Robert Munsch

Robert Norman Munsch Template:Post-nominals (born June 11, 1945) is a Canadian children's author.<ref name="official">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and career

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945.<ref name="encyclopedia">Template:Cite web</ref> He grew up in a family of nine children.<ref name="official"/> 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.<ref name="brittanica">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

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.<ref name="official"/> 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.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="cbc">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="encyclopedia"/>

Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births.<ref name=thebackstory>Template:Cite magazine</ref> They have three children via adoption.<ref name=70facts>Template:Cite news</ref>

Health

In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer write.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following this diagnosis, he applied for medical assistance in dying and received approval in September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> 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.<ref name="ind2009">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="inducted">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="70facts" />

Publications

Year	Title	Illustrator	ISBN	Publisher	Notes
1979	Mud Puddle	Sami Suomalainen	Template:ISBNT	Annick Press
	The Dark	Sami Suomalainen; later editions illustrated by Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT
1980	The Paper Bag Princess	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT<ref name="cbc"/>		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)		Template:ISBNT		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		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
	The Boy in the Drawer		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1983	The Fire Station		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
	David's Father		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1984	Millicent and the Wind	Suzanne Duranceau	Template:ISBNT
1985	Mortimer	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
	Thomas' Snowsuit		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1986	50 Below Zero		Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
	Love You Forever	Sheila McGraw	Template:ISBNT	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!		Template:ISBNT
1988	Angela's Airplane		Template:ISBNT		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	Template:ISBNT		One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1990	Something Good		Template:ISBNT		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	Template:ISBNT	Annick Press
1993	Wait and See	Michael Martchenko
1994	Where is Gah-Ning?	Hélène Desputeaux
1995	From Far Away	Michael Martchenko; 2017 edition illustrated by Rebecca Green<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1996	Stephanie's Ponytail	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT
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	Template:ISBNT
2001	Up, Up, Down		Template:ISBNT
	Makeup Mess		Template:ISBNT
2002	More Pies		Template:ISBNT
	Playhouse		Template:ISBNT
	Ribbon Rescue	Eugenie Fernandes	Template:ISBNT
2003	Lighthouse	Janet Wilson	Template:ISBNT
	Zoom	Michael Martchenko
2004	Boo!		Template:ISBNT
	Smelly Socks		Template:ISBNT
2005	The Sandcastle Contest		Template:ISBNT
2006	Deep Snow		Template:ISBNT	Scholastic
	I'm So Embarrassed!		Template:ISBNT	Cartwheel
	No Clean Clothes		Template:ISBNT	Scholastic
2007	Class Clown
2008	Just One Goal!		Template:ISBNT
	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	Template:ISBNT	Scholastic
	Roar!		Template:ISBNT
	Braids!	Dave Whamond	Template:ISBNT
2010	Put Me in a Book	Michael Martchenko| Template:ISBNT
	Too Much Stuff!		Template:ISBNT
2011	Moose!		Template:ISBNT		One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series.
	Give Me Back My Dad!		Template:ISBNT
	Neversink School and Other Silly Poems		Template:ISBNT
2012	Finding Christmas
	It's My Room!
2013	Seeing Red!		Template:ISBNT
	Swamp Water		Template:ISBNT
2014	Hugs
	Pyjama Day!		Template:ISBNT
2015	Ready, Set, Go!		Template:ISBNT
2016	So Much Snow!		Template:ISBNT
2017	Blackflies	Jay Odjick	Template:ISBNT
	The Enormous Suitcase	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT
2018	Moving Day!		Template:ISBNT
2019	Sounds Like Christmas		Template:ISBNT
	Bear for Breakfast	Jay Odjick	Template:ISBNT
	School Rules!	Dave Whamond	Template:ISBNT
2020	Teamwork	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT
2021	I Can Fix It!		Template:ISBNT
	Think Big!	Dave Whamond	Template:ISBNT
2022	Leaves!	Michael Martchenko	Template:ISBNT
2023	Class Trip		Template:ISBNT
2024	Bounce!		Template:ISBNT
2025	The Perfect Paper Airplane		Template:ISBNT

Compilations

Year	Title	ISBN	Stories Included
1998	Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection	Template:ISBNT	The Paper Bag Princess • I Have to Go! • David's Father • The Fire Station • Thomas' Snowsuit
1999	Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury	Template:ISBNT	Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good
2000	Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury	Template:ISBNT	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	Template:ISBNT	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	Template:ISBNT	Moira's Birthday • From Far Away • 50 Below Zero • The Boy in the Drawer • Millicent and the Wind
2004	Munsch More!	Template:ISBNT	Alligator Baby • Andrew's Loose Tooth • Get Out of Bed • Mmm, Cookies! • Ribbon Rescue • Deep Snow
2006	Murmel Murmel Munsch! (audio CD)	Template:ISBNT	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!	Template:ISBNT	We Share Everything! • Aaron's Hair • Up, Up, Down • Makeup Mess • Playhouse • Collection of poems
2010	Mad About Munsch!	Template:ISBNT	More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids
2010	Munsch Mini-Treasury One	Template:ISBNT	Angela's Airplane • The Paper Bag Princess • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • A Promise Is a Promise
2010	Munsch Mini-Treasury Two	Template:ISBNT	Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit
2013	Munsch Mania!	Template:ISBNT	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	Template:ISBNT	David's Father • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Show and Tell • Something Good
2019	Marvellous Munsch!	Template:ISBNT	Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs
2020	A Bunch of Munsch!	Template:ISBNT	Pyjama Day! • Seeing Red • Swamp Water • It’s My Room! • Roar! • Blackflies
2023	Munsch-a-thon!	Template:ISBNT	Ready, Set, Go! • So Much Snow! • The Enormous Suitcase • Get Me Another One! • Moving Day! • Bear for Breakfast
2023	5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories	Template:ISBNT	The Paper Bag Princess • Angela's Airplane • Thomas' Snowsuit • Stephanie's Ponytail • Show and Tell
2024	The Big Green Book of Munsch Books	Template:ISBNT	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	Template:ISBNT	Pigs • Angela's Airplane • Wait and See • The Fire Station • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound
2025	5 Absolutely Outrageous Munsch Stories	Template:ISBNT	Mortimer • Pigs • Something Good • Moira's Birthday • The Boy in the Drawer

External links

• Template:Official website
• Video interview at AuthorViews
• Robert Munsch Template:Webarchive at publisher Annick Press
• Template:Cite web
• Template:Imdb name
• Template:Discogs artist