# Robert Munsch

Robert Norman Munsch CM (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born, Canadian children's author.

## Personal life and career

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of nine children. 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.
Munsch studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, Munsch received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. He moved to Canada in 1975 to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. Munsch also taught in the College of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph, he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
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). 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 favorite 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.
Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births. They have three children via adoption.

## Health

Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his memory. He has since retired, but continued to publish two previously written books each year. On May 15, 2010, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive disorder, and that he had a cocaine addiction that started in 2005 and was a recovering alcoholic; at the time, Munsch had been clean for four months, and had regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous for the previous 25 years and Narcotics Anonymous meetings more recently. On October 2, 2021, Munsch told the CBC that he had been diagnosed with dementia and, as a result, can no longer write.

## 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. In 1991, some of his books were adapted into an animated TV series A Bunch of Munsch, but made in Montreal and premiered on the pay-TV channel.

## 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.
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. In 2009, Robert Munsch Public School opened in Whitby, Ontario, and in 2014, a second Robert Munsch Public School opened in Mount Albert, Ontario.
Munsch is also the most stolen author at the Toronto Public Library.

## Publications

| Year | Title | Illustrator | ISBN | Publisher | Notes |
| 1979 | Mud Puddle | Sami Suomalainen | 1-55037-468-0 | Annick Press | |
| 1979 | The Dark | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-450-8 | Annick Press | |
| 1980 | The Paper Bag Princess | Michael Martchenko | 0-920236-16-2 | Annick Press | 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) | Michael Martchenko | 0-920236-21-9 | Annick Press | 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 | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-012-X | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1982 | The Boy in the Drawer | Michael Martchenko | 0-920303-50-1 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1983 | The Fire Station | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-171-1 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1983 | David's Father | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-011-1 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1984 | Millicent and the Wind | Suzanne Duranceau | 0-920236-93-6 | Annick Press | |
| 1985 | Mortimer | Michael Martchenko | 0-920303-11-0 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1985 | Thomas' Snowsuit | Michael Martchenko | 1-55451-115-1 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1986 | 50 Below Zero | Michael Martchenko | 0-920236-91-X | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1986 | I Have To Go! | Michael Martchenko | 0-920303-51-X | Annick Press | |
| 1986 | Love You Forever | Sheila McGraw | 0-920668-37-2 | Firefly Books | |
| 1987 | Moira's Birthday | Michael Martchenko | | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1988 | Angela's Airplane | Michael Martchenko | 0-920236-75-8 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1989 | Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat | Gilles Tibo | | Annick Press | |
| 1989 | Pigs! | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-388-9 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1990 | Something Good | Michael Martchenko | 1-55037-390-0 | Annick Press | One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch |
| 1991 | Good Families Don't | Alan Daniel | | Doubleday | |
| 1991 | Show and Tell | Michael Martchenko | | Annick Press | |
| 1992 | A Promise is a Promise (co-authored with Michael Kusugak) | Vladyana Krykorka | | Annick Press | |
| 1992 | Purple, Green and Yellow | Hélène Desputeaux | 1-55451-113-5 | Annick Press | |
| 1993 | Wait and See | Michael Martchenko | | Annick Press | |
| 1994 | Where is Gah-Ning? | Hélène Desputeaux | | Annick Press | |
| 1995; 2017 | From Far Away | Michael Martchenko; 2017 edition illustrated by Rebecca Green | | Annick Press | |
| 1996 | Get Me Another One | Shawn Steffler; 2019 edition illustrated by Mike Boldt | | Doubleday | |
| 1996 | Stephanie's Ponytail | Michael Martchenko | 1-55451-114-3 | Annick Press | |
| 1997 | Alligator Baby | Michael Martchenko | | Cartwheel | |
| 1998 | Get Out of Bed | Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel | | Cartwheel | |
| 1998 | Andrew's Loose Tooth | Michael Martchenko | | Cartwheel | |
| 1999 | We Share EVERYTHING! | Michael Martchenko | | Cartwheel | |
| 2000 | Aaron's Hair | Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel | | Cartwheel | |
| 2000 | Mmm, Cookies | Michael Martchenko | 0590516949 | Cartwheel | |
| 2001 | Up, Up, Down | Michael Martchenko | 0439988152 | Cartwheel | |
| 2002 | Makeup Mess | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439988964 | Cartwheel | |
| 2002 | More Pies | Michael Martchenko | 978-0779113637 | Cartwheel | |
| 2002 | Playhouse | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439989596 | Cartwheel | |
| 2002 | Ribbon Rescue | Eugenie Fernandes | 0590038710 | Cartwheel | |
| 2003 | Lighthouse | Janet Wilson | 978-0439946568 | Cartwheel | |
| 2003 | Zoom | Michael Martchenko | | Cartwheel | |
| 2004 | Boo! | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439961264 | Cartwheel | |
| 2004 | Smelly Socks | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439967075 | Cartwheel | |
| 2005 | The Sandcastle Contest | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439955904 | Cartwheel | |
| 2006 | Deep Snow | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439946582 | Scholastic | |
| 2006 | I'm So Embarrassed! | Michael Martchenko | 978-0439952392 | Cartwheel | |
| 2006 | No Clean Clothes | Michael Martchenko | 0-439-93790-6 | Scholastic | |
| 2007 | Class Clown | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2008 | Just One Goal! | Michael Martchenko | 0-545-99035-1 | Scholastic | |
| 2008 | Look at Me! | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2008 | Kiss Me, I'm Perfect! | Michael Martchenko | | Cartwheel | |
| 2009 | Down the Drain | Michael Martchenko | 0-545-98600-1 | Scholastic | |
| 2009 | Roar! | Michael Martchenko | 0-545-98020-8 | Scholastic | |
| 2009 | Braids! | Dave Whamond | 978-1443157391 | Scholastic | |
| 2010 | Put Me in a Book | Michael Martchenko | 1-4431-0080-3 | Scholastic | |
| 2010 | Too Much Stuff! | Michael Martchenko | 978-1443102452 | Scholastic | |
| 2011 | Moose! | Michael Martchenko | 1-4431-0718-2 | Scholastic | One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series. |
| 2011 | Give Me Back My Dad! | Michael Martchenko | 1-4431-0764-6 | Scholastic | |
| 2011 | Neversink School and Other Silly Poems | Michael Martchenko | 1443113352 | Scholastic | |
| 2012 | Finding Christmas | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2012 | It's My Room! | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2013 | Seeing Red! | Michael Martchenko | 1-4431-2446-X | Scholastic | |
| 2013 | Swamp Water | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2014 | Hugs | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2014 | Pyjama Day! | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2015 | Ready, Set, Go! | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2016 | So Much Snow! | Michael Martchenko | 1-4431-4617-X | Scholastic | |
| 2017 | Blackflies | Jay Odjick | | Scholastic | |
| 2017 | The Enormous Suitcase | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2018 | Moving Day! | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2019 | Sounds Like Christmas | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |
| 2019 | Bear for Breakfast | Jay Odjick | | Scholastic | |
| 2019 | School Rules! | Dave Whamond | | Scholastic | |
| 2020 | Teamwork | Michael Martchenko | 1443182699 | Scholastic | |
| 2021 | I Can Fix It! | Michael Martchenko | 1443192120 | Scholastic | |
| 2021 | Think Big! | Dave Whamond | 1443182982 | Scholastic | |
| 2023 | Class Trip | Michael Martchenko | | Scholastic | |

## Compilations

| Year | Title | ISBN | Stories Included |
| 1998 | Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection | 978-1-55037-523-7 | The Paper Bag Princess • I Have to Go! • David's Father • The Fire Station • Thomas' Snowsuit |
| 1999 | Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury | 978-1-55037-553-4 | Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good |
| 2000 | Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury | 978-1-55037-633-3 | Stephanie's Ponytail • Angela's Airplane • Jonathan Cleaned Up • Show and Tell • A Promise Is a Promise |
| 2001 | Munschworks Grand Treasury | 978-1-55037-685-2 | 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 | 978-1-55037-766-8 | 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 |
| 2006 | Murmel Murmel Munsch! (audio CD) | 1897166273 | 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!: A Robert Munsch Collection | 978-0-43993-571-5 | We Share Everything! • Aaron's Hair • Up, Up, Down • Makeup Mess • Playhouse |
| 2010 | Mad About Munsch: A Robert Munsch Collection | 978-1-44310-239-1 | More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids |
| 2010 | Munsch Mini-Treasury One | 978-1-55451-273-7 | Angela's Airplane • The Paper Bag Princess • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • A Promise Is a Promise |
| 2010 | Munsch Mini-Treasury Two | 978-1-55451-274-4 | Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit |
| 2013 | Munsch Mania! | 978-1-44312-826-1 | Class Clown • I'm So Embarrassed! • Just One Goal! • Look at Me! • No Clean Clothes |
| 2014 | Munsch Mini-Treasury Three | 978-1-55451-651-3 | David's Father • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Show and Tell • Something Good |
| 2017 | The Robert Munsch Collection: Volume One | 978-1-50404-984-9 | The Paper Bag Princess • Stephanie's Ponytail • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • The Fire Station • A Promise Is a Promise • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound • Moira's Birthday • Show and Tell • Mortimer |
| 2017 | The Robert Munsch Collection: Volume Two | 978-1-50404-985-6 | Angela's Airplane • David's Father • I Have to Go! • Mud Puddle • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good • The Boy in the Drawer • The Dark • Thomas' Snowsuit • Wait and See |
| 2019 | Marvellous Munsch! | 978-1-44314-863-4 | Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs |