Jon Klassen shares his perspective on writing children's books

Q32:47Jon Klassen on his bestselling childrens picture books

Jon Klassen has an interesting perspective on writing children's books. He says they don't need to teach a lesson, they just need to keep kids turning the page to see what's next.

That approach has really worked for Klassen who's become one of the most beloved writers in picture book history. In 2011, the Canadian illustrator blew expectations out of the water with his first original book, I Want My Hat Back. Everything that came next such as This Is Not My Hat, The Rock from the Sky and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole were instant sensations. Now, Klassen is about to release a new book, The Skull, based on a folktale.

But for a guy whose stories are on bookshelves around the world, there isn't a ton out there about Klassen as a person. He tends to let his books speak for themselves until now.

In an interview with Q's Tom Power, Klassen opens up about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style. Listen to that conversation on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Plus, get to know Klassen a bit better below by reading his answers to a few questions we sent him.

1. Do you listen to music while illustrating?

Yes!

If yes, what's one of the songs you like to play most frequently while illustrating? Or a song that inspires you most?

Lately I've been putting on a lot of Emahoy Tsegu-Maryam Gubrou, who recently passed away. I like this song in particular [Mother's Love] but all of her work is amazing.

2. What is a song that reminds you of growing up in Niagara Falls, when you were deciding what you wanted to do with your life?

High and Dry by Radiohead. I listened to a lot of old '50s and '60s music growing up (I still do) and I didn't really know what was happening in current music for a long time, but Radiohead was the first new band I heard that really made sense to me. When I got my driver's license I made a mixtape to play in the car and this was the first song on it.

3. You've said that before becoming an illustrator, you were first interested in animation. Which animated film or TV show captured your imagination most at that time?

I really loved, and still really love, the animated version of Watership Down. We would get it from the library. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. There was a feeling of naturalism and dread in it that was really formative.

4. If your Hat Trilogy had a soundtrack, what would be the lead single?

Tough to group all three, but maybe I'm Sorry by Brenda Lee would fit kind of nicely? Everyone makes big mistakes in those books, and they are each sort of about love being cruel, but also musically there's a kind of resigned disillusionment to it that I think the characters could relate to.

5. You're known as a master of suspense and the "page turn." What is a song, TV show or film you feel does suspense best?

I'm not sure it's known as an example of "suspense" but The Straight Story by David Lynch has an incredible way of building to its ending, and even though it's quiet and patient, you're on the edge of your seat for the last 15 minutes wondering what's going to happen. One of my favourite films.

6. You're a father to young kids. What's one piece of media they're obsessed with lately?

They both really love the new Mario Bros. movie. It's wild to see them processing a thing I had in such a different way as a kid, and crazy that it's still just as big a thing in the world as it was back then.

BONUS QUESTION: What's a song that you feel best captures this stage of your life and career?

Days by the Kinks. I think this is actually a breakup song, and that part doesn't apply, but it's also a song about being grateful, and knowing that you appreciated the things you are grateful for even while you were in the middle of them. I feel very lucky to get to do this work, and to have a young family. It's a very good chapter.

The full interview with Jon Klassenis available onour podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview withJon Klassenproduced by Vanessa Greco.