Robert Munsch
| Robert Munsch | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Norman Munsch June 11, 1945 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Occupation | Author |
| Education | Master of Education (Child studies) |
| Alma mater | Fordham University Boston University |
| Period | 1979–present |
| Genres | Children's literature |
| Notable work(s) | The Paper Bag Princess Love You Forever |
| Notable award(s) | Order of Canada |
|
www.robertmunsch.com |
|
Robert Norman Munsch, CM (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born Canadian children's author.
Contents |
[edit] 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 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).[1] The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew, and Tyya.
Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues.[2][3] In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.[4] On May 15, 2010 Munsch revealed that he's been diagnosed as obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive, and that he is a recovering cocaine addict and alcoholic.[5][6]
[edit] Writing style
Munsch is known for his manic storytelling methods, with exaggerated expressions and acted voices. He makes up his stories in front of audiences and refines them through repeated tellings. He has said "It takes 200 tellings for a story to get good."[citation needed]
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. He is a bestselling author in both the stories. Some of his books were adapted into the cartoon series "Bunch of Munsch".
[edit] 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.[7][8]
[edit] Publications
| Year | Title | Illustrator | ISBN |
| 1979 | Mud Puddle | Sami Suomalainen | ISBN 1550374680 |
| The Dark | Michael Martchenko | ISBN 1550374508 | |
| 1980 | The Paper Bag Princess | ISBN 0920236162 | |
| 1981 | Jonathan Cleaned Up — Then He Heard a Sound | ISBN 0920236219 | |
| 1982 | Murmel Murmel Murmel | ISBN 155037012X | |
| The Boy in the Drawer | ISBN 0920303501 | ||
| 1983 | David's Father | ISBN 1550370111 | |
| 1984 | Mortimer | ISBN 0920303110 | |
| 1985 | Thomas' Snowsuit | ISBN 1554511151 | |
| 1986 | 50 Below Zero | ISBN 092023691X | |
| Love You Forever | Sheila McGraw | ISBN 0920668372 | |
| 1987 | I Have To Go! | Michael Martchenko | ISBN 092030351X |
| 1988 | Angela's Airplane | ISBN 0920236758 | |
| Millicent and The Wind | Suzanne Duranceau | ISBN 0920236936 | |
| 1989 | Giant; or Waiting for the Thursday Boat | Gilles Tibo | |
| Pigs! | Michael Martchenko | ISBN 1550373889 | |
| 1990 | Something Good | ISBN 1550373900 | |
| 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 | ISBN 1554511135 | |
| 1994 | Where is Gah-Ning? | ||
| 1995 | From Far Away | Michael Martchenko | |
| 1996 | Get Me Another One | Shawn Steffler | |
| Stephanie's Ponytail | Michael Martchenko | ISBN 1554511143 | |
| 1997 | Alligator Baby | ||
| 1998 | Get Out of Bed | Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel | |
| The Fire Station | Michael Martchenko | ISBN 1550371711 | |
| Wait and See | |||
| 1999 | Andrew's Loose Tooth | ||
| We Share EVERYTHING! | |||
| 2000 | Aaron's Hair | Alan Daniel and Lea Daniel | |
| Mmm, Cookies | Michael Martchenko | ||
| 2001 | Up, Up, Down | ||
| 2002 | Makeup Mess | ||
| 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 | ||
| I'm So Embarrassed! | |||
| No Clean Clothes | ISBN 0439937906 | ||
| 2007 | Class Clown | ||
| 2008 | Just One Goal | ISBN 0545990351 | |
| Look at Me! | |||
| 2009 | Down the Drain | ISBN 0545986001 | |
| Roar! | ISBN 0545980208 | ||
| 2010 | Put Me In A Book | ISBN 1443100803 | |
| Too Much Stuff! | |||
| 2011 | Moose! | ||
| 2011 | Give Me Back My Dad! |
[edit] Compilations
| Year | Title | ISBN |
| 1998 | Munschworks, The First Munsch Collection | ISBN 978-1550375237 |
| 1999 | Munschworks 2, The Second Munsch Treasury | ISBN 978-1550375534 |
| 2000 | Munschworks 3, The Third Munsch Treasury | ISBN 978-1550376333 |
| 2001 | Munschworks Grand Treasury | ISBN 978-1550376852 |
| 2002 | Munschworks 4: The Fourth Munsch Treasury | ISBN 978-1550377668 |
| 2004 | Munsch More! | ISBN 978-0439961356 |
| 2007 | Much More Munsch! | ISBN 978-0439935715 |
| 2010 | Munsch Mini-Treasury One | ISBN 978-1554512737 |
| 2010 | Munsch Mini-Treasury Two | ISBN 978-1554512744 |
[edit] References
- "Canadian Who's Who 1997". http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=munn&t=14166&d=911. Retrieved May 8, 2006.
- ^ "All-Time Bestselling Children's Books". Publishers Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html. Retrieved September 25, 2006.[dead link]
- ^ Picard, André (October 9, 2009). "How Robert Munsch grabbed a lifeline". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/special-reports/breaking-through/how-robert-munsch-grabbed-a-lifeline/article1319118/. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
- ^ "Growing Up Munsch (aired May 15, 2010)". Global Television Network, 16:9 (TV series). May 11, 2010. http://news.globaltv.com/programs/16x9/Growing+Munsch+Part/3014424/story.html. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
- ^ "Munsch Recovering From Stroke". Waterloo Region Record. November 1, 2008. http://news.therecord.com/article/437678. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ http://www.cfra.com/?cat=4&nid=73206
- ^ http://robertmunsch.com/about
- ^ "The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2009-06-16. http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ Jones, Allison (2009-09-12). "Mandel, Munsch among new Canada Walk of Fame inductees". Toronto: The Globe and Mail, syndicated from The Canadian Press. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/mandel-munsch-among-new-canada-walk-of-fame-inductees/article1285850/. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
[edit] External links
- 1945 births
- Living people
- American expatriate writers in Canada
- Boston University alumni
- Canadian children's writers
- Fordham University alumni
- Former Jesuits
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Writers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Tufts University faculty
- University of Guelph faculty
- People with bipolar disorder
- Juno Award winners
