Robert N. Munsch

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.

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". 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.

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. The couple has three children via adoption. They live in Guelph, Ontario.

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.

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer write. 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. 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.

Originally published only in Ojibway. Published in English and French in Munsch Mania compilation

Braids!

One of the books later became a Holiday Special television series.

Neversink School and Other Silly Poems

2020 Teamwork

I Can Fix It! Think Big! Dave Whamond 2022 Leaves!

2023 Class Trip 2024 Bounce! 2025 The 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