Robert Munsch
{{short description|Canadian children's author (born 1945)}}
{{lead too short|date=July 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Robert Munsch
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|size=100%}}
| image = Robert Munsch, 1997.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption = Munsch in Guelph, Ontario, 1997
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Robert Norman Munsch
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|06|11}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Author
| nationality = American (1945–1983) Canadian (1983–present)
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| education = Master of Education (Child studies)
| alma_mater = Boston University (BA, MA)
Fordham University
Tufts University
University of Guelph
| period = 1979–2024
| genre = Children's literature
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks = The Paper Bag Princess
Love You Forever
| spouse =
| partner =
| children = 3
| relatives =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = Order of Canada
| signature =
| website = {{URL|http://www.robertmunsch.com/}}
| portaldisp =
}}
Robert Norman Munsch {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born, Canadian children's author.{{Cite web |title=All About Robert Munsch {{!}} The Official Website of Robert Munsch |url=https://robertmunsch.com/about |access-date=2023-04-26 |language=en}}
Personal life and career
Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of nine children.{{Cite web|url=https://robertmunsch.com/about|title=All About Robert Munsch | the Official Website of Robert Munsch}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://robertmunsch.com/about|title=All About Robert Munsch {{!}} The Official Website of Robert Munsch|website=robertmunsch.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-26}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html |title=All-Time Bestselling Children's Books |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=September 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501234605/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html |archive-date=May 1, 2006 }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Alisa |last2=Levine |first2=Karen |last3=Holdsworth |first3=Pauline |title=It does have a happy ending. |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/thesundayedition/it-does-have-a-happy-ending |website=The Sunday Edition |publisher=CBC Radio |access-date=16 December 2019 |date=13 December 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Wiznura |first1=Robert |last2=Grandy |first2=Karen |title=Robert Munsch |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-munsch |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=24 March 2019}}
Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births.{{cite magazine|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-backstory/ |title=The Backstory, Bestselling children's author Robert Munsch faces a crisis |author=Ann Hui |date=November 10, 2010 |magazine=The Walrus}} They have three children via adoption.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/70-amazing-facts-about-robert-munsch-1.4093534| title=75 things you might not know about Robert Munsch |date=1 May 2017 |publisher=CBC books}}
Health
Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/special-reports/breaking-through/how-robert-munsch-grabbed-a-lifeline/article1319118/|date=October 9, 2009|title=How Robert Munsch grabbed a lifeline|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2010-05-16|location=Toronto|first=André|last=Picard|author-link=André Picard (journalist)}}{{cite web|url=http://news.globaltv.com/programs/16x9/Growing+Munsch+Part/3014424/story.html|date=May 11, 2010|title=Growing Up Munsch (aired May 15, 2010)|work=Global Television Network, 16:9 (TV series)|access-date=2010-05-16|archive-date=May 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519120540/http://news.globaltv.com/programs/16x9/Growing+Munsch+Part/3014424/story.html|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://news.therecord.com/article/437678|date=November 1, 2008|title=Munsch Recovering From Stroke|work=Waterloo Region Record|access-date=2008-11-07}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/conditions/munsch-admits-to-cocaine-alcohol-addiction/article572738/|title=Munsch admits to cocaine, alcohol addiction|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=17 May 2010|access-date=9 March 2019}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.macleans.ca/general/robert-munsch-admits-to-cocaine-alcohol-abuse/|title=Robert Munsch admits to cocaine, alcohol abuse|magazine=Maclean's|date=17 May 2010|access-date=9 March 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://torontolife.com/culture/robert-munsch-to-cocaine-i-wont-love-you-forever/|title=Robert Munsch to cocaine: I won't love you forever|last=Hague|first=Matthew|magazine=Toronto Life|date=17 May 2010|access-date=9 March 2019}} On October 2, 2021, Munsch told the CBC that he had been diagnosed with dementia and, as a result, can no longer write.{{Cite web|title='The stories will be the last thing to go': Robert Munsch on his legacy as one of Canada's great storytellers|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/full-episode-oct-2-2021-1.6193424/the-stories-will-be-the-last-thing-to-go-robert-munsch-on-his-legacy-as-one-of-canada-s-great-storytellers-1.6193428}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|title=The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame|date=2009-06-16|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=2009-06-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620081814/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|archive-date=2009-06-20}}{{Cite news
|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/mandel-munsch-among-new-canada-walk-of-fame-inductees/article1285850/
|title=Mandel, Munsch among new Canada Walk of Fame inductees
|last=Jones
|first=Allison
|publisher=The Globe and Mail, syndicated from The Canadian Press
|date=2009-09-12
|access-date=2009-09-14
|location=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.{{cite web|title=Robert Munsch Public School|url=http://munsch.ddsbschools.ca/|access-date=2012-12-14|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130639/http://munsch.ddsbschools.ca/|url-status=dead}}
Munsch is also the most stolen author at the Toronto Public Library.{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Michael|title=Gone but not forgotten: 100,000 Toronto library books outstanding|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/15/gone-but-not-forgotten-100000-toronto-library-books-outstanding.html|access-date=16 July 2015|work=The Toronto Star|date=15 July 2015}}
Publications
| class="wikitable sortable" class="wikitable" | ||||
| style="background:#ccc;"
! Year ! Title ! Illustrator ! ISBN ! Publisher ! Notes | ||||
| rowspan="2" | 1979 | Mud Puddle | Sami Suomalainen | {{ISBNT|1-55037-468-0}} | rowspan="12"| Annick Press
| |
| The Dark | Sami Suomalainen; later editions illustrated by Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|1-55037-450-8}}
| | ||
| 1980 | The Paper Bag Princess | rowspan="6"| Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|0-920236-16-2}}
| 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) | {{ISBNT|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. | ||
| rowspan="2"|1982 | Murmel Murmel Murmel | {{ISBNT|1-55037-012-X}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | ||
| The Boy in the Drawer | {{ISBNT|0-920303-50-1}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | |||
| rowspan="2"|1983 | The Fire Station | {{ISBNT|1-55037-171-1}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | ||
| David's Father | {{ISBNT|1-55037-011-1}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | |||
| 1984 | Millicent and the Wind | Suzanne Duranceau | {{ISBNT|0-920236-93-6}}
| | |
| rowspan="2"|1985 | Mortimer | rowspan="3" | Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|0-920303-11-0}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | |
| Thomas' Snowsuit | {{ISBNT|1-55451-115-1}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | |||
| rowspan="2"|1986 | 50 Below Zero | {{ISBNT|0-920236-91-X}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | ||
| Love You Forever | Sheila McGraw | {{ISBNT|0-920668-37-2}} | Firefly Books
| | |
| rowspan="2"|1987 | Moira's Birthday | rowspan="3" | Michael Martchenko | rowspan="7"| Annick Press
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | |
| I Have To Go! | {{ISBNT|0-920303-51-X}}
| | |||
| rowspan="2"|1988 | Angela's Airplane | {{ISBNT|0-920236-75-8}}
| 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
| | | |||
| rowspan="2"|1989 | Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat | Gilles Tibo
| | | ||
| Pigs! | rowspan="2"|Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|1-55037-388-9}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | ||
| 1990 | Something Good | {{ISBNT|1-55037-390-0}}
| One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch | ||
| rowspan="2"|1991 | Good Families Don't | Alan Daniel | Doubleday
| | |
| Show and Tell | Michael Martchenko | Annick Press
| | ||
| rowspan="2"|1992 | Get Me Another One | Shawn Steffler; 2019 edition illustrated by Mike Boldt | Doubleday
| | |
| Purple, Green and Yellow | Hélène Desputeaux | {{ISBNT|1-55451-113-5}} | rowspan="5"| 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{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robert-munsch/from-far-away/ |title=From Far Away |publisher=Kirkus Reviews |language=en}} | | | ||
| 1996 | Stephanie's Ponytail | rowspan="2"|Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|1-55451-114-3}}
| | |
| 1997 | Alligator Baby | rowspan="16"| Cartwheel
| | ||
| rowspan="2"|1998 | Get Out of Bed | Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel | | | |
| Andrew's Loose Tooth | rowspan="2"|Michael Martchenko | | | ||
| 1999 | We Share EVERYTHING! | | | ||
| rowspan="2"|2000 | Aaron's Hair | Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel | | | |
| Mmm, Cookies | rowspan="5"| Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|0590516949}}
| | ||
| rowspan="2"|2001 | Up, Up, Down | {{ISBNT|0439988152}}
| | ||
| Makeup Mess | {{ISBNT|978-0439988964}}
| | |||
| rowspan="3"|2002 | More Pies | {{ISBNT|978-0779113637}}
| | ||
| Playhouse | {{ISBNT|978-0439989596}}
| | |||
| Ribbon Rescue | Eugenie Fernandes | {{ISBNT|0590038710}}
| | ||
| rowspan="2"|2003 | Lighthouse | Janet Wilson | {{ISBNT|978-0439946568}}
| | |
| Zoom | rowspan="13" |Michael Martchenko | | | ||
| rowspan="2"|2004 | Boo! | {{ISBNT|978-0439961264}}
| | ||
| Smelly Socks | {{ISBNT|978-0439967075}}
| | |||
| 2005 | The Sandcastle Contest | {{ISBNT|978-0439955904}}
| | ||
| rowspan="3"|2006 | Deep Snow | {{ISBNT|978-0439946582}} | Scholastic
| | |
| I'm So Embarrassed! | {{ISBNT|978-0439952392}} | Cartwheel
| | ||
| No Clean Clothes | {{ISBNT|0-439-93790-6}} | rowspan="4"| Scholastic
| | ||
| 2007 | Class Clown | | | ||
| rowspan="3" |2008 | Just One Goal! | {{ISBNT|0-545-99035-1}}
| | ||
| Look at Me! | | | |||
| Kiss Me, I'm Perfect! | Cartwheel
| | |||
| rowspan="3" |2009 | Down the Drain | {{ISBNT|0-545-98600-1}} | rowspan="26" | Scholastic
| | |
| Roar! | {{ISBNT|0-545-98020-8}}
| | |||
| Braids! | 978-1443157391
| | |||
| rowspan="2"|2010 | Put Me in a Book
| rowspan="13" |Michael Martchenko | {{ISBNT|1-4431-0080-3}}
| | ||
| Too Much Stuff! | {{ISBNT|978-1443102452}}
| | |||
| rowspan="3" |2011 | Moose! | {{ISBNT|1-4431-0718-2}}
| One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series. | ||
| Give Me Back My Dad! | {{ISBNT|1-4431-0764-6}}
| | |||
| Neversink School and Other Silly Poems
|1443113352 | | ||||
| rowspan="2" |2012
| Finding Christmas | | | |||
| It's My Room! | | | |||
| rowspan="2" | 2013 | Seeing Red! | {{ISBNT|1-4431-2446-X}}
| | ||
| Swamp Water | | | |||
| rowspan="2" |2014 | Hugs | | | ||
| Pyjama Day! | | | |||
| 2015 | Ready, Set, Go!
| | | |||
| 2016 | So Much Snow! | 1-4431-4617-X
| | ||
| rowspan="2" |2017 | Blackflies | Jay Odjick | | | |
| The Enormous Suitcase | rowspan="3" | Michael Martchenko | | | ||
| 2018 | Moving Day! | | | ||
| rowspan="3" |2019 | Sounds Like Christmas | | | ||
| Bear for Breakfast | Jay Odjick | | | ||
| School Rules! | Dave Whamond | | | ||
| 2020
|Teamwork | rowspan="2" |Michael Martchenko |1443182699 | | ||||
| rowspan="2" |2021
|I Can Fix It! |1443192120 | | ||||
| Think Big!
|Dave Whamond |1443182982 | | ||||
| 2023
|Class Trip |Michael Martchenko | | |
Compilations
| class="wikitable sortable" class="wikitable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! ISBN ! scope="col" style="width: 240px;" |Stories Included | |||
| 1998 | Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|978-1-55037-553-4}} | Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good |
| 2000 | Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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! | {{ISBNT|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) | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|978-1-44310-239-1}} | More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids |
| 2010 | Munsch Mini-Treasury One | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|978-1-55451-274-4}} | Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit |
| 2013 | Munsch Mania! | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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 | {{ISBNT|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! | {{ISBNT|978-1-44314-863-4}} | Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs |
References
- {{cite web|url=http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=munn&t=14166&d=911|title=Canadian Who's Who 1997|access-date=May 8, 2006}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}} {{Portal |Children's literature}}
- {{official website |robertmunsch.com}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070809122043/http://www.authorviews.com/authors/munsch/video.php Video interview] at AuthorViews
- [http://www.annickpress.com/authors/munsch.asp?author=257 Robert Munsch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812210549/http://www.annickpress.com/authors/munsch.asp?author=257 |date=2016-08-12 }} at publisher Annick Press
- {{LCAuth|n84116377|Robert N. Munsch|46|ue}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munsch, Robert}}
Category:20th-century Canadian male writers
Category:21st-century Canadian male writers
Category:American emigrants to Canada
Category:American expatriate writers in Canada
Category:Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni
Category:Canadian children's writers
Category:Canadian Roman Catholics
Category:Fordham University alumni
Category:Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year winners
Category:Members of the Order of Canada
Category:People with bipolar disorder
Category:Tufts University faculty
Category:Academic staff of the University of Guelph
Category:Writers from Pittsburgh