Robert Munsch

Robert Norman Munsch CM (born June 11, 1945) is a Canadian children's author.^[1] 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.^[2]

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945.^[3] He grew up in a family of nine children.^[1] 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.^[4]

Munsch studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs at orphanages and daycares. In 1973, Munsch received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University.^[1] 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.^[3]

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).^[5] 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.^[6][3]

Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births.^[7] They have three children via adoption.^[8]

In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak.^[9]

On May 15, 2010, Munsch announced diagnoses of obsessive-compulsive disorder and manic-depressive disorder. He also revealed a cocaine addiction that started in 2005 and his status as a recovering alcoholic.^{[10][11][12][13]} At the time of this announcement, Munsch had been sober for four months and had regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for 25 years and, more recently, Narcotics Anonymous meetings.^[14]

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer write.^[15] Following this diagnosis, he applied for medical assistance in dying and received approval in September 2025.^[16][17] In December 2025, Munsch revealed he still had about 50 unpublished stories, hoping to have one be illustrated and released each year, following his death.^[18]

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. Munsch's 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. Munsch often performed at children's festivals and appears at elementary schools, sometimes unannounced.^[19] 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.^[20]

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.^[3] 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.^[21][22] 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.^[8]

• Official website
• Video interview at AuthorViews
• Robert Munsch Archived 2016-08-12 at the Wayback Machine at publisher Annick Press
• "Canadian Who's Who 1997". Retrieved May 8, 2006.
• Robert Munsch at IMDb
• Robert Munsch discography at Discogs