Robert Munsch

Robert Munsch
Robert Munsch signs autograph for young fan, Guelph 1997
Born	Robert Norman Munsch (1945-06-11) June 11, 1945 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation	Author
Education	Master of Education (Child studies)
Alma mater	Fordham University Boston University
Period	1979–present
Genre	Children's literature
Notable works	The Paper Bag Princess Love You Forever
Notable awards	Order of Canada
Website
www.robertmunsch.com

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. He 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.

He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975, he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family 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 Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew, and Tyya.

Health

Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak properly. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered. On May 15, 2010 Munsch revealed that he has been diagnosed as obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive, and that he is a recovering cocaine addict and alcoholic.

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.

His 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. He often performs at children's festivals and appears at elementary schools, sometimes unannounced. In 1991, some of his books were adapted into the cartoon series A Bunch of Munsch.

Awards and honours

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. In 2009, Robert Munsch Public School opened in Whitby, Ontario. He is also the most stolen author at the Toronto Public Library.

Publications

Year	Title	Illustrator	ISBN
1979	Mud Puddle	Sami Suomalainen	1-55037-468-0
	The Dark	Michael Martchenko	1-55037-450-8
1980	The Paper Bag Princess		0-920236-16-2
1981	Jonathan Cleaned Up — Then He Heard a Sound (also known as Blackberry Subway Jam)		0-920236-21-9
1982	Murmel Murmel Murmel		1-55037-012-X
	The Boy in the Drawer		0-920303-50-1
1983	David's Father		1-55037-011-1
1984	Mortimer		0-920303-11-0
1985	Thomas' Snowsuit		1-55451-115-1
1986	50 Below Zero		0-920236-91-X
	Love You Forever	Sheila McGraw	0-920668-37-2
1987	I Have To Go!	Michael Martchenko	0-920303-51-X
1988	Angela's Airplane		0-920236-75-8
	Millicent and The Wind	Suzanne Duranceau	0-920236-93-6
1989	Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat	Gilles Tibo
	Pigs!	Michael Martchenko	1-55037-388-9
1990	Something Good		1-55037-390-0
1991	Good Families Don't	Alan Daniel
	Show and Tell	Michael Martchenko
1992	A Promise is a Promise (co-authored with Michael Kusugak)	Vladyana Krykorka
	Moira's Birthday	Michael Martchenko
	Purple Green and Yellow	Hélène Desputeaux	1-55451-113-5
1994	Where is Gah-Ning?
1995	From Far Away	Michael Martchenko
1996	Get Me Another One	Shawn Steffler
	Stephanie's Ponytail	Michael Martchenko	1-55451-114-3
1997	Alligator Baby
1998	Get Out of Bed	Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel
	The Fire Station	Michael Martchenko	1-55037-171-1
	Wait and See
1999	Andrew's Loose Tooth
	We Share EVERYTHING!
2000	Aaron's Hair	Alan Daniel and Lea Daniel
	Mmm, Cookies	Michael Martchenko	0590516949
2001	Up, Up, Down		0439988152
2002	Makeup Mess		978-0439988964
	More Pies		978-0779113637
	Playhouse		978-0439989596
	Ribbon Rescue	Eugenie Fernandes	0590038710
2003	Lighthouse	Janet Wilson	978-0439946568
	Zoom	Michael Martchenko
2004	Boo!		978-0439961264
	Smelly Socks		978-0439967075
2005	The Sandcastle Contest		978-0439955904
2006	Deep Snow		978-0439946582
	I'm So Embarrassed!		978-0439952392
	No Clean Clothes		0-439-93790-6
2007	Class Clown
2008	Just One Goal		0-545-99035-1
	Look at Me!
2009	Down the Drain		0-545-98600-1
	Roar!		0-545-98020-8
2010	Put Me In A Book		1-4431-0080-3
	Too Much Stuff!		978-1443102452
2011	Moose!		1-4431-0718-2
	Give Me Back My Dad!		1-4431-0764-6

Compilations

Year	Title	ISBN
1998	Munschworks, The First Munsch Collection	978-1-55037-523-7
1999	Munschworks 2, The Second Munsch Treasury	978-1-55037-553-4
2000	Munschworks 3, The Third Munsch Treasury	978-1-55037-633-3
2001	Munschworks Grand Treasury	978-1-55037-685-2
2002	Munschworks 4: The Fourth Munsch Treasury	978-1-55037-766-8
2004	Munsch More!	978-0-439-96135-6
2007	Much More Munsch!	978-0-439-93571-5
2010	Munsch Mini-Treasury One	978-1-55451-273-7
2010	Munsch Mini-Treasury Two	978-1-55451-274-4

External links

• Official website
• Video interview at AuthorViews
• Robert Munsch at publisher Annick Press
• Robert N. Munsch at Library of Congress Authorities, with 46 catalogue records