Munschworks Grand Treasury

Dosi Cotroneo is a freelance writer living in Manotick, Ontario.

Fifteen of Robert Munsch’s delightful, high-energy stories are
featured in this handsome, hardcover collection (“The Paper Bag
Princess”; “The Fire Station”; “I Have to Go!”; “David’s
Father”; “Thomas’ Snowsuit”; “Jonathan Cleaned Up—Then He
Heard a Sound”; “Show and Tell”; “Pigs”; “Mortimer”;
“Purple, Green and Yellow”; “Murmel, Murmel, Murmel”;
“Something Good”; “Stephanie’s Ponytail”; and “Angela’s
Airplane”). And The Munschworks Grand Treasury is indeed a grand
treasure. Everyday family-life situations are transformed into
hilarious, imaginative adventures. Most of the stories are humorous,
with the exception of “A Promise Is a Promise,” a beautiful Inuit
tale.

Munsch is at his most clever when showing the gap between the adult
world and the child’s world through his lovable kid characters, and
highlighting the ridiculous reactions of the adults. His stories touch
on such topics as copycats, peer pressure, struggling with change,
grocery shopping, finding courage, keeping a promise, taking charge,
listening to parents, dealing with temptation, acceptance of others, and
much more.

All of his stories feature bright, bold, comical illustrations by such
acclaimed illustrators as Michael Martchenko, Hélиne Desputeaux, and
Vladyana Langer Krykorka, who capture Munsch’s expressive characters
from a child’s perspective. Highly recommended.