warm colors. But a greedy archduke hears about this impossible box of yarn and decides he must have it for himself. Will Annabelle be able to protect her magic box, or will the cold grayness return? This cozy story shows how one small act of sharing can change the whole world around you.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Meet Triangle, a sneaky shape with very pointy corners and a mischievous plan. He lives in a house shaped like a triangle, surrounded by triangular objects, but today he is leaving his pointy world to visit his best friend, Square. Triangle has decided to play a very sneaky trick on his perfectly even buddy. He creeps past the triangular rocks, through the shapes without names, and into Square's blocky neighborhood just to hiss like a snake and give him a scare. But Square is not going to let him get away with it that easily. He chases Triangle all the way back home, determined to play a trick of his own. But there is just one problem: Square's wide body might not fit through Triangle's skinny door. You will laugh out loud as you watch these two stubborn friends try to outsmart each other in a hilariously clever battle of shapes.
6-8 Years
46 Pages
Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly how Santa Claus gets inside your house on Christmas Eve? It is one of the greatest mysteries of the holiday season! Does he slide down the chimney feetfirst, or does he dive in headfirst? And what happens if his round belly gets stuck halfway down? But wait, what if your house does not even have a chimney? Does Santa flatten himself out like a piece of paper and slide right under the front door? Or maybe he magically shrinks down and pours himself straight out of the kitchen faucet! Packed with hilarious theories and brilliant deadpan humor, this festive adventure explores all the ridiculous and highly plausible ways Santa might be pulling off his midnight deliveries. Get ready to laugh out loud as you discover the magical, shape-shifting secrets behind the most famous jolly man in a red suit.
6-8 Years
33 Pages
When the sun goes down and the city lights up, the real fun begins. Two cats step out onto Easy Street and start to groove to the beat. But they aren't alone for long! Soon, four cats are tapping their paws, then six are joining the rhythm, and before you know it, twenty felines are forming a massive conga line across the rooftops and fire escapes.
Get ready for a toe-tapping, finger-snapping night on the town. This lively story combines a fun introduction to music and dance with a clever counting challenge. As the cats waltz, tango, and jive through the city streets, you can practice counting by twos and search for hidden numbers on every page. Put on your dancing shoes and see what happens when these cool cats take over the night!
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Have you ever wanted to find something truly amazing? That's exactly what Sam and Dave decide to do! They grab their shovels and set out to dig the most spectacular hole ever, hoping to unearth a remarkable treasure. With their trusty dog by their side, they dig deep, deep down. They dig past rocks and roots, always sure that something incredible is just a little further.
But even after digging for a very long time, they don't find a single diamond, or a dinosaur bone, or even a giant cookie! Will Sam and Dave ever find the spectacular treasure they're looking for? Sometimes, what you're searching for might be right where you least expect it. Join Sam and Dave on their digging adventure and discover how their day turns out to be amazing in a surprising way!
6-8 Years
41 Pages
Once upon a time, there was a bridge. And living right underneath that bridge was a terrible, very hungry troll! When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide they want to clip-clop across the bridge to reach the delicious green grass on the other side, the troll starts dreaming of a tasty goat dinner. But this troll is about to learn a hard lesson: never underestimate a goat! Get ready for a hilarious, laugh-out-loud twist on the classic fairy tale. With perfectly timed jokes and sneaky, savvy goats, you will be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens when the biggest goat finally meets the hungry troll. Will the troll get his dinner, or will the goats get the last laugh? Cross the bridge to find out!
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Square is a very hard worker. Every single day, he goes down into his underground cave, pushes square blocks of stone up to the surface, and adds them to his neat pile. He thinks his life is simple. But one day, his friend Circle floats by and admires his pile. She praises him for being a brilliant sculptor and demands that he carve a perfect portrait of her out of stone. Square is terrified. He is just a block-pusher, not an artist, and carving a perfect circle out of a square block seems completely impossible. You will watch poor Square struggle, chiseling away at the hard stone as he desperately tries to create a masterpiece for his friend. Will he figure out how to make a perfect circle, or will he disappoint his biggest fan? This funny story shows that art is truly in the eye of the beholder.
6-8 Years
41 Pages
