As a young child, there was always one author who was an immediate purchase (and by purchase I mean beg my mom to buy it for me): Robert Munsch. His stories, especially when my mom read them aloud, were larger than life. They are quirky, engaging, and full of heart. 

Munsch’s stories were special to me because I felt like I saw myself, my family, and my community. Looking at them know, I can clearly see how they represented Canada itself. The settings often felt familiar: small towns, schools, backyards, and snow-covered streets. His characters reflected a diversity of families, personalities, and situations. No matter the plot, there was a bit of Canada in every story.

I think part of teaching is learning what the students love and incorporating it into the classroom, but another part is sharing what YOU love. I love Robert Munsch books, now I just have to find a way to connect it to the curriculum. This is what I came up with: 

English Language Arts: Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy.

Munsch’s writing is so playful, full of onomatopoeia and alliteration. I think reading his stories aloud makes for a better experience than just silently to yourself. Students could identify what literary devices Munsch tended to favour, and try writing something of their own using his style, or with a unique style of their own. 

Arts Education: Artists experiment in a variety of ways to discover new possibilities

Disclaimer: I strongly believe the duo of Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko deserves to go down as one of the most iconic in Canadian history.

Although Michael Martchenko’s illustrations are perfectly paired with Munsch’s stories, some of the scenes are so extraordinary they deserve to be reimagined a thousand times over (think Alligator Baby, More Pies!). Students could recreate scenes, design new covers, or act out favourite moments, exploring expression and creativity. 

Career Education: Family and community relationships can be a source of support and guidance when solving problems and making decisions

The Paper Bag Princess  and Mortimer both look at family dynamics and stereotypes and how they affect the main character. Exploring relationships, community, and personal identity are all critical to student development. 

Revisiting his books isn’t just nostalgia, it’s a way to celebrate literacy, creativity, and Canadian culture, while inspiring the next generation of readers, thinkers, and storytellers.

To close, I would like to share the book that started it all for me, read by the icon himself: