Robert Munsch
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Robert Norman Munsch, CM (born 11 June 1945) is an American-born Canadian children's author.
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[edit] Personal life and career
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 centres. 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.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies).[1] The Munsch's have since become adoptive parents.
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression.[2]
[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 United States and Canada, and has sold over 30 million books, more than any other Canadian author. In 1999 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
Mr. Munsch has written over 48 books, and has written several unpublished stories.
[edit] Publications
| Year | Title |
| 1985 | 50 Below Zero |
| 1985 |
Aaron's Hair (April 2002) |
| 1997 | Alligator Baby |
| 1999 | Andrew's Loose Tooth |
| 1988 | Angela's Airplane |
| 2004 | Boo! |
| n.d. | The Boy in the Drawer |
| 2007 | Class Clown |
| 1979 | The Dark |
| 1983 | David's Father (November 1983) |
| 2006 | Deep Snow (2006) |
| n.d. | The Fire Station |
| 1995 | From Far Away (September 1995) |
| 1996 | Get Me Another One (February 1996) |
| 2002 | Get Out of Bed (April 2002) |
| n.d. | The Giant |
| 1991 | Good Families Don't (August 1991) |
| 1987 | I Have To Go! (April 1987) |
| 2006 | I'm So Embarrassed! (June 2006) |
| 1981 | Jonathan Cleaned Up-Then He Heard A Sound (January 1981) |
| n.d. | Lighthouse |
| 1986 | Love You Forever (October 1986) |
| 2002 | Makeup Mess (April 2002) |
| n.d. | Millicent and The Wind |
| n.d. | Mmm, Cookies |
| n.d. | Moira's Birthday |
| n.d. | More Pies |
| n.d. | Mortimer |
| 1979 | Mud Puddle (January 1979) |
| 1982 | Murmel Murmel Murmel (November 1982) |
| 2006 | No Clean Clothes (2006) |
| 1980 | The Paper Bag Princess (May 1980) |
| n.d. | Pigs! |
| n.d. | Playhouse |
| 1992 | A Promise is a Promise (February 1992) |
| 1992 | Purple Green and Yellow (August 1992) |
| 2002 | Ribbon Rescue (April 2002) |
| n.d. | Sandcastle Contest |
| n.d. | Show and Tell |
| n.d. | Smelly Socks |
| n.d. | Something Good |
| 1996 | Stephanie's Ponytail |
| n.d. | Thomas' Snowsuit |
| n.d. | Up, Up, Down |
| n.d. | Wait and See |
| n.d. | We Share EVERYTHING! |
| n.d. | Where is Gah-Ning? |
| n.d. | Zoom |
[edit] References
- Canadian Who's Who 1997. Retrieved on May 8, 2006.
- ^ All-Time Bestselling Children's Books. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved on September 25, 2006.
- ^ Here to Help
