Literary Criticism on

Robert Munsch’s
“Love You Forever”

I. INTRODUCTION

AUTHOR: Robert Munsch

PLACE OF BIRTH: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

DATE OF BIRTH: June 11, 1945

EDUCATION

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 having 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.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

In 1985, Munsch won a Juno Award for his portrayal of "Murmel, Murmel, Munsch: More
Outrageous Stories". In 1992, he was also chosen "Author of the Year" by the Canadian
Booksellers' Association. In 1999, Munsch was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Munsch would receive a star on Canada's Walk
of Fame in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009, and in
2013, his star was revealed on King Street in Toronto. In 2009, Robert Munsch Public School
opened in Whitby, Ontario, and in 2014, a second Robert Munsch Public School opened
in Uxbridge, Ontario.

CAREER

One of Munsch's best-known books, Love You Forever, was listed fourth on the 2001
Publishers Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6.97 million
copies (not including the 1.049 million hardcover copies). It has since sold more than 30
million copies and has been featured on the episode "The One With the Cake" from the
iconic television show Friends, as well as being mentioned by Oprah Winfrey on Late Night
with David Letterman as being her favorite children's book. His other famous book The
Paper Bag Princess is considered to be a feminist story, as well as a literary classic.

WRITING STYLE

Munsch is known for his exuberant storytelling methods, with exaggerated expressions
and acted voices. He makes up his stories in front of audiences and refines them through
repeated tellings.

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. In
1991, some of his books were adapted into the cartoon series A Bunch of Munsch.
 ABOUT “LOVE YOU FOREVER”

‘Love You Forever’ is a classic heart-warming story by Robert Munsch built around a
simple, but eternally meaningful commitment from a mother to a child to love him
forever.

Robert Munsch started it as a song: “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as
I’m living my baby you’ll be” after he and his wife had two stillborn babies.

The language, structure, and style of this book are not too complicated. The illustrations
created by Sheila McGraw make this story understandable for children. However, to my
mind, only parents can understand the real meaning of the words in this story.
Understanding where Munsch is coming from while writing Love You Forever really
emphasizes the meaning of unconditional love that is so prevalent within the story, as well
as, highlights the underlying theme of gender stereotypes. The love that a parent has for
their child is an unrestricted love that never wavers.

‘Love You Forever’

Illustrations by Sheila McGraw (1986)