Product Description
Award-winning author Robert Munsch, known for his gift of treating controversial subjects with humor and wisdom, has created a one-of-a-kind, comical story about a delicate subject. Adults and young readers alike will enjoy the comical full-color art that illustrates this outrageously unique book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Our Most Loved Book
I first got this book off the rack in the mid-'90s and it immediately became the first book my daughter (now 19) read to herself. Thirteen years later, having lost it over the years, I knew I had to get another copy for my now-5-year-old. It is absolutely the funniest children's book I've ever had the pleasure of reading out loud 1,199 times.

Ewwwww
When I bought this book, I knew it was used. I did not know they were going to send it to me with there dinner on it. Maybe next time they could clean it up or just put it in the trash. Great book if it was cleaned off.

Funny, but not great for impressionable young readers
I love Robert Munsch and my kids have read almost every one of his books. I returned this one, though, after a few reads. It is funny and silly, like every Munsch book. But I just didn't feel comfortable reading a book that says "fart" all over the place. If you talk like that in front of your kids, well then you will like the book.

My kids repeat everything that is in these books, and this just reinforced the idea that speaking crassly is funny. The book could have been a lot better if the language was made more appropriate for a 3-year old. The impact could have been just as strong by saying "toot", or even by coming up with lots of creative alternatives.

Instead of this one, some of Munsch's better books are Boo!, Stephanie's Ponytail, Kiss Me I'm Perfect, We Share Everything, Mmmm Cookies, The Paperbag Princess. All of these are also hilarious and I have no problem with my kids repeating the language word for word.

We all like this book
Like most Robert Munsch books, all of us enjoy reading this book: me, my husband and especially our five year old son. It is imaginative and funny, and every once in a while, one of us will exclaim "What would the Canadians think?" and the rest of us laugh.

Fabulous book!
I first purchased this book years ago when I was a nanny working my way through college to entertain the children in my care.Now that I have my own children, I have brought the book out again and my son loves it.Farts have always been a long standing joke in my family and I have given all of the children in my family copies of this book as a gift.It is now a running joke among us that "Good families don't have Farts!"Children and adults will all love this book and it will be a book that gets passed down among generations.I have also used this book in my counseling practice.It is a great book to use to discuss with children the secrets that "good families" keep.Can't praise this book enough! ... Read more

Product Description
Saoussan tells the story of her family fleeing war-torn Lebanon and going to live in Canada. She starts school, but not knowing English makes things difficult for her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

I think the book was awesome.

I think the book was enjoyable because it reminds me of when I first came to school. I didn't speak English and I had no friends. My favorite part is at the end because she starts to like her new environment. My favorite character is Saoussan because she accomplishes something at the end.

I think this book was fun to readI think this book was fun to read.
I think this book was fun to read. It reminds me when I was in first grade when I peed because my teacher didn't let me go to the bathroom. Saossan is pretty smart because when she doesn't know what to do she finds out a smart way to do it. It's sad because of all the things she has to go through when she is small. I recommend you read this book.

From Far Away was a very good book.
I like this book because it's a true story about people who moved to another country.My favorite part in this book was when she crawled under the desk to go to the restroom, without the teacher knowing. This is my favorite part because it was funny and then she runs in a room filled with Halloween stuff and she got so scared.My favorite character in the story was Saoussan because she is an honest girl. I would recommend this book to a person that travels to another country without knowing anybody!

From Far Away is a good book

I think From Far Away was a good book because it's really funny. My favorite part is when she screams so loud and thinks her teacher is crazy. The scariest part for her was when she got scared and thought that people will start shooting each other there. My favorite character was Saoussan because she's funny. I would like Robert Munch to read it because he does it funny. But it's sad because she has to leave her home. I liked Michael Martchenko's pictures because they're creative.

this was the most awsomest book ever.
I thought the book was great and a bit funny because Saoussan's pee went down her legs because she was so scared of the skeleton.Then she thought their was going to be a war.Her teacher came to tell her that it was Halloween and that she didn't have to be scared of anything. When her dad came to pick her up and then went to her house she thought that every body was crazy.But her dad told her that people are not going to shoot each other.Then she would go to the mall to shop.

... Read more

Product Description

A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.

Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions of Americans. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews (9)

wonderful story
This was my daughter's favorite book as a toddler.She's now in college studying languages and I bought this as a Christmas present and she was thrilled.She said they changed some of the words to keep the rhyme.

siempre te querre
I still have not received my book yet? I'd like to know what is going on? I ordered my book back in 1/21/09

Siempre te querre
This is one of the most beautiful books that you can read to your child. Whomever does not understand the meaning of an older lady driving to her son's home to rock him to sleep every night and on top of it believes it is creepy (such as on of the reviews given to this book) has absolutely no idea what to be a mother really means. In our hearts and souls we, mothers, will rock our babies to sleep forever and ever. A mother's love has no end no matter the distance, no matter the time. This book presents a simple and beautiful way to let children know how we do and will love them and how love will carry on.

simply pathetic
this review is about the english version, though relevant to the spanish as well.we finally remembered to donate it to the salvation army so we would no longer have to read it to our child.pure sap.c'mon, the elderly mother drives to her grown son's house, scales a ladder to his room and rocks him back and forth, back and forth...touching?creepy!read it at the library before spending the cash!

The most beautiful book I've ever read!
The book is so touching that makes you cry. It goes so deep into details, in exactly how many good mothers feel about their sons. I recommend this book to all mothers and sons because their life will change once they read this work of art. I've read many books but this one is special. I read it to my son who is 10 years old since he was 6 years old very often. ... Read more

Product Description
Anna ignores her mother's constant earning to "Be careful! Don't climb!," even after she falls down from scaling the refrigerator and the side of the house. One day, Anna manages to climb all the way up a palm tree, but the descent leaves her frantically hanging from a leaf. When her parents come to the rescue, the tables are quickly turned when her mother and father are the ones hanging from the tree instead! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

A Recommendation by Jordyn
Up, Up, Down is about a girl climbing up the tree.There was very silly things in the tree.The mom falls and bumps her head.hehehehehe!The same thing happens to the dad. He almost got it! hehehehe! The kids bring humongous band-aids so the parents can't walk talk or hold the kids or take their clothes off!!!!I like it because it is so funny.My favorite part was when the kids brought the big band-aids and they were wrapped around.I like all Robert Munsch books!

A Recommendation by Jordyn
I thought that Up Up, Down was a great book. When the father fell down and his bottem was red. That anna repeats the same things. The baby brother because when he said no!! there were great. Yes in the store I always repeatedthe same thing. All kids read this book!!!

wonderful book
I think it was a wonderful book because the book was funny. My favorite part was when Anna fell down, because it was funny. The funniest part was when Anna said, I'm the queen of the castle mommy is a dirty rascal.Anna was my favorite character, because Anna was the funniest character in the book. The illustrations were very wonderful and colorful. I recommend all children should read this book.

THECOOLEST BOOK EVER
I liked this book because it was a funny story. My favorite part was when Anna said, ouch my favorite character is Anna but I thought this book isall ages to read this book yes, I rememberedsomething about my live. So have fun and buy this book.

It's a great book for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the book Up, Up, Down was a great book. My favorite part was when Anna repeated what their parents said to her. Also, I thought the funniest part was when Anna bundled up her parents with humongous band-aids. My favorite character is Anna because I thought she was very funny and always fooling around. ... Read more

Product Description
One day little Samuel wakes up with a big appetite. After eating cereal, milkshakes, pancakes, and a fried chicken, he's still hungry--so he enters a pie-eating contest in the park. His competition? Three big men! The pies? One apple, two peach, and three cherry. And the winner? Samuel! But before he can show his Prize Pie to his mother, she proudly shows off the lovely pie that she's made him for lunch! Luckily, Samuel's younger brother turns out to have an even larger appetite than his sibling . . . and a love of pies, too! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

When a little kid stares down three BIG guys, you know who's gonna win
This is a typical Munsch book - weird setting, over-the-top pictures and reactions, cool sound effects, repetition in threes, and lots of funny.

It's really like an intro to tall tales, this book - we've got a kid who eats seven fried chickens and pancakes for breakfast, and who wins a pie-eating contest against a lumberjack, a truck driver, and a construction worker (who turn various colors and fall under the table) and, naturally, pie for lunch. Gotta love it :P

Not quite decided
I decided to check out this author because he was on several of the schoolastic book orders for my kids. I have a three kids under 5 yrs old and my 2 year old likes the funny sounds, and pictures, but sometimes get distracted. Some pages are pretty long, probably aimed at a little older reader, but my 4 year old loves to hear them! This one and smelly socks are some of the cutest ones I've read by Munsch.

Generally, I really likes his books, but I have a little issue with the kids' behavior at times. In More Pies, the boy demands more food, throws a fit and screams and tells someone "give me pie". Now, it's not a huge thing in the story, but I'm not excited about the boys manners or lack of. I do feel like you can downplay the "attitude" a little by the way you read it since it's not a major part of the story.

So, the moments of bad manners are subtle, but there. I love the story with all its humor and so do my kids. We've checked it out at the library, but will I buy it for keeps, I'm not quite decided...

Fun with Mr. Munsch
I donated this book to my mom's day care and thechildren really loved repeating especially the chomps.The children also enjoyed the color changing. They always have fun with Munsch books.

More Munsch!
Another winner from Robert Munsch!

The book features the usual dose of Munsch's sound effects and repetition, two traits that make it an engaging story for young readers.We read this story again and again to our 2-year-old.He just can't get enough.

My one criticism of the book is that Munsch's drawings of the Asian Canadian characters isn't that flattering.Being Asian American, I think I'm probably more sensitive to this though...:)

Another winner from Munsch/Martchenko
Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko are a winning team in childrens' books, and this is another one of their terrific partnerships.Munsch's well-paced tales coupled with Martchenko's vivid and funny artwork encourage preschoolers and young grade schoolers to reread their books many times over.

This book features a very hungry little boy, his exasperated mom, and a pie-eating contest.My kids howled with laughter at how much Samuel tried to eat for breakfast.The pictures of Samuel out-chowing the three big men are terrific, and the look on his face when he returns home is even better.

An outlandish tale in the tradition of Paul Bunyan for preschoolers, complete with a Babe-sized stomach ache, this is a rippin' good yarn.Stick in two thumbs, pull out two plums, and point them up, way up, for More Pies! ... Read more

Product Description

A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.

Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions of Americans. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews (17)

Je T'aimerai Toujours...
Growing up in a french household english was not spoken. My mother bought this book in french and read it to me religiously. Even now as a 25 year old adult who has moved out of the house I still say the poem to my mother and she stil says it to me. We say it on the phone, in emails, or when I'm saying goodbye after a visit. I felt so connected to this book and to my mother I just recently got the poem tattooed on my arm along with a flower. Now wherever I go people see it and ask me about it. Everyone, including my mom who hates tattooes, LOVES the tattoo. What a great book. Thanks for the memories Robert!!

-Therese Faucher

Je t'aimerai toujours,
La nuit comme le jour,
Et tant que je vivrai,
Tu seras mon bebe...

Love this book - my gift to ever new mother with a son
I love this book.I have 2 daughters and when my sister had a boy a friend recommended this book.I went to the store, read it, almost cried in the store and bought 3 of them.I give them as gifts for every new mother that delivers a baby boy.It is a great gift and a must have - I just bought it for mydaughter and first grandson.

wonderful story
This was my daughter's favorite book as a toddler.She's now in college studying languages and I bought this as a Christmas gift.She was thrilled.She said they did change some of the wording to keep the rhyme.

Cute & touching book
I've been speaking & reading French to my son since birth & am always searching for great reading materials.My son is 13 months old. This book was a great find.It's easy to read.It's touching.It's refreshing.It's everything I needed to gently rock my baby to bed at the end of a long day.I cry every time I read it.So far, he's been falling asleep half way through the book; but I continue reading to the end, when the tears come rolling.I've never read the English version & would love more translated books from the same author.

great little story
I knew the English version but truly enjoyed the French one. I have offered it to a few friends as a gift. The story is so touching. It makes me cry every time I read it to my son. ... Read more

Product Description
Product DescriptionTemina is excited about taking a trip on an airplane, and super-excited to include ALL of her toys and dolls on the trip as well. Until mom says: "You can bring just ONE doll." Impossible! How is she going to pick just ONE? She hatches a top secret plan and sneaks more than one toy into the airport and onto the plane. While everyone around her gawks, Temina proudly displays her beloved companions. Word spreads quickly to other children on the plane, who feel lonely without their own dolls. Temina is happy to lend out her treasures. The flight becomes a happy memory for Temina and her family, and even more so months later when her generosity is rewarded in the most surprising way! Like Temina's dolls bursting out of her backpack, this new story by Robert Munsch is bursting with humour and surprises at every turn, beautifully enhanced by the delightful artwork of Michael Martchenko! About the AuthorROBERT MUNSCH is Canada's bestselling author of more than 50 picture books for young readers. He is beloved by children, teenagers, parents, and booksellers everywhere, and was recently inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. He lives in Guelph, Ontario. His website is www.robertmunsch.com. MICHAEL MARTCHENKO's illustrations are as instantly identifiable and loveable as Robert Munsch's stories. His wild and colourful pictures add depth and even more hilarity to these picture book tales. He received the CBA Children's Illustrator of the Year Libris Award in 2006. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Never too much Munsch!
Having taught elementary school for the past 18 years, Robert Munsch stories are by far and away the most consistently popular children's stories year after year, whether teaching pre-k, kinder, or first.
The 5 stories collected in this volume may not represent the best Munsch works, nor the most diverse, but are each strong entries in any Munsch sampling."The Paper Bag Princess" may be the definitive Munsch story- a fairy tale inverted with a strong moral ending couched in funny, clever terms.A must own whether in this volume or on its own."The Fire Station" is an entertaining tale about two kids who hide out on a firetruck, get covered in smoke, and then are not recognized by their parents upn returning home."I Have To Go" is a strange one.A typical "family travels and kid has to go potty all the time" story with a twist that always finds my students a little baffled.It may hit too close to home."David's Father" is an excellent story about a boy adopted by a giant who invites his friend to dinner one day, as his dad dines on chocolate covered bricks.And one of my personal favorites, "Thomas' Snowsuit" is the story of a boy who refuses to put on his ugly brown snowsuit, reulting in an huge argument between his teacher and his principal, who end up wearing each other's clothes.
As always, the illustrations are top notch and the writing is clever and smart.While the stories collected here are all similar in tone and not as strong as other volumes (namely, 2 and 4), this is still an amazing collection of one of the most original children's authors writing today.

Saw this at the used book store
I didn't buy it because it turned out I already HAVE all the books in this collection already, but I was pleased to note that the stories aren't abridged in any way.

If you buy compilations often you know that usually they abridge the story, and they shrink or even remove some images in order to save money.

This book is printed on high quality paper, not a word was cut, and the illustrations are full-sized.

And, of course, the stories are the same great Munsch stories we all love and adore :)

a little disappointed
I love the book.They are great stories which is why I bought it.I bought it used but it said it was in excellent condition.However there were some pages ripped.That's not even good condition in my opinion.

Great Collection!
This is a great collection of Robert Munsch's classics! It contains the 5 well-known stories: The Paper Bag Princess, The Fire Station, I Have to Go!, David's Father, and Thomas' Snowsuit!! This volume of stories is bound in a beautiful padded large hardcover, with vivid pictures and large print, ideal for a child to read from. This product came promptly and in good condition!

Only one problem with Munsch
I have always loved reading Robert Munsch to children.Now that I have my own (3 1/2 year old) I love reading even more.The stories are hilarious to my son and he wants to read them every day.The only problem is that in almost every story, the adult male is smoking either a pipe or a cigar.We often talk about smoking and how unhealthy it is and that sometimes adults make bad choices.I would rather not have that conversation around children's literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Andrew's mother always embarrasses him when they go to the mall. But Andrew needs new shoes, so there is no escape!

This time is no different. Andrew's mom spits in her hand to smooth down his hair in front of everyone and shows his baby pictures to his teacher. But Andrew soon discovers he isn't alone. His friend Taylor-Jae has the same problem. Andrew and Taylor-Jae decide it's time for revenge! They announce to everyone in the mall that their mothers snore like bears and blame it on their dads. Now the mothers are the ones with red faces!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very happy with purchase and delivery
book by my favorite kid's author, Robert Munsch, arrived perfect and timely as promised. will buy from this seller again.

I'm So Embarrassed
It's a repetitive book about a dysfunctional relationship between a mother and son. A mother who's insensitive and doesn't take cues from her son. A son who doesn't do anything but whine about being embarrassed. No thoughtful discussion between the two to sort out the problem. It ends with the child "getting back" at his mother by embarrassing her. To sum it up, it's about vengeance-- not the best lesson for a child, or parent.

Great for kids
Great for kids of any age we love reading this book as much as they love hearing it.

Cute...
I purchased this book because my 5 year old daughter is always telling me not to embarass her (not that I would ever do that!)We both enjoyed the story.

I'm So Embarrassed - I'm so bored
This book was just ok.I found it to be a bit boring. Not a very good moral to the story, the children just do the same thing back to their parents so what did they learn? ... Read more

Product Description
This is Munsch as you've never seen it before. A perfect gift, The Munschworks Grand Treasury contains all three volumes of the Munschworks collections. Produced in an extra-large picture-book format, it is perfect for sharing. Includes a table of contents for easy reference.

Featuring 15 popular Robert Munsch stories:The Paper Bag Princess
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

The Fire Station
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

I Have to Go!
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

David's Father
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Thomas' Snowsuit
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Pigs
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Mortimer
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Purple, Green and Yellow
illustrated by Hélène Desputeaux

Murmel Murmel Murmel
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Something Good
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Stephanie's Ponytail
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Angela's Airplane
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Show and Tell
illustrated by Michael Martchenko

A Promise is a Promise
by Robert Munsch & Michael Kusugak
illustrated by Vladyana Langer Krykorka ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

My Kids' All-Time Favorite Book!
We own hundreds of children's books, but this is by far my children's favorite!The stories and illustrations are outlandish, amusing and capture the kids' imagination like no other!In fact, my 3 elemenary age children and all of their classmates over the years have requested that I bring this book back time and time again when I'm the classroom 'mystery reader'.The repetitive nature of a number of the stories makes even kindergarten age kids feel like they can read along...highly recommended!!!

I only wish it had ALL of his stories!
As a child growing up in Canada during the 1980's, I couldn't have avoided Munsch if I'd wanted to. So many of his books are practically culturally-required reading for more than one generation, I'm pretty sure they'd revoke citizenship if you didn't like at least one of his stories.

My favorite in this collection is also the one that was my favorite of his when I was little-- The Paper Bag Princess-- it's a delightful story with the added bonus of having a smart female heroine that can stand up for herself and realizes after saving the prince that he's not all that great and she's better off dumping him!

It's good to see so many of his classics collected in a nice hard covered collection and I'll try to hit some of the highlights for those of you that are not familiar with his work.

Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound was always my little brother's favorite. He used to say that he HAD cleaned his room up like he'd been asked but just like poor Jonathan, a subway's worth of commuters had trampled through his room and left it a mess again. This story is one of those "giggles guaranteed" tales that your kids will probably want to hear again and again.

A Promise is a Promise is probably my second-favorite (first place goes to the tragically out of print "Giant, or Waiting for the Thursday Boat"-- find a used copy on Amazon!) for the beauty of the illustrations. The story is quite frightening though and is best skipped over if you're reading to a young child as it deals with very frightening creatures that live under the ice. The girl, of course, manages to outsmart them and save the day, but it's still pretty freaky for a young kid.

I Have to Go! and Thomas' Snowsuit both deal with how kids always seem to find the wrong moment to need to use the washroom. It's funny (and familiar) territory for kids and their parents.

David's Father always hit home with us because we had a father that sleepwalked just like David's. Watching David trying to keep his dad out of trouble makes *everyone* laugh.

I could go on and list the strengths of each of these stories. They all have something delightful, unexpected, or totally relatable about them and have all stood the test of time. The book itself is a very nice large size, perfect for reading with multiple children or just for sharing with one that really wants to see all the great detail in some of the pages. I can't praise it enough, and am thrilled that I now have a son to share these classics with. There are some notable missing classics likeLove You Forever (which my mother could never read to us without tearing up!), 50 Below Zero, Millicent and the Wind, The Dark (or Mud Puddle if you want a similar but slightly less frightening take on the same concept), The Boy in the Drawer-- honestly I could keep listing pretty much everything he's done. I wouldn't be fully happy without a "complete works" collection, so instead I'll have to settle for some of his truly best stories in one nice, durable volume.

If you are on the fence about this because of the price, I can pretty much promise that any child will find at least one story in here that they will keep asking for again and again. If you're looking for a perfect gift for a child, this should unquestionably be on your shortlist. If you're a parent looking for a reliable "go to" collection for bedtime stories, look no further! Happy reading!

Big Munsch fan
I love those zany Robert Munsch stories and have enjoyed reading them to kids at school for years.Finding such a large collection of his works in one book was fantastic.I recommend this book to any big fan.

We Almost Missed This Great Author!
How is it that we have evert Richard Scarry book, every Dr. Suess, every Virginia Lee Burton, but had never even heard of Robert Munsch until a few months ago? Heis wonderful.The stories are hilarious for both children and adults.And, though Ihate to ruin the fun, they touch on important social issues.

Crowd Pleaser
I have long been a Robert Munch fan and have several of his individual books.I work in a special education class and the children absolutely love these stories. They lend themselves to silly voices and actions which aids in comprehension.The children learn while laughing. This book has the best of the best stories in one compact book. ... Read more

Product Description
A zany picture book in which Megan, who opened the door and let the pigs despite what she was told, is absolutely buried in pigs. ... Read more

Product Description
Another Munschworks! Volume four in this large picturebook format has arrived, with the next five classic Munsch tales. Robert Munsch is one of North America's best-selling authors. Two Munsch titles appeared on the New York Times list of the top 100 children's books published in the last fifteen years. He is in constant demand, and his books are always popular with young and old alike. Since he was first published in 1979, more than 20 million Munsch books have been sold in over a dozen languages.

Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection (1998) was praised as "...a treasure chest of crowd-pleasing picture books at a bargain price" (Booklist). Munschworks 2 and Munschworks 3 followed in quick succession. Now Munschworks 4 is here to complete the set.

Don't miss these popular best-sellers featuring:

- Moira's Birthday, illustrated by Michael MartchenkoMoira invites the whole school to her birthday party... and then has to come up with some pretty creative ways to entertain them (and clean up!).

- Millicent and the Wind, illustrated by Suzanne DuranceauMillicent lives at the top of the mountain and has nobody toplay with -- until the day the wind whispers to her and brings her a friend.

- From Far Away, written with Saoussan Askar, illustrated by Michael MartchenkoA true story, based on her letters, of a young girl who leaves her home in war-torn Beirut and resettles in North America.

- 50 Below Zero, illustrated by Michael MartchenkoJason is woken in the night when he hears his father sleepwalking -- on the fridge, in the bathtub, on the car, outside where it's 50 below...!

- The Boy in the Drawer, illustrated by Michael MartchenkoShelley's house is mysteriously becoming a mess... all because of one little boy. But with a hug and a kiss he suddenly vanishes, and Shelley cleans up with no trouble at all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

4 collections deep and still going strong!
After 3 previous collections, compiling 15 different Munsch children's books, the 4th collection would not have been faulted if the quality or consistency lacked.The three previous collections are all must haves, and surprisingly- or if you are a Munsch fan, not surprisingly, volume 4 delivers the good and may be the most diverse yet.
Three of the books are what I would call standard Munsch fare- stories involving children in normal situations in which a bizarre turn of events occurs."50 Below Zero" tells the story of a sleepwalking father who ends up curling up in a strange place every night, including against a tree in the middle of a field on a night when the temperature is fifty below zero.Yikes, as his concerned son would say."Moira's Birthday" is one of the more lighthearted Munsch stories, in which a birthday party gets overrun by first, second, third, fourth, and fifth graders, along with the worst of them all- kindergarteners!"The Boy in the Drawer" is a typical "creepy" Munsch tale, in which a young girl keeps encountering a tiny boy in the strangest of places, a boy who grows bigger when insulted.Each of these is fun, sophisticated, and incredibly well illustrated as all Munsch books are.
The two stories that make this collection stand out are "Far and Away" and "Millicent and the Wind".The first is a series tale about a life affected by war, as seen through the eyes of a school aged girl.This unusually serious but somehow Munschian piece shows a different side to the author and his abilities.The latter story is a fairy tale of sorts, about a lonely girl befriended by the wind.Not only do these stories step outside the parameters of the typical Munsch story, they also are illustrated in styles unlike his other work.
There is not much else to say other than "This book will not disappoint!"

A MUNSCHWORKS LOVER
I love any book that Robert Munsch writes.I think I have just about every book that he has written.I am retired from the school system and always had storytime with the kids. They always love the Munschworks books best. My grandson and the students I tutor always reached for the Robert Munsch books first.

Young and Old Purchase Robert Munsch's Children's Books
Best-selling Children's author Robert Munsch has over 35 titles in print.Since his first two books, Mud Puddle and The Dark were published in 1979, he has sold over 31 million books in over ten languages.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Munch studied for seven years to be a Jesuit priest before deciding that he preferred workingwith children. For five years, he taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centres, while studing for an M.A. inearly childhoodeducation. In 1975 Munsch and his wife Ann, moved to Canada.

Quite amazingly Musch receivesfan mail from thousands of youngsters, whom, incidentally, he enjoys personally meeting, however that's a story for another day.
Munch is known for his quirky sense of humour and understanding of children's problems. Love You Forever, his best-selling book, published in 1986 (Firefly Books), sold over 16 million copies.In fact, it has been very well received in "retirement communities, where kids are" illegal."Apparently, "grown ups are buying it for grown ups, parents buy it for grandparents, grandparents buy it for parents, and kids buy it foreverybody buys it for kids."What a phenomena!

Munschworks 4 comprises 5 more stories by North America's best-loved storyteller:

50 Below Zero, The Boy in the Drawer, Moira's Birthday, From Far Away and Millicent and the Wind.


50 Below Zero, illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Munsch's books have held a very special place in my heart ever since I discovered him. It is with great pleasure that I revisited Munsch's world in Munschworks 4.

Sure to evoke giggles and laughs, 50 Below Zero, Munsch's hero, Jason relishes in repeating my 2 year old grandson's favourite words: "What's that, What's that, What's that"?.

The main character, Jason the brave, comes to the rescue of his sleepwalking father, when he meanders all over the house andwinds up outdoors in 50 below zero weather.

Effectively capturing and complimenting the theme of the story is Michael Martchenko's bright, energetic pen and watercolor images. What particularly attracted my attention was the contrasts between night and day and cold and warm.The pictures will conquer your charges, even if you don't have Munsch's gift for storytelling.
Not only is "50 Below Zero" zany, it will surely reinforce the bond between fathers, sons and daughters; it will prove to be a sought after addition to daily story time.

The Boy in the Drawer, illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

What better way to learn how to clean up then with the amusing character of Shelley. She cleans up and doesn't even know she is being tidy!Munsch unleashes a sunny and wet narrative until Shelley masters tidiness. Simple plot, subtle message andclever humor coupled with strong characters make this story a delightful experience to share with your loved ones.

Michael Marchenko capturesthe expressions of surprise and bewilderment of all the characters. Words that leap to mind are rollicking, roustabout or rambunctious. Characters are depicted with flesh and bones. Paintings bustle with activitythat contain multiple hilarious characters, which interact , suggesting the network of relationships - the family - that lies at the center of that story.This talewill hold the children's interest till the last sentence with itswackycircumstances.

Moira's Birthday by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchentko.

Moira's birthday gives a new dimension on whom to invite to her birthday party. Will it be grades 1,2,3,4,5,6 and kindergarden or six friends, as permitted by her parents? Judge for yourself, while bursting with laughter at the surprises Munsch loves to spring on his readers, big and small.
Michael Martchenko's illustrations are boisterous, funny and colourful. Using caricature-like characters, they are full of movement and happiness. You can see the bedlam and almost hear the loud noises of the birthday party. Check out the hilarious illustration on page 67-the cook with the pizza stuck to his head!The daffyillustrations perfectly match the wild atmosphere of a child's birthday party.A favourite sure to please every age.

From Far Away by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar, illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

From Far Awaytells the story of Saoussan Askar, a seven year old in grade two coming from far away. Munsch is politically correct to omit which war torn country Saoussan comes from. Permitting Saoussan to write her own story in journal form, we follow her from her war torn country to the freedom of Canada. Here she is bewildered by a new language and new friends.
Munsch radically changes his tonality, as he is very serious, without totally getting away from his usual humour, leaving the reader somewhat grinning.This one is an invitation for tolerance and a desire to end all wars. Saoussan slowly gets used to Canadian customs, specially the one of Halloween, which at first proves to be quite frightening.With the help of her parents, teachers and classmates,she slowly adapts to Canadian life,teachers and classmates. She even wants to change her name from Saoussan to Susan but her mother won't let her, as she is informed that she must keep her traditions.

Michael Martchenko's illustrations are much more subdued then in Munsch's other stories. They effectively fit the seriousness of the subject with wonderful soft watercolors. His characters at first fill the pages with sadness, however, as the story progresses,they portray faces with joyful expressions.
A definite plus for our dreams of tolerance and friendship.

Millicent and the Wind, by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Suzanne Duranceau

In this one, Munsch returns to his playful self. It's the tale of Millicent living on a mountain top with no friends except the wind. Mister Wind feels her loneliness and on one of its gusts brings her a special friend.
Unlike the team of Munsch and Marchenko, Duranceau's illustrations take off on a different direction and style.She creates movement and lifelike characters, less cartoony then Martchenko's.Her rendering of the wind is very effective with the different white stroke directions. Millicent is portrayed as a very pretty little girl in a Pollyanna style. Duranceau'slandscapes and depiction of the sky and clouds are luminous and dreamy. The anagrams at the beginning of each written page are very elegant.
Milllicent and theWind is a story of friendship which will certainly be appreciated by both boys and girls, parents and grand-parents.

Lily Azerad-Goldman, artist and reviewer for bookpleasures



... Read more

Product Description
Special bonus story, Patches! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

Awesome for any child
Stephanie's ponytail is a lovely and clever written book that I bought for my six years old daughter, Stephanie.The moral of the story is that it's okay to be different. My daughter and I enjoyed the story; my daughter laughed so hard during the last four pages of the story when everyone in her class shaved his/her head. I would also recommend two other books written by Jon Muth, Zen shorts and the Three Questions.

Children can actively participate in the reading of this book!
Why do I like Robert Munsch books?He has a certain flare for getting children sucked into the story on the first page.He uses repetitive phrases that children enjoy chanting with the reader . . .so now they are active participants instead of passive listeners.As a librarian, I can tell you I can't keep this book or any of his others on the shelf.

A new favorite for us
The copy of Stephanie's Ponytail that I bought is a miniature book, which has the disadvantage of being too small to read easily with a squirmy kid beside you. The story, however, is perfect and has a PERFECT ending. Now I just need to get a normal sized copy.

Stephanie's Ponytail

The book was miniature.I have never seen a book so small. I feel taken advantage of.The last few times that I have dealt with you hasen't been a good experience.What more can I say?

Stephanie's Ponytail
This book was a very small version and this was not what I wanted. I would have wanted to know this before I purchased the book. ... Read more

Product Description
More Munschworks! Volume three in the large picture-book format has arrived with five more classic Munsch tales.

Robert Munsch is one of North America's best-selling authors. Two Munsch titles appeared on the New York Times list of the top 100 children's books published in the last fifteen years. He is in constant demand, and his books are always popular with young and old alike. Since 1979, when his first two books, "The Dark" and "Mud Puddle," were published, over 20 million Munsch books have been sold in over a dozen languages.

"Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection" (1998) was praised as "...a treasure chest of crowd-pleasing picture books at a bargain price," (Booklist). "Munschworks 2" followed hot on its trail in 1999, and "Munschworks 3" is here to complete the set. Don't miss these popular best-sellers!

Featuring:
- "Stephanie's Ponytail" illustrated by Michael Martchenko
All of Stephanie's schoolmates copy her hairstyles, getting Stephanie so mad that she decides to shave her head...or so she tells them!
- "A Promise is a Promise" illustrated by Vladyana Langer Krykorka
Allashua breaks her promise to her parents and goes fishing on the sea ice, where she is captured by the Qallupilluit. Her clever parents must then devise a trick to prevent the evil sea trolls from taking all their children.
- "Angela's Airplane" illustrated by Michael Martchenko
When Angela's father goes missing at the airport, she decides to search for him in an airplane. Once in the cockpit, Angela knows it wouldn't hurt to push just one button...and another....
- "Jonathan Cleaned Up-Then He Heard a Sound" illustrated by Michael Martchenko
The subway stops in Jonathan's living room, unloading hundreds of people and leaving a huge mess. When Jonathan goes to City Hall to complain, he comes up with the perfect solution.
- "Show and Tell" illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Benjamin wants to take something really neat to school for show and tell, but his new baby sister turns out to be a bad choice! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Another top notch Munsch collection!
Three collections deep and Munsch is still hitting them out of the ballpark.
While this collection is not as strong as the incomparable Munschworks 2, nor as diverse as Munschworks 4, it is still a must have for all elementary classes and students.The five stories collected here are typical examples of Robert Munsch's style and sense of humor, and contain typically high quality illustrations which take the stories to another dimension.
"Stephanie's Ponytail" is a lesson for all the copycats out there.When all the kids in school- boys included- began copying Stephanie's hair style, Stephanie pushes her fashion to the limit before taking a drastic step to teach the copycats a hilarious, well deserved lesson."Angela's Airplane" finds a young girl behind the controls of an empty but in-flight airplane relying on the instructions of an air traffic controller to help her land safely."Johnathon Heard A Sound" may be the weakest story in the entire Munschwork's series- it's a little long and contains some terminology that goes over early elementary students' heads- but it still contains enough good jokes and entertaining illustrations that make it worth reading."Show and Tell" shows us what happens when a boy brings his baby sister to school for Show and Tell, resulting in a doctor coming to the rescue with some ridiculously big shots.And the closing story, "A Promise is a Promise", a tale both illustrated and written unlike any other Munsch story, is an eerie morality lesson about the dangers of walking on thin ice.The illustrations may be a little too intense for little ones, but my first graders are absolutely enthralled by both the story and the pictures.
While this is not the strongest of the Munschworks collections, it is nonetheless a worthy read and well worth owning.There simply is no other author out there with the same sense of humor and intelligence as Mr. Munsch, and he writes smart, clever stories that give children credit for being intelligent, thinking readers.

A great goofball!
Robert Munsch is a delightfully creative genius.These wacky and off the wall short stories make kids and grownups laugh and think.Purchasing this volume completes my collection - all of which are fun and memorable.Even though my kids are really "too old" for them, they still delight in picking them up, hearing them again, and reliving how they felt when these stories were a more regular part of their routine.

Robert Munsch is awesome!
Any of Robert Munsch's works are awesome! The kids giggle through his stories, as well as their mom :)

Great collection of Munsch stories
My son is only three and he love all of the Munsch stories in this book.He especially loves Stephanie's Ponytail and Angela's Airplane.Robert Munsch has a unique style of captivating his reader's attention with the right amount of humor and wit.This is a great book to have if you are a Munsch fan.

We love Munsch
My daughter is 2 1/2 and she loves all three of the Munsch treasuries that we've purchased. We like all of the stories in all of the books! ... Read more

Product Description
When Madison gets her face painted, she doesn't want anything fancy--just one rose on her cheek. But soon she realizes that it isn't a simple flower at all! Can she get her family to notice what is really going on? ... Read more

Product Description

Classic Munsch stories now available in classic-sized treasuries.

Each of these standard-sized books features five of Robert Munsch's best-loved stories. In Munsch Mini-Treasury One readers will recognize some of their favorites:

• Angela's Airplane
  
• The Paper Bag Princess
  
• 50 Below Zero
  
• Pigs
• A Promise Is a Promise (co-authored with Michael Kusugak)

Munsch Mini-Treasury Two features:

• Stephanie's Ponytail
  
• The Fire Station
  
• I Have to Go!
  
• Moira's Birthday
  
• Thomas' Snowsuit

Accompanied by the lively, familiar artworks of Michael Martchenko and Vladyana Krykorka, this new smaller treasury format is perfect for sharing anywhere, any time.

Product Description
Robert Munsch, Canada's best-selling author, is constantly in demand, and his books are always popular with young and old alike. This 'superstar' storyteller's books have sold more than 20 million copies.

Last year brought "Munschworks: The First Munsch Collection," and "Booklist" praised it as "a treasure chest of crowd-pleasing picture books at a bargain price."

But one volume cannot possibly contain ALL the Munsch favorites - it would be too heavy to lift at bedtime! Now volume two has another five classic Munsch tales:

* "Pigs," illustrated by Michael MartchenkoFollow Megan as she tries to get the pigs back into their pen, and discover that pigs are a lot smarter than you think.

* "Purple, Green and Yellow," illustrated by Helene DesputeauxBrigid loves to draw and, when she gets her new super-indelible-never-come-off-till-you're-dead-and-maybe-even-later coloring markers, nothing is safe!

* "Mortimer," illustrated by Michael MartchenkoDiscover why bedtime is such a noisy time with Mortimer around.

* "Murmel, Murmel, Murmel," illustrated by Michael MartchenkoWho needs a baby that says "murmel, murmel, murmel"? Certainly not Robin, but she is determined to find someone who does.

* "Something Good," illustrated by Michael MartchenkoTyya's dad won't buy anything good at the store - no ice cream, no candy, no cookies. But when the saleslady puts a price sticker on Tyya's nose, Daddy is finally forced to buy something good.

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied to be a Jesuit priest, but decided to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an M.A. in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, he and his wife Ann moved to Guelph, Ontario. They have three children: Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in "Something Good!").

Michael Martchenko has illustrated over 30 books for children and has exhibited his work throughout North America. He has won numerous awards for design and illustration. He lives with his wife Patricia in Toronto.

Helene Desputeaux has illustrated over 50 children's books for publishers. She lives outside Montreal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

My favorite children's Author!
I'm a 3-6 year old teacher and Robert Munsch is my number one pick any time I am looking for a book to read to the class. It gets the children's attention and makes them laugh every time.He is the only author I have ever found that makes the children ask for more and more and more, and the children cheer every time I show them the front of one of his books. This collection has my favorite Munsch books all in one book. I give this book as a gift to children on birthdays.

Best of the lot!
This may be the best of the lot in the Munschworks series.
Each of the 5 books collected here is a favorite- on its own- of my kindergarten and first grade classes.The opening "Pigs" is laugh out loud funny and though the text and illustrations verge on mature (a pig who likes to pee in coffee, a runaway bus driven by pigs that destroys a yard) the tone is light and comic and never fails to entertain."Mortimer" is one of the most enjoyable Munsch books to read aloud, about a small boy who sings when he is supposed to be sleeping, resulting in bedroom visits from his parents, siblings, and the cops! "Murmel Murmel Murmel" is simply odd.A girl finds a baby in a hole- the baby can only say "murmel murmel murmel"- and asks everyone she sees if they want a baby.A little dark, but the ending is a five year old's dream come true! "Something Good" confronts a child's worst nightmare- being left behind at the store by your parents- in a funny and ridiculous way.And "Purple Green and Yellow" concludes with a story about a girl who does what we all want to do- she colors herself with her markers only to discover that they will not wash off.
Robert Munsch is undoubtedly one of the most original and entertaining children's authors writing today.The illustrations, done by his long time partner Michael Martchenko and other artists- pop off the page and manage to provide more detail to already satisfying stories.His humor appeals to children and adults, without being too simple or too racy.His books are worth re-reading many times and are a must to any children's library!

Good entertainment
Parents and children will enjoy the creativity of Robert Munsch.These are the storylines of real life, such as kids needing bathrooms after fully dressed to go out, ordeals of school copycats, the trips to the grocery store with the whole family in tow. The illustrations capture the humor of childrens' points of view and misunderstandings. My adult kids adored these books as little children and we are now introducing them to the next generation. These were my favorite books to read to them and will be yours too!!

Wonderful Stories
Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury (Munshworks)

I chose this book as a Christmas gift for a seven year old girl.For
years as a reading specialist, I used these stories to inspire children to find pleasure in reading.I've gone from classroom to classroom
reading these stories to pre-k, kindergarten, first, second, third,
fourth, and fifth grade classes.They all enjoyed these and other Robert Munsch stories.I never tire of sharing these stories with children.

A great pick
Books by this author are just great. Kids love the storyline and the illustrations are fantastic, full of eye catching detail and humor. Every grammy should have some of his work on hand! ... Read more