Every adult has cherished memories of that one specific book or series that made their childhood. Maybe it was Geronimo Stilton, The Rainbow Magic Series, or The Velveteen Rabbit. Not for us. For us, it was the colourful, silly, and onomatopoeia-riddled books written by Robert Munsch. The hours spent diving into the world of Mortimer refusing to sleep, Tyya wanting all kinds of junk food, and Andrew having to pee constantly were endless. Robert Munsch did more than write children’s books with his work. He brought to life the daily, complex realities of families, all in hilarious short stories.
Unfortunately, Robert Munsch has recently been approved for medically-assisted death (MAID), following a previous diagnosis of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. After his most recent book was published in 2023, Bounce!, Munsch acknowledged that he no longer had the strength to write further. A dementia and Parkinson’s diagnosis not only impacts his physical health and memory, but also prevents him from partaking in activities he enjoys—biking, writing, and driving—not to mention continuing his passion for sharing stories with children.
For those of us who grew up obsessed with Robert Munsch books, this is, of course, disheartening news. But as we recognize that his writing is coming to an end, it’s all the more important to reminisce on all his books that brought us incredible joy, laughter, and memories.
Here are some of our favourites and why.
Mortimer – Nahira
In Mortimer, Mortimer refuses to go to bed. His mother, his father, his 17 brothers and sisters, and two whole police officers yell at him to “BE QUIET!” Apparently, Mortimer prefers to sing instead. Eventually—and this was a clever ending from Munsch—he gets so tired of his parents, siblings, and law enforcement officials arguing with one another downstairs on how the heck to get him to shut up that he falls asleep. Introducing Mortimer: the ultimate gaslighter.
As someone who also hated going to bed at night, I relate to Mortimer wholeheartedly. My tactics for staying up late were more subtle, though; I would find flashlights and read under the covers until eventually my mom would come in and take the book away. One of the best aspects of Munsch’s books is that he focuses his books on children’s experiences, rather than writing esoteric fiction meant to instill morals into naive five-year-olds. Mortimer was every parent’s nightmare, but every kid’s lived reality. We hated the dark, hated not being able to play anymore, and hated being alone in our rooms. Mortimer was certainly more creative in his attempt to stay up later, but we’ve all been there—playing dress up with our dolls, colouring, or running trucks along our bedroom floor in protest of bedtime.
I Have to Go – Nahira
This book holds a special place in my heart. Andrew, the hilariously rebellious child that he is, adamantly refuses to use the washroom whenever his parents ask him if he needs to. Before the car ride, before he puts on his ridiculously complicated snowsuit, and before he goes to bed, he just won’t pee. But of course, 10 minutes after he begins each activity, he exclaims, “ I NEED TO PEE!” Eventually, after wetting his bed, he learns to speak up before he needs to go. In fact, he and his grandfather realize together at the end that they both need to go, and then accompany each other to the washroom.
Andrew is every kid in a nutshell; scratch that, he’s every person with a small bladder in a nutshell. We never think we have to go, and then boom, the desperation to find a washroom crashes down. Besides Love You Forever, I Have to Go was one of the first books my parents read to me. Looking back, it’s likely they chose this book as a cautionary tale to ensure I wouldn’t make them pull to the side of the road during one of our long car trips. My favourite part of the book is Munsch’s one-liner describing Andrew’s snowsuit: “five zippers, 10 buckles, and 17 snaps”. Literature does not get better than that. It’s a wonder that this iconic suit hasn’t become a global merch item, something children write down on their Christmas list that parents reluctantly scour clothing stores for.
Something Good – Sona
Something Good is my favourite Munsch book by far, as it encapsulates my experience growing up and going to the grocery store with my parents. The illustrations in all of Munsch’s books are lively and engaging, and I remember being so captivated by them as a child. When I look back on his books as an adult, I get the same exciting feeling I once had. Something Good tells the tale of a family in the grocery store. Munch does his family’s food shopping every Thursday, and one day, he noticed a girl sitting very still in her mother’s shopping cart. This idea of the child being doll-like, stuck, and led him to write Something Good. In the story, Tyya grapples with the tempting candy and sugary foods in the store. She keeps asking her father if she can get “something good” and ends up upsetting him. The end of the story is heartfelt and encapsulates Munsch as a father well, as he ends up purchasing some sugary cereal for his daughter.
The illustrations in Munch’s books are done by Michael Martchenko and are exaggerated and hilarious; they add so much intensity to the narrative. For example, in Something Good, Tyya’s father tells her to put back all the junk, and he replies, “Okay, Tyya, I have had it. You stand here and DON’T MOVE”. Tyya takes his comment so literally that she ends up being placed on the shelves with the rest of the dolls and a price tag of $29.95. The facial expressions that are illustrated throughout the book are so goofy and nostalgic. The illustrations add a unique level of interaction to his stories, which are centred around children’s experiences.
Mmm, Cookies! – Sona
When I think about Mmm, Cookies! long enough, I can feel the pages turning in my little, eager hands. I ate this book up literally and metaphorically. The book stemmed from Munsch’s memories of his father. Every April Fools’ Day, Munsch would put salt in his father’s coffee, and then his father would play along and make a spectacle out of it. When Munsch worked in a daycare, he adopted the same kind of play with the kids who pretended to feed him Play-Doh cookies. Mmm, Cookies! is about a boy named Christopher who makes cookies out of clay to trick his parents and teachers. After his parents fall for his games, they call his teacher, who decides to play the same trick on Christopher. I remember finding this hilarious as a child; the repetitive and dynamic text also made the story a great read-aloud.
If you didn’t grow up reading Munsch’s books as a child, we recommend you give them a read now. We’re firm believers that no one is ever too old for an engaging book that holds valuable lessons. If not for the storylines, the books depict beautiful illustrations that everyone should admire. Munsch was an integral part of many people’s childhoods. His hilarious, witty, and realistic books will never be forgotten, and neither will he.