Robert Munsch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Robert Norman Munsch Script error: No such module "If empty". (born June 11, 1945) is a Canadian children's author.[1] Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he moved to Canada in 1975 to work at the University of Guelph. His unique storytelling style comes from interactively developing stories with children, taking events from their lives and experience and greatly exaggerating them into the realm of the ridiculous and sometimes fantastical. He has received a Juno Award, induction into the Order of Canada, a star in Canada's Walk of Fame, and has two public schools in Ontario named after him. His books have sold millions of copies, and he has the dubious honour of being the most stolen author in the Toronto Public Library system.[2]

Personal life and career

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945.[3] He grew up in a family of nine children.[1] Munsch graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.[4]

Munsch studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs at orphanages and daycares. In 1973, Munsch received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University.[1] He moved to Canada in 1975 to work at the Family Studies department at the University of Guelph in Ontario. In Guelph, he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.[3]

One of Munsch's best-known books, Love You Forever, was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6.97 million copies (not including the 1.049 million hardcover copies).[5] It has since sold over 30 million copies and has been featured on the episode "The One With the Cake" from the NBC television show Friends, as well as being mentioned by talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Late Night with David Letterman as being her favourite children's book. Munsch's other famous book, The Paper Bag Princess, has sold over seven million copies and is considered to be a feminist story, as well as a literary classic.[6][3]

Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births.[7] They have three children via adoption.[8]

Health

In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak.[9]

On May 15, 2010, Munsch announced diagnoses of obsessive-compulsive disorder and manic-depressive disorder. He also revealed a cocaine addiction that started in 2005 and his status as a recovering alcoholic.[10][11][12][13] At the time of this announcement, Munsch had been sober for four months and had regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for 25 years and, more recently, Narcotics Anonymous meetings.[14]

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer write.[15] Following this diagnosis, he applied for medical assistance in dying and received approval in September 2025.[16][17] In December 2025, Munsch revealed he still had about 50 unpublished stories, hoping to have one be illustrated and released each year, following his death.[18]

Writing style

Munsch is known for his exuberant storytelling methods, with exaggerated expressions and acted voices. He makes up his stories in front of audiences and refines them through repeated tellings. Munsch's stories do not have a recurring single character; instead, the characters are based on the children to whom he first told the story, including his own children. Munsch often performed at children's festivals and appears at elementary schools, sometimes unannounced.[19] In 1991, some of his books were adapted into an animated TV series A Bunch of Munsch, made in Montreal and airing on pay TV channels.[20]

Awards and honours

In 1985, Munsch won a Juno Award for his portrayal of "Murmel, Murmel, Munsch: More Outrageous Stories". In 1992, he was also chosen "Author of the Year" by the Canadian Booksellers' Association.[3] In 1999, Munsch was made a Member of the Order of Canada. On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Munsch would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009, and in 2013, his star was revealed on King Street in Toronto.[21][22] Two public schools in Ontario are named after Munsch: the Robert Munsch Public School in Whitby, Ontario, and the Robert Munsch Public School in Mount Albert, Ontario.[8]

Publications

Year Title Illustrator ISBN Publisher Notes
1979 Mud Puddle Sami Suomalainen Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Annick Press
The Dark Sami Suomalainen; later editions illustrated by Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
1980 The Paper Bag Princess Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".[6] One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1981 Jonathan Cleaned Up — Then He Heard a Sound
(also known as Blackberry Subway Jam)		 Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch. Also adapted into a 1984 short film by the National Film Board of Canada.
1982 Murmel Murmel Murmel Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
The Boy in the Drawer Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1983 The Fire Station Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
David's Father Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1984 Millicent and the Wind Suzanne Duranceau Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
1985 Mortimer Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
Thomas' Snowsuit Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1986 50 Below Zero Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
Love You Forever Sheila McGraw Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Firefly Books
1987 Moira's Birthday Michael Martchenko Annick Press One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
I Have To Go! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
1988 Angela's Airplane Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
A Promise is a Promise
(co-authored with Michael Kusugak)		 Vladyana Krykorka
1989 Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat Gilles Tibo
Pigs! Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1990 Something Good Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1991 Good Families Don't Alan Daniel Doubleday
Show and Tell Michael Martchenko Annick Press
1992 Get Me Another One Shawn Steffler; 2019 edition illustrated by Mike Boldt Doubleday
Purple, Green and Yellow Hélène Desputeaux Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Annick Press
1993 Wait and See Michael Martchenko
1994 Where is Gah-Ning? Hélène Desputeaux
1995 From Far Away
(co-authored with Saoussan Askar)		 Michael Martchenko;

2017 edition illustrated by Rebecca Green[23]

1996 Stephanie's Ponytail Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
1997 Alligator Baby Cartwheel
1998 Get Out of Bed Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel
Andrew's Loose Tooth Michael Martchenko
1999 We Share EVERYTHING!
2000 Aaron's Hair Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel
Mmm, Cookies Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2001 Up, Up, Down Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Makeup Mess Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2002 More Pies Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Playhouse Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Ribbon Rescue Eugenie Fernandes Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2003 Lighthouse Janet Wilson Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Zoom Michael Martchenko
2004 Boo! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Smelly Socks Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2005 The Sandcastle Contest Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2006 Deep Snow Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Scholastic
I'm So Embarrassed! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Cartwheel
No Clean Clothes Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Scholastic
2007 Class Clown
2008 Just One Goal! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Look at Me!
Kiss Me, I'm Perfect! Cartwheel
The Ocean Goes on Forever Jay Odjick Originally published only in Ojibway. Published in English and French in Munsch Mania compilation
2009 Down the Drain Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Scholastic
Roar! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Braids! Dave Whamond Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2010 Put Me in a Book Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Too Much Stuff! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2011 Moose! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series.
Give Me Back My Dad! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Neversink School and Other Silly Poems Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2012 Finding Christmas
It's My Room!
2013 Seeing Red! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Swamp Water Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2014 Hugs
Pyjama Day! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2015 Ready, Set, Go! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2016 So Much Snow! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2017 Blackflies Jay Odjick Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
The Enormous Suitcase Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2018 Moving Day! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2019 Sounds Like Christmas Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Bear for Breakfast Jay Odjick Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
School Rules! Dave Whamond Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2020 Teamwork Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2021 I Can Fix It! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Think Big! Dave Whamond Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2022 Leaves! Michael Martchenko Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2023 Class Trip Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2024 Bounce! Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
2025 The Perfect Paper Airplane Script error: No such module "template wrapper".

Compilations

Year Title ISBN Stories Included
1998 Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection Script error: No such module "template wrapper". The Paper Bag Princess • I Have to Go! • David's Father • The Fire Station • Thomas' Snowsuit
1999 Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good
2000 Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Stephanie's Ponytail • Angela's Airplane • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound • Show and Tell • A Promise Is a Promise
2001 Munschworks Grand Treasury Script error: No such module "template wrapper". The Paper Bag Princess • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • David's Father • Thomas' Snowsuit • Pigs • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good • Stephanie's Ponytail • Angela's Airplane • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound • Show and Tell • A Promise Is a Promise
2002 Munschworks 4: The Fourth Munsch Treasury Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Moira's Birthday • From Far Away • 50 Below Zero • The Boy in the Drawer • Millicent and the Wind
2004 Munsch More! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Alligator Baby • Andrew's Loose Tooth • Get Out of Bed • Mmm, Cookies! • Ribbon Rescue • Deep Snow
2006 Murmel Murmel Munsch!
(audio CD)		 Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Mud Puddle • Pigs! • Boo! • Kendro's Braids • Squished Squash • I'm So Embarrassed! • Lacey's Kiss • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Flowers on My Jeans • Andrew's Loose Tooth • Something Good • Victoria's Lunch • Makeup Mess • Zoom!
2007 Much More Munsch! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". We Share Everything! • Aaron's Hair • Up, Up, Down • Makeup Mess • Playhouse • Collection of poems
2010 Mad About Munsch! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids
2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury One Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Angela's Airplane • The Paper Bag Princess • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • A Promise Is a Promise
2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury Two Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit
2013 Munsch Mania! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Class Clown • I'm So Embarrassed! • Just One Goal! • Look at Me! • No Clean Clothes • The Ocean Goes on Forever
2014 Munsch Mini-Treasury Three Script error: No such module "template wrapper". David's Father • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Show and Tell • Something Good
2019 Marvellous Munsch! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs
2020 A Bunch of Munsch! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Pyjama Day! • Seeing Red • Swamp Water • It’s My Room! • Roar! • Blackflies
2023 Munsch-a-thon! Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Ready, Set, Go! • So Much Snow! • The Enormous Suitcase • Get Me Another One! • Moving Day! • Bear for Breakfast
2023 5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories Script error: No such module "template wrapper". The Paper Bag Princess • Angela's Airplane • Thomas' Snowsuit • Stephanie's Ponytail • Show and Tell
2024 The Big Green Book of Munsch Books Script error: No such module "template wrapper". The Paper Bag Princess • David's Father • Purple, Green and Yellow • 50 Below Zero • I Have to Go!
2025 The Big Red Book of Munsch Books Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Pigs • Angela's Airplane • Wait and See • The Fire Station • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound
2025 5 Absolutely Outrageous Munsch Stories Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Mortimer • Pigs • Something Good • Moira's Birthday • The Boy in the Drawer
2026 5 Extraordinarily Zany Munsch Stories Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • I Have to Go! • The Fire Station • Wait and See • David's Father

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Script error: No such module "Side box".

Template:Robert Munsch Template:Portal bar Script error: No such module "Authority control".

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Robert_Munsch&oldid=4727217"