Robert Munsch CM
Munsch in 1997
Born	(1945-06-11)June 11, 1945 (age 80) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Author
Nationality	American (1945–1983) Canadian (1983–present)
Education	Fordham University (BA) Boston University (MA) Tufts University (ME) University of Guelph
Period	1979–2024
Genre	Children's literature
Notable works	The Paper Bag Princess Love You Forever
Children	3
Website
www.robertmunsch.com

Robert Norman MunschCM (born June 11, 1945) is a Canadianchildren's author.^[1] Born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he moved to Canada in 1975 to work at theUniversity 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 aJuno Award, induction into theOrder of Canada, a star inCanada's Walk of Fame, and has two public schools inOntario named after him. His books have sold millions of copies, and he has the dubious honour of being the most stolen author in theToronto Public Library system.^[2]

Robert Munsch was born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945.^[3] He grew up in a family of nine children.^[1] Munsch graduated fromFordham University in 1969 with aBachelor of Arts degree inhistory and fromBoston University in 1971 with aMaster of Arts degree inanthropology.^[4]

Munsch studied to become aJesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs atorphanages anddaycares. In 1973, Munsch received aMaster of Education in Child Studies fromTufts University.^[1] He moved to Canada in 1975 to work at the Family Studies department at theUniversity of Guelph inOntario. 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 2001Publishers 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 showFriends, as well as being mentioned by talk show hostOprah Winfrey onLate 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 astroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak.^[9]

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

On October 2, 2021, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed withdementia and could no longer write.^[15] Following this diagnosis, he applied formedical assistance in dying and received approval in September 2025.^[16][17]

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 atelementary schools, sometimes unannounced.^[18] In 1991, some of his books were adapted into an animated TV seriesA Bunch of Munsch, made in Montreal and airing on pay TV channels.^[19]

In 1985, Munsch won aJuno Award for his portrayal of "Murmel, Murmel, Munsch: More Outrageous Stories". In 1992, he was also chosen"Author of the Year" by theCanadian Booksellers' Association.^[3] In 1999, Munsch was made a Member of theOrder of Canada. On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Munsch would receive a star onCanada'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.^[20][21] 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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRobert Munsch.

• Official website
• Video interview at AuthorViews
• Robert MunschArchived 2016-08-12 at theWayback Machine at publisher Annick Press
• "Canadian Who's Who 1997". RetrievedMay 8, 2006.
• Robert Munsch atIMDb
• Robert Munsch discography atDiscogs

• 1945 births
• Living people
• 20th-century Canadian male writers
• 21st-century Canadian male writers
• American emigrants to Canada
• American expatriate writers in Canada
• Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni
• Canadian children's writers
• Canadian Roman Catholics
• Fordham University alumni
• Former Jesuits
• Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year winners
• Members of the Order of Canada
• People with bipolar disorder
• Tufts University faculty
• Academic staff of the University of Guelph
• Writers from Pittsburgh
• People with obsessive–compulsive disorder
• People with dementia

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