Robert Munsch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Munsch
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Munsch in Guelph, Ontario, 1997
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| Born | Robert Norman Munsch June 11, 1945 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | American (1945–1983) Canadian (1983–present) |
| Education | Master of Education (Child studies) |
| Alma mater | Boston University (BA, MA) Fordham University Tufts University University of Guelph |
| Period | 1979–2019 |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Notable works | The Paper Bag Princess Love You Forever |
| Notable awards | Order of Canada |
| Children | 3 |
Robert Norman Munsch CM (born June 11, 1945) is a famous children's author. He was born in the United States but later became a Canadian citizen. Many of his books, like Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess, are loved by kids and families all over the world. He is known for his exciting way of telling stories.
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Becoming a Children's Author
Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a big family with nine children. He went to college and studied history and anthropology.
After working in places like orphanages and daycare centers, Robert realized he loved working with children. He decided to study Child Studies and earned a special degree in 1973. In 1975, he moved to Canada to work at a preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. People there encouraged him to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Famous Books by Robert Munsch
One of Robert Munsch's most well-known books is Love You Forever. It has sold over 30 million copies! This book was even mentioned on the TV show Friends and by talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
Another very popular book is The Paper Bag Princess. It has sold more than seven million copies. This story is considered a classic and is known for its strong female character.
Robert and his wife, Ann, adopted three children. They were very happy to become parents this way.
Robert Munsch's Health Journey
Robert Munsch has openly shared about his health challenges. He has talked about dealing with mood changes and other personal struggles.
In 2008, he had a stroke, which affected his memory. After this, he retired from writing new books. However, he continued to publish two books each year that he had written earlier. In 2021, Robert shared that he was diagnosed with dementia. This means he can no longer write new stories.
Robert Munsch's Storytelling Style
Robert Munsch is famous for his lively way of telling stories. He uses big expressions and different voices for his characters. He often makes up stories right in front of an audience. Then, he tells them again and again, making them better each time.
His stories do not have the same main character in every book. Instead, the characters are often based on the real children he first told the stories to, including his own kids. He loves to perform at children's festivals and sometimes even visits elementary schools without announcing it first! Some of his books were even turned into a cartoon series called A Bunch of Munsch in 1991.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Robert Munsch has received many awards for his work.
- In 1985, he won a Juno Award for his audio recording of "Murmel, Murmel, Munsch: More Outrageous Stories."
- In 1992, the Canadian Booksellers' Association named him "Author of the Year."
In 1999, Robert Munsch was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada. In 2009, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, which is like a hall of fame for famous Canadians.
Two schools in Ontario, Canada, are named after him: Robert Munsch Public School in Whitby (opened 2009) and another in Mount Albert (opened 2014). It is also interesting to know that he is the most borrowed author at the Toronto Public Library!
