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Robert Munsch

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Robert Munsch

CM
Munsch in 1997
Munsch in 1997
Born (1945-06-11) June 11, 1945 (age 81)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican (1945–1983)
Canadian (1983–present)
EducationFordham University (BA)
Boston University (MA)
Tufts University (ME)
University of Guelph
Period1979–2024
GenreChildren's literature
Notable worksThe Paper Bag Princess
Love You Forever
Children3
Website
www.robertmunsch.com

Robert Norman Munsch CM (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born 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]

Early life and education

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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]

Career

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When Munsch was 18, he studied to become a Jesuit priest in Westchester County, New York. After volunteering at an orphanage as part of his training, he decided he would rather work with children. He studied early childhood education at Tufts University. Upon graduating in 1973, he worked at a day care in Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, and learned that he could "get the kids to shut up during nap time by telling them stories".[1] At the job he met his future wife, Ann, while changing a diaper.[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]

Storytelling performances

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Munsch is known for his exuberant storytelling methods, with exaggerated expressions and acted voices. He considers himself a storyteller who sometimes wrote things down. The stories he published were made up in front of audiences and refined them through repeated tellings. Across Munsch's stories, 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.[7]

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.[8]

Personal life

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Munsch and his wife, Ann, have been married since the early 1970s.[9] They were unable to have biological children, and two pregnancies ended in stillbirths.[10] The couple has three children via adoption.[11] They live in Guelph, Ontario.[citation needed]

Munsch has obsessive–compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder.[12] In August 2008, he suffered a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak.[13] In 2009, he revealed that he was in recovery for alcoholism and a cocaine addiction that had started in 2005, and at the time of the announcement he was four months sober.[14][15][16][17][18]

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer write.[19] He received approval for medical assistance in dying in September 2025 after applying five years prior, following his diagnosis.[20][21] His daughter clarified that the approval did not mean his death was imminent.[22] In December 2025, Munsch revealed that he had about 50 unpublished stories, and hopes to release one per year following his death.[9]

Awards and honours

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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.[23][24] 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.[11] Munsch was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Guelph in 2000.[3]

Publications

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Year Title Illustrator ISBN Publisher Notes
1979 Mud Puddle Sami Suomalainen 1-5503-7468-0 Annick Press
The Dark Sami Suomalainen; later editions illustrated by Michael Martchenko 1-5503-7450-8
1980 The Paper Bag Princess Michael Martchenko 0-9202-3616-2[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)		 0-920236-21-9 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 1-5503-7012-X One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
The Boy in the Drawer 0-920303-50-1 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1983 The Fire Station 1-5503-7171-1 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
David's Father 1-55037-011-1 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1984 Millicent and the Wind Suzanne Duranceau 0-9202-3693-6
1985 Mortimer Michael Martchenko 0-9203-0311-0 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
Thomas' Snowsuit 1-5545-1115-1 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1986 50 Below Zero 0-9202-3691-X One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
Love You Forever Sheila McGraw 0-9206-6837-2 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! 0-9203-0351-X
1988 Angela's Airplane 0-9202-3675-8 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 1-5503-7388-9 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch
1990 Something Good 1-55037-390-0 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 1-5545-1113-5 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[25]

1996 Stephanie's Ponytail Michael Martchenko 1-5545-1114-3
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 0-5905-1694-9
2001 Up, Up, Down 0-4399-8815-2
Makeup Mess 978-0-4399-8896-4
2002 More Pies 978-0-7791-1363-7
Playhouse 978-0-4399-8959-6
Ribbon Rescue Eugenie Fernandes 0-5900-3871-0
2003 Lighthouse Janet Wilson 978-0-4399-4656-8
Zoom Michael Martchenko
2004 Boo! 978-0-4399-6126-4
Smelly Socks 978-0-4399-6707-5
2005 The Sandcastle Contest 978-0-4399-5590-4
2006 Deep Snow 978-0-4399-4658-2 Scholastic
I'm So Embarrassed! 978-0-4399-5239-2 Cartwheel
No Clean Clothes 0-4399-3790-6 Scholastic
2007 Class Clown
2008 Just One Goal! 0-5459-9035-1
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 0-5459-8600-1 Scholastic
Roar! 0-545-98020-8
Braids! Dave Whamond 978-1-4431-5739-1
2010 Put Me in a Book Michael Martchenko 1-4431-0080-3
Too Much Stuff! 978-1-4431-0245-2
2011 Moose! 1-4431-0718-2 One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series.
Give Me Back My Dad! 1-4431-0764-6
Neversink School and Other Silly Poems 1-4431-1335-2
2012 Finding Christmas
It's My Room!
2013 Seeing Red! 1-4431-2446-X
Swamp Water 978-1-4431-2837-7
2014 Hugs
Pyjama Day! 978-1-4431-3917-5
2015 Ready, Set, Go! 978-1-4431-4657-9
2016 So Much Snow! 1-4431-4617-X
2017 Blackflies Jay Odjick 978-1-4431-5791-9
The Enormous Suitcase Michael Martchenko 978-1-4431-6318-7
2018 Moving Day! 978-1-4431-6399-6
2019 Sounds Like Christmas 978-1-0397-0170-0
Bear for Breakfast Jay Odjick 978-1-4431-7054-3
School Rules! Dave Whamond 978-1-4431-8202-7
2020 Teamwork Michael Martchenko 1-4431-8269-9
2021 I Can Fix It! 1-4431-9212-0
Think Big! Dave Whamond 1-4431-8298-2
2022 Leaves! Michael Martchenko 978-1-4431-9664-2
2023 Class Trip 978-1-0397-0224-0
2024 Bounce! 978-1-0397-1004-7
2025 The Perfect Paper Airplane 978-1-0397-1518-9

Compilations

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Year Title ISBN Stories Included
1998 Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection 978-1-5503-7523-7 The Paper Bag Princess • I Have to Go! • David's Father • The Fire Station • Thomas' Snowsuit
1999 Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury 978-1-5503-7553-4 Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good
2000 Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury 978-1-5503-7633-3 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 978-1-5503-7685-2 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 978-1-5503-7766-8 Moira's Birthday • From Far Away • 50 Below Zero • The Boy in the Drawer • Millicent and the Wind
2004 Munsch More! 978-0-439-96135-6 Alligator Baby • Andrew's Loose Tooth • Get Out of Bed • Mmm, Cookies! • Ribbon Rescue • Deep Snow
2006 Murmel Murmel Munsch!
(audio CD)		 1-8971-6627-3 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! 978-0-4399-3571-5 We Share Everything! • Aaron's Hair • Up, Up, Down • Makeup Mess • Playhouse • Collection of poems
2010 Mad About Munsch! 978-1-4431-0239-1 More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids
2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury One 978-1-5545-1273-7 Angela's Airplane • The Paper Bag Princess • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • A Promise Is a Promise
2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury Two 978-1-5545-1274-4 Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit
2013 Munsch Mania! 978-1-4431-2826-1 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 978-1-5545-1651-3 David's Father • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Show and Tell • Something Good
2019 Marvellous Munsch! 978-1-4431-4863-4 Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs
2020 A Bunch of Munsch! 978-1-4431-8264-5 Pyjama Day! • Seeing Red • Swamp Water • It’s My Room! • Roar! • Blackflies
2023 Munsch-a-thon! 978-1-0397-0178-6 Ready, Set, Go! • So Much Snow! • The Enormous Suitcase • Get Me Another One! • Moving Day! • Bear for Breakfast
2023 5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories 978-1-7732-1817-5 The Paper Bag Princess • Angela's Airplane • Thomas' Snowsuit • Stephanie's Ponytail • Show and Tell
2024 The Big Green Book of Munsch Books 978-1-7732-1922-6 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 978-1-8340-2005-1 Pigs • Angela's Airplane • Wait and See • The Fire Station • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound
2025 5 Absolutely Outrageous Munsch Stories 978-1-7732-1939-4 Mortimer • Pigs • Something Good • Moira's Birthday • The Boy in the Drawer
2026 5 Extraordinarily Zany Munsch Stories 978-1-8340-2028-0 Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • I Have to Go! • The Fire Station • Wait and See • David's Father

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "All About Robert Munsch". RobertMunsch.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  2. ^ Robinson, Michael (15 July 2015). "Gone but not forgotten: 100,000 Toronto library books outstanding". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e McIntosh, Andrew; Wiznura, Robert; Grandy, Karen. "Robert Munsch". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Toronto: Historica Canada. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Robert Munsch". Encyclopedia Britannica. 7 June 2024 [17 December 2001]. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ^ "All-Time Bestselling Children's Books". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on May 1, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006.
  6. ^ a b Siegel, Alisa; Levine, Karen; Holdsworth, Pauline (13 December 2019). "It does have a happy ending". The Sunday Edition. CBC Radio. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  7. ^ Engelhart, Katie (14 September 2025). "When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Children's Book Writer". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-09-16. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  8. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 165–166. ISBN 978-1-4766-6599-3.
  9. ^ a b Stroh, Perlita (December 10, 2025). "Beloved children's author Robert Munsch promising dozens of books to come after his death". CBC News.
  10. ^ Hui, Ann (10 November 2010). "The Backstory, Bestselling children's author Robert Munsch faces a crisis". The Walrus. Archived from the original on 11 June 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b "75 things you might not know about Robert Munsch". CBC Books. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  12. ^ "A NOTE TO PARENTS – The Official Website of Robert Munsch". robertmunsch.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
  13. ^ "Munsch Recovering From Stroke". Waterloo Region Record. 1 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  14. ^ Picard, André (9 October 2009). "How Robert Munsch grabbed a lifeline". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Growing Up Munsch (aired May 15, 2010)". Global Television Network, 16:9 (TV series). May 11, 2010. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  16. ^ "Munsch admits to cocaine, alcohol addiction". The Globe and Mail. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Robert Munsch admits to cocaine, alcohol abuse". Maclean's. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  18. ^ Hague, Matthew (17 May 2010). "Robert Munsch to cocaine: I won't love you forever". Toronto Life. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  19. ^ "'The stories will be the last thing to go': Robert Munsch on his legacy as one of Canada's great storytellers". CBC Radio. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  20. ^ Knight, Chris (15 September 2025). "Canadian icon Robert Munsch has chosen to die by MAID". National Post. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Children's book author Robert Munsch says he has chosen medical assistance in dying". The Toronto Star. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  22. ^ Stechyson, Natalie (16 September 2025). "Author Robert Munsch is approved for MAID, but his daughter clarifies he's 'not dying'". CBC News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  23. ^ "The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2009-06-16. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  24. ^ Jones, Allison (2009-09-12). "Mandel, Munsch among new Canada Walk of Fame inductees". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  25. ^ From Far Away. Kirkus Reviews.
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