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Robert Munsch

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Robert Munsch
Munsch signs autograph for a young fan at Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 1997
Munsch signs autograph for a young fan at Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 1997
BornRobert Norman Munsch
(1945-06-11) June 11, 1945 (age 79)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican-Canadian
EducationMaster of Education (Child studies)
Alma materFordham University
Boston University
Period1979–present
GenreChildren's literature
Notable worksThe Paper Bag Princess
Love You Forever
Notable awardsOrder of Canada
Children3
Website
www.robertmunsch.com

Robert Norman Munsch, CM (born June 11, 1945) is an American 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).[1] It has since sold more than 30,000,000 copies and has been featured on the iconic television show "Friends", as well as being mentioned by Oprah on Late Night with David Letterman as being her favorite children's book.

The Munsches are the adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew, and Tyya.

Health

Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues.[2][3] In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his memory. He has since retired; however, he continues to publish two previously written books each year.[4] 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.[5][6]

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 and in 2013 his star was revealed on King Street in Toronto.[7][8] In 2009, Robert Munsch Public School opened in Whitby, Ontario and in 2014, a second Robert Munsch Public School opened in Uxbridge, Ontario.[9]

He is also the most stolen author at the Toronto Public Library.[10]

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

References

  1. ^ "All-Time Bestselling Children's Books". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on May 1, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Picard, André (October 9, 2009). "How Robert Munsch grabbed a lifeline". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  3. ^ "Growing Up Munsch (aired May 15, 2010)". Global Television Network, 16:9 (TV series). May 11, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  4. ^ "Munsch Recovering From Stroke". Waterloo Region Record. November 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  5. ^ http://www.cfra.com/?cat=4&nid=73206
  6. ^ http://robertmunsch.com/about
  7. ^ "The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  8. ^ Jones, Allison (2009-09-12). "Mandel, Munsch among new Canada Walk of Fame inductees". Toronto: The Globe and Mail, syndicated from The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  9. ^ "Robert Munsch Public School".
  10. ^ Robinson, Michael (15 July 2015). "Gone but not forgotten: 100,000 Toronto library books outstanding". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
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