Robert Munsch

Robert Norman Munsch, CM (born 11 June, 1945) is an American-born Canadian children's author.

Personal life and career

Robert 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). [cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html|title=All-Time Bestselling Children's Books|work=Publishers Weekly|accessmonthday=September 25 |accessyear=2006] The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya.

Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. [ [http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/factsheets/bipolar "Here to Help"] ]

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."Fact|date=May 2007

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.

Munsch has written over 40 books, and has written several unpublished stories.

Publications

Treasury

References

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External links

* [http://www.robertmunsch.com/ The Official Robert Munsch Website]
* [http://www.authorviews.com/authors/munsch/video.php AuthorViews video interview]
* [http://www.annickpress.com/authors/munsch.asp?author=257 Robert Munsch bio on Annick Press website]