Robert Norman Munsch (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born Canadian children's author. 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.
Early life and education 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.
Career 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". At the job he met his future wife, Ann, while changing a diaper. 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.
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 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.
Storytelling performances 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.
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.
Personal life Munsch and his wife, Ann, have been married since the early 1970s. They were unable to have biological children, and two pregnancies ended in stillbirths. The couple has three children via adoption.
Munsch has obsessive–compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder. In August 2008, he suffered a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak. 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.
In October 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia. He received approval for medical assistance in dying in September 2025 after applying five years prior, following his diagnosis. His daughter clarified that the approval did not mean his death was imminent. In December 2025, Munsch revealed that he had about 50 unpublished stories, and hopes to release one per year following his death.
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. 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. Munsch was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Guelph in 2000.
Publications Year Title Illustrator ISBN Publisher Notes 1979 Mud Puddle Sami Suomalainen Annick Press The Dark Sami Suomalainen; 1997 edition illustrated by Michael Martchenko 1980 The Paper Bag Princess Michael Martchenko 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) 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 One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch The Boy in the Drawer One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch1983 The Fire Station One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch David's Father One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch 1984 Millicent and the Wind Suzanne Duranceau 1985 Mortimer Michael Martchenko One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch Thomas' Snowsuit One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch1986 50 Below Zero One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch Love You Forever Sheila McGraw Firefly Books1987 Moira's Birthday Michael Martchenko Annick Press One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch I Have To Go! 1988 Angela's Airplane One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch A Promise is a Promise (co-authored with Michael Kusugak) Vladyana Krykorka1989 Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat Gilles Tibo Pigs! Michael Martchenko One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch 1990 Something Good One of the books adapted into an episode in A Bunch of Munsch1991 Good Families Don't Alan Daniel Doubleday Show and Tell Michael Martchenko Annick Press1992 Get Me Another One Shawn Steffler; 2019 edition illustrated by Mike Boldt Doubleday Purple, Green and Yellow Hélène Desputeaux 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 1996 Stephanie's Ponytail Michael Martchenko 1997 Alligator Baby Cartwheel1998 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 2001 Up, Up, Down Makeup Mess 2002 More Pies Playhouse Ribbon Rescue Eugenie Fernandes 2003 Lighthouse Janet Wilson Zoom Michael Martchenko 2004 Boo! Smelly Socks 2005 The Sandcastle Contest 2006 Deep Snow Scholastic I'm So Embarrassed! Cartwheel No Clean Clothes Scholastic 2007 Class Clown 2008 Just One Goal! 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 compilation2009 Down the Drain Michael Martchenko Scholastic Roar! Braids!Dave Whamond 2010 Put Me in a Book Michael Martchenko Too Much Stuff! 2011 Moose! One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series. Give Me Back My Dad! Neversink School and Other Silly Poems2012 Finding Christmas It's My Room! 2013 Seeing Red! Swamp Water 2014 Hugs Pyjama Day! 2015 Ready, Set, Go! 2016 So Much Snow! 2017 Blackflies Jay Odjick The Enormous Suitcase Michael Martchenko 2018 Moving Day! 2019 Sounds Like Christmas Bear for Breakfast Jay Odjick School Rules! Dave Whamond 2020TeamworkMichael Martchenko2021I Can Fix It!Think Big!Dave Whamond2022Leaves!Michael Martchenko2023Class Trip2024 Bounce! 2025The Perfect Paper Airplane
Compilations Year Title ISBNStories Included 1998 Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection The Paper Bag Princess • I Have to Go! • David's Father • The Fire Station • Thomas' Snowsuit 1999 Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury Pigs • Purple, Green and Yellow • Mortimer • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • Something Good 2000 Munschworks 3: The Third Munsch Treasury 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 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 Moira's Birthday • From Far Away • 50 Below Zero • The Boy in the Drawer • Millicent and the Wind 2004 Munsch More! Alligator Baby • Andrew's Loose Tooth • Get Out of Bed • Mmm, Cookies! • Ribbon Rescue • Deep Snow 2006 Murmel Murmel Munsch!(audio CD) 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! We Share Everything! • Aaron's Hair • Up, Up, Down • Makeup Mess • Playhouse • Collection of poems 2010 Mad About Munsch! More Pies! • Zoom! • Smelly Socks • Boo! • The Sandcastle Contest • Braids 2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury One Angela's Airplane • The Paper Bag Princess • 50 Below Zero • Pigs • A Promise Is a Promise 2010 Munsch Mini-Treasury Two Stephanie's Ponytail • The Fire Station • I Have to Go! • Moira's Birthday • Thomas' Snowsuit 2013 Munsch Mania! 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 David's Father • Mortimer • Purple, Green and Yellow • Show and Tell • Something Good 2019 Marvellous Munsch! Down the Drain! • Put Me in a Book! • Too Much Stuff! • Moose! • Give Me Back My Dad! • Hugs 2020 A Bunch of Munsch! Pyjama Day! • Seeing Red • Swamp Water • It’s My Room! • Roar! • Blackflies 2023 Munsch-a-thon! Ready, Set, Go! • So Much Snow! • The Enormous Suitcase • Get Me Another One! • Moving Day! • Bear for Breakfast 2023 5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories The Paper Bag Princess • Angela's Airplane • Thomas' Snowsuit • Stephanie's Ponytail • Show and Tell 2024 The Big Green Book of Munsch Books 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 Pigs • Angela's Airplane • Wait and See • The Fire Station • Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound 2025 5 Absolutely Outrageous Munsch Stories Mortimer • Pigs • Something Good • Moira's Birthday • The Boy in the Drawer 2026 5 Extraordinarily Zany Munsch Stories Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • I Have to Go! • The Fire Station • Wait and See • David's Father 2026 The Big Blue Book of Munsch Books Mortimer • Stephanie's Ponytail • A Promise is a Promise • Show and Tell • Millicent and the Wind
References
External links
Video interview at AuthorViews Robert Munsch at publisher Annick Press