Playhouse - Munsch - Book Review

Playhouse
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko.
Scholastic 2002
The Playhouse Story

Rene lives on a farm. (In real life she lives on a farm in Saskatchewan). One day she asks her father for a playhouse. So Rene's dad makes her a play house. It had an upstairs and a downstairs, real windows and a slide and a ladder.

The next day Rene moved lots of stuff from her real bedroom into the playhouse. She even painted fish on the walls just like in her real bedroom.

After a month, Rene got bored so she asked for a play barn. Her mother made her a play barn. It took 2 weeks. Then Rene moved some chickens from the real barn into her play barn. Next Rene asked for a play cow. Her father painted a goat to look like a cow and that was Rene's play cow.

Then Rene went to her father and asked him to park the log chopper, the tree snipper the bulldozer and the tractor right next to her play barn to make it look like a real farm. Rene was very happy for a whole month.

After a while, Rene got bored again. Rene decided she wanted someone to play with. So she asked her mother to make her a play mommy and a play daddy.
A play what? asked her mother.
A play mommy and a play daddy, said Rene.
Her mother said why dont you play with the real ones?
Rene said the real ones were all too bossy. Rene's mother said No.
So Rene made a play mom and a play dad and she made play brothers as well.

When she came into the house for dinner, there was a scarecrow sitting in her chair.
What's this in my chair, asked Rene.
That is my play Rene, said her mother. She is very nice and never bossy.
You can eat food in the playhouse with your play mommy and your play daddy.

Rene took the play Rene and went outside. She gave the play Rene to the goat (who was pretending to be a cow) to eat. Then Rene went back inside and kissed her mom.
Was that a real kiss or a play kiss? asked her mother
That, said Rene, was a real kiss, from a bossy daughter for a real bossy mommy. Now can I have a real dinner with my real family?
No problem, said her mother. I like real bossy kids better than play kids anyway.
And they all had a real great dinner.

This is my final book for the Single Author Challenge of the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge. I am trying to fit in ONE last genre for this Challenge - the ABM Challenge - Canadian Autobiographies, Biographies and Memoirs.

Up, Up, Down - Munsch - Book Review

Up Up down
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic 2001

Anna liked climbing.
One day she climbed up the refridgerator and fell down on her head.
Be Careful. Dont climb, said her mother.


But Anna didnt listen.
Anna went to her bedroom and tried to climb up the dresser.
She fell down on her tummy.
Be careful. Dont climb, said her father.

So Anna went outside and decided to climb the tall tree in the back yard.
She tried to climb up but fell down on her bottom.
So she went to get some climbing equipment and then climbed the tree again.
This time she made it all the way to the top.

I'm the king of the castle, mommy's the dirty rascal, yelled Anna from the top of the tree.
Anna's mother came out of the house and said Anna get out of that tree.
Anna said NO, no, no, no, no, no.
So Anna's mother tried to climb the tree. She fell down on her head.

And then Anna yelled, I'm the king of the castle, daddy's a dirty rascal.
Anna's father came looking for Anna and said Anna get out of the tree.
Anna said NO, no, no, no, no, no.
So Anna's father tried to climb the tree. He fell down on his bottom.

Anna looked over the side of the tree. Her parents were both yelling. So Anna climbed down the tree and went to the house to find band aids. She wrapped very large bandaids around both her mother and her father and then she said to them...

Be Careful. Don't Climb.

Alligator Baby - Munsch - Book Review

Alligator Baby
by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchecnko
Scholastic 1997
The Alligator Baby

When Kristen's mother comes home from the hospital with a new baby, the mother asks Kristen if she wants to see her new baby brother.
Oh yes, said Kristen.


Kristen lifted up the bottom of the blanket, saw a green tail.
Thats not a people tail she said.
Kristen lifted up the middle of the blanket, saw a green claw.
Thats not a people claw she said.
Kristen lifted up the top of the blanket, saw a green face with lots of teeth.
Thats not a people face. Thats not my baby brother.
Now Kristen, said her mother. Don't be jealous.

The baby reached up and bit Kristen's mother on the nose. Then the baby reached up and bit Kristen's father on the nose.
That's not a people baby. That's an alligator baby, said Kristen.
Goodness said her mother. We've got the wrong baby.

So Kristen put the alligator baby in the fish tank and the parents went to the zoo to find their baby. They came back with a new baby.

Kristen lifts up the bottom, the middle and the top of the blanket to discover a seal baby. The seal baby gets dumped in the bathtub and the parents head for the zoo to find their baby.

When they come back, Kristen lifts up the bottom, the middle and the top of the blanket only to find a gorilla baby. Which is soon hanging from the chandelier.

This time Kristen says she will go and find the baby.

Kristen hops on her bike and pedals to the zoo. She eventually finds her baby brother in the gorilla cage with a large mommy gorilla. The mommy gorilla refuses to give the baby back. Until the baby reaches up and bites the mommy gorilla on the nose. Then the gorilla gives the baby to Kristen.

Kristen rides home with her new baby brother. The mommies of the alligator, the seal and the gorilla babies follow her home and break into the house to get their babies back.

And everything is ok...until Kristen's mom has twins.

The Sandcastle Contest - Munsch Review

The Sandcastle Contest
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchecnko
Scholastic 2005

Matthew's family are packing up to go to the Beach. Matthew desperately wants a dog, but the family does not have a dog. So they drove and drove and drove and drove and drove and drove until they arrived at the beach.


When they finally got to the Beach, Matthew went to see what was happening. There was a sandcastle competition going on. Matthew asked a girl what the first prize was. A bathtub full of ice cream she said.

Matthew started building a house. The house was taller than Matthew, and it looked really real. It had several rooms - a kitchen with a sand refridgerator, a lounge with a sand TV and a bedroom with a sand bed.

A judge came by and asked WHO put this house on the beach. Houses are not allowed on the beach. Matthew said it's my sand house for the competition. HA HA HA laughed the judge. This is a real house and he went in and sat down in the lounge and watched the program on the sand TV.

Another judge came by and asked WHO put this house on the beach. Houses are not allowed on the beach. Matthew said its my sand house for the competition. HA HA HA laughed the judge. This is a real house and she went in and opened the refridgirator and pulled out some sand food.

Matthew was mad. He said, I'll show you this is a sand house and he went outside the house and kicked in one corner. Immediately the house collapsed, right on top of the two judges. Once they dug themselves out they immediately said that Matthew's sand house won the competition, because it was so real. They could not tell that it was a sand house. So Matthew won the bath tub of ice cream. The girl he had spoken to had made a sand dog. So Matthew asked her if she could make a sand dog for him. And so she did.

Class Clown - Munsch Book Review

Shocking news on Robert Munsch's website. Dated August 28th, 2008, and it says this.
I have had a stroke. It affects my ability to construct sentences. It is a part of my brain called Broca's Area. It is going to take a long time to get well.
I emailed the website asking for more details and received this reply.
Bob suffered a minor stroke in late August. Although a full recovery is expected, he is taking some time off.

Class Clown
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Books 2007
Official Website

As Leonardo grew up, everyone thought he was cute because he was so funny.
Leonardo, everyone kept saying, You are sooooo funny.


By the time he was in grade 1 he was called the class clown. Now the grade one teacher that year was Mrs Gomez. And Mrs Gomez said, Leonardo, You have to stop. The kids are laughing all the time and noone is learning anything. STOP BEING FUNNY.

Ok said Leonardo and for the first time in his life he stopped being funny.

Within 5 minutes Leonardo couldn't help it. He just had to be funny. So he made a funny face at the girl sitting next to him. She fell off her chair and on the floor laughing.

Mrs Gomez asked the girl what she was doing.
I was thinking of something very funny said the girl.
Well STOP thinking, said Mrs Gomez.
Ok, I'll stop thinking, the girl said as she kept on lauging.

A few minutes later Leonard had the urge to be funny again. So he leaned over to the boy sitting next to him on the other side, and told a very funny joke. The boy started laughing and fell out of his chair onto the floor. Mrs Gomez came over.

STOP yelled Mrs Gomez. What is going on?
I remembered something very funny. said the boy still laughing.
Well stop remembering said Mrs Gomez.
Ok said the boy, I will never remember anything again.

Leonardo was quiet until after lunch, and then while Mrs Gomez was writing on the backboard, Leonardo drew a very funny picture and held it up so that everyone in the class could see it. They all burst out laughing.

STOP yelled Mrs Gomez. What is going on?
It's Leonardo. He's the class clown. The children gasped as they laughed.
Leonardo said Mrs Gomez, I have told you to stop being a clown. now I am getting really really REALLY mad.
Ok said Leonardo. I will never be funny again.
HA said Mrs Gomez and she fell down and laughed so hard she kicked her desk over.
Leonardo she said. You are SOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNY.

That was when Leornardo decided that when he grew up, he was going to be a clown.

Just One Goal - Munsch - Book Review

Just One Goal
by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic 2008


This is the latest of the Munsch books.



Robert Munsch seems to have a fascination for the Canadian Territories because this is the second book I have read that is set in the North West Territories. This book is about a girl named Ciara (kee-ara) in Hay River, NWT.

Ciara lives with her parents and two older sisters on the River in the town of Hay River, North West Territories. Up until now the family has to drive all the way across town to play hockey at the local rink. Ciara decides that the river is the perfect place to make an ice rink, so that she doesnt have to go all the way across town just to play hockey.

Ciara pesters her father, her mother and her older sisters. Both the parents say that the river ice too jagged and bumpy to make a rink. Her sisters say it's not fair, Since they had to go acros town to play hockey, then so should she. They are not going to help her make a rink on the river.

So Ciara decides to make her own rink. She spends the whole of the next day going back and forth with jugs of warm water, until the northern lights came out, making a rink. At bed time she had made a small but very smooth rink, big enough for a small dog.

The next day her father rents a bulldozer and clears the river ice and makes a real people sized ice rink on the river. Ciara puts up a sign calling it the River Rats Rink, and lots of kids came to play. But Ciara for some reasion is never able to win a game.

One time the game stopped when a moose went to sleep in the goal net. Another time a large brown bear with a baby ran across the ice chasing all the kids away, and the third time a group of teenagers interrupted the game with their skidoo antics.

Finally it was the end of winter and the game is tied. The ice is getting wet. The teams are frantic to finish this last game of the season.

Crack, CRack, CRAck, CRACk, CRACK, CRACK, CRACK.

The sounds are getting louder as the ice on the river starts breaking up. The rink breaks loose and starts floating away. The players dont notice because they are intent on winning their game.

The parents are running along the river side telling the players to STOP, STOP, STOP. Noone hears them. Then Ciara's mother yells and points to the bridge.

Get to the bridge. we can stop them there. So all the parents drive to the bridge that croses the river. The parents hang off the bridge sides and they all grab their kids as the rink floats past under the bridge. All except Ciara. She is heading for the goal net and she is determined to win at least one game this season.

Ciara's father grabbs his fishing rod from the car and casts a hook way way way down the river. He catches Ciara just as she scored. "We win" yell Ciara's team and all the moms and dads faint.

Then they all go up to the restaurant and have some hot chocolate while Ciara designs the rink for next year.

More Pies - Munsch - Book Review

More Pies
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Books 2002


Samuel woke up hungry. For breakfast he ate one bowl of cereal and asked his mother for more. The second helping was another bowl of cereal, two milkshakes and a stack of pancakes. Samuel ate it all really fast.

Then Samuel said I am still hungry. Could I please have some more? His mother dished up a huge salad bowl of cereal, two milkshakes, three stacks of pancakes and a fried chicken. Samuel ate it all really fast.

Then Samuel said I am still really hungry. Could I please have seven fried chickens?
Seven fried chickens? yelled his mother. Enough is enough. Nothing more to eat until lunch. Go out and play.

So Samuel went outside and rolled around on the gress yelling that he was starving, staaaaarving, STAAAAAARVING.

His little brother told Samuel to go to the pie eating contest being held at the park, so off samuel went. At the park, he told the judges he wanted to enter the pie-eating contest. They laughed at him and said You're just a little kid, Go home.

The other three contestants (a lumberjack, a construction worker and a fireman - all big men) were waiting to start the pie-eating contest. They told the judges to let him enter. It won't hurt to let this little boy eat a pie. So Samuel was allowed to enter the contest.

The first round was one blueberry pie. The lumberjack turned purple and went under the table.

The second round consisted of two peach pies. The fireman turned green and went under the table.

The third round consisted of three cherry pies. The construction worker turned blue and went under the table.

Amazing said the judge. Samuel wins first prize. He wins the prize pie. Samuel took the large prize pie home.

When he walked into the kitchen, his mother said, Samuel I know you are hungry so I made you pies for lunch. Pies? said Samuel. He turned green and went under the table. So Samuels little brother ate all the pies instead.

No Clean Clothes - Munsch Book Review

No Clean Clothes
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scolastic 2006
Behind the Story

Lacey checked all the drawers in her dresser. No Clean Clothes. She ran downstairs to the kitchen and demanded that her mother wash her clothes.


Lacey, I would wash them if I could find them. said her mother. You hide them under your bed. You lend them to your friends. You leave them in the back yard. Sometimes I think you feed your underwear to the dogs.

Mom, Don't be silly. All I need is one shirt. Cant you find me one clean shirt? Lacey asked.

Well there is that nice shirt grandma gave you for your birthday. You've never worn that. said Mom.

That shirt is a Strange Grandma Shirt. When I was three, grandma gave me a shirt that said Snookie Wookums and everyone laughed at me. When I was four, grandma gave me a shirt that said Cutie Patootie and everyone laughed at me. When I was five, grandma gave me a shirt that said Cuddly Wunkums and everyone laughed at me. Now I am six and grandma gives me a shirt that says KISS ME - I'M PERFECT. I am NOT wearing that shirt to school. Only a grandma would choose a shirt like that.

Now Lacey, said Mom. Just wear that shirt this morning and I will wash a shirt and bring it to school at recess.

You will wash it right away? Lacey asked.
Yes said Mom.
You will not talk on the phone?
No said mom
You will not wash the dishes?
No said Mom
You will not go shopping on the way?
No said Mom
You will not go to work and chop down a tree?
No said Mom.
OK. Then I will be on the steps of the school at recess.

So Lacey wore a shirt to school that said KISS ME - I'M PERFECT.

On the way to school she was kissed by a kitten, a dog, an eagle and a moose. By the time she got to school, Lacey was a mess and she loved her shirt. After she washed up she went back to the classroom where she was kissed by a boy. YUCK! BOY KISS AAAAAAAHHHHHH. Lacey went to the bathroom and washed her face until recess. When she went to stand on the school steps, she was kissed by a bear.

When Lacey got home after school, her mother asked, I didn't see you at school today. Was the shirt ok?
I LOVE this shirt said Lacey. I called Grandma from the school office and she is going to send everyone at school, a Strange Grandma shirt.

Smelly Socks - Munsch

Smelly Socks
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Books 2004
Smelly socks - the story behind this story

Tina wants to buy some new socks. But her mother is too busy and they don't have a car. It's a long way around to the nearest bridge to get to the sock shop. So Tina asks her grandfather to row them across the river to the sock shop.

Tina loves her new coloured striped socks so much that she refuses to take them off. After 10 days Tina's mother said she needed to wash them or they would start to smell. Never said Tina. I will never take them off. After 20 days the other students on Tina's class started telling Tina to wash her socks. Never said Tina.

After 30 days a flock of Canada Geese flying over the house all dropped out of the sky from the smell. Two moose fell over from the smell. Ducks, raccoons, squirrels and a skunk all fell over as Tina passed by walking to and from school. Finally the kids in Tina's class had had enough. They grabbed Tina one day, dragged her down to the river and held her down as they removed the socks and washed them. The fish all played dead and floated on top of the water. The beavers left the river and went to live with Tina's grandfather. And people complained that the river even smelled of dirty socks.

Once the socks were clean, Tina was very happy. Wow she said. They look clean, the smell clean and they feel clean. The animals that had fallen over from the smell, all got up and went back to their business.

Tina went home and showed her nice clean socks to her mother.
My socks are nice and clean and I think it would be very nice if you took me to town to get me a nice new coloured striped jersey. she said.
Promise to wash it? her mother asked?
NO, said Tina. If I wait long enough, the kids at school will wash it for me.

Get Out of Bed - Munsch

Get Out of bed
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Allan and Lea Daniel
Scholastic Canada 1998

The Official Robert Munsch website
It takes a while to load up, so be patient.
Get out of Bed - the story behind the story



One night Amy went downstairs to watch TV. She watched the Late Show, the Late Late show, the Late Late Late Show and then she watched the Early Early Early Early Show. She finally went to bed because she felt somewhat tired.

At breakfast the next morning, Amy did not arive at the table. Her brother,father and mother all tried to wake Amy up. Amy continued sleeping.
What will we do, said her mother. I have to go to work.
So do I said Amy's father.
And I have to go to school said Amy's brother.

I know said Amy's brother. Let's take her to school in her bed.
Good idea said the parents.
So Amy's bed is carried along the road to school. It was carried right to the classroom and set down at the back. Amy slept in her bed all through reading, arithmetic, gym class, art, and still she did not wake up. At the end of the day the principal called the parents to come and get Amy and take her home. Amy stayed sleeping right through until the following morning.

The next day Amy came down to breakfast and said, I had a wonderful sleep, but I had strange dreams.
When Amy arrived at school that day, the principal said Hello Amy, how are you today.
Wonderful, thank you but I did have some strange dreams. said Amy.

When Amy arrived at her classrom, it was full of beds and everyone was snoring.

We Share Everything - Munsch Book Review

We Share Everything
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Canada 1999.

Amanda and Jeremiah have just started Kindergarten. And in Kindergarten, they both want the same book. So they start both pulling at it.



"If you dont give me that book, I'm going to scream" said Jeremiah to Amanda.
"I dont care" said Amanda, so Jeremiah screamed.

The teacher came running over and said, "Now look, This is Kindergarten, and in Kindergarten, we share everything." OK OK OK OK OK OK OK said Amanda & Jeremiah

This happened again with the building blocks and with the paints. Each time one of them screamed, and each time the teacher told them that "...In Kindergarten, we share everything".

So the kids carried this idea of sharing to its logical conclusion. They started sharing their clothes. They shared their shoes, their shirts and their pants.

When the teacher saw them, she said, "Its good to see you're being so grown up and sharing. Those are nice...Pink Pants? Jeremiah, whose pinks pants are those?"

"Oh, it's ok" said Jeremiah. "Amanda and I shared our clothes."
"WHAT???" yelled the teacher. "WHO SAID YOU COULD SHARE YOUR CLOTHES??"
And all the kids said (in unison) "Now look, This is Kindergarten, and in Kindergarten, we share EVERYTHING."

This is for the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge.

Look at Me - Munsch Book Review

Look At Me
By Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Canada 2008

This is the most recent Munsch book. Madison finds a ticket for free face painting at the park. She asks for "a small perfect rose that look really real" on her cheek. So the face painter takes a really really long time painting a small perfect rose on Madison's cheek, that looks really real.


Shortly after, while Madison is at the hardware shop with her dad, she comments that she thinks the rose is growing. When her father looks at her face, he sees two roses on Madisons cheeks. "But I think it was that way already" her father says.

Later at the Kitchen store with her mother, Madison says her flower is growing again. There was just one rose, now there are three. Her mother looks at her face closely and says "I thought you just asked for one rose." Madison says she did ask for one rose. "Well, I guess that face painter gave you three" says Madisons mother.

At the ice-cream shop with her Grandma, the flowers start growing all over Madisons body. Grandma watches as more roses grow down Madisons arms. "This is terrible" says Grandma and takes Madison to the doctor. The doctor says she knows a lot about people, but not a lot about plants.

"Let's try the garden store" says Madison. At the garden store, the owner suggests weed killer. Madison disagrees. And then she comes up with a solution. "I know" says Madison. "Let's be nice to the rose. I will go home and take a nap with a large flower pot beside my bed and maybe the rose will go and live in the flower pot".

And thats exactly what happened - sort of.

This is my son's current favourite Munsch book. I have been reading it almost every night for the last 4 months since I bought it. The weird thing is that it's all about a girl, but he doesnt seem to mind that.

This review is for the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge.

The second canadian book challenge

The second Canadian book challenge allows us to read 13 books by one author if we so choose. The Individuals- Many of our authors have been quite prolific, having written 13 or more books. Want to devote the challenge entirely to Lucy Maud Montgomery? Margaret Atwood? Robert Munsch? It's 13 books by a single author.

I see Robert Munsch has been approved. I have just checked my 6 year old son's bookshelves and guess what - we have 16 Robert Munsch books already. So technically I can do this challenge just by reading these books.

Personally, I dont think Robert Munsch Books should be allowed. They are too skinny and only take 5 minutes to read. But since he is listed, I am going to read/post one Robert Munsch books as well as a "free spirit" book every month. Thats my challenge to myself. Or when I don't have anything else to write, I can post a Robert Munsch Book review.

I already have one Robert Munsch review on this blog. LOL

Robert Munsch

So how many of you readers, either read Robert Munsch or had his books read to you when you were a kid?

My son has yet another birthday party to attend tomorrow (I think that's the 5th one in four straight weekends). I spoke to the birthday boys mom at the last party, and she said books would be good. I asked her "How about Robert Munsch?", and she said "Yes please".

So today I went out and purchased 5 Robert Munsch books. I had to get that many - because one - there are so many good ones, and two - I needed to buy some for my son as well because I haven't brought him any new ones for a while.

He says in all seriousness, I only want boy books, mommy. No girl books. And quite a few of Robert Munsch's books are about girls, so OK kiddo, no more girl books. That cut my selection of books today down to five. I found 3 boy books, one about a boy and a girl, and one about a girl. Now I know he doesn't want any girl books, but this one is about a girl on a really really really fast wheelchair. Now my son loves going fast, so I figured he might be ok with the girl going really really fast on a wheelchair. If he doesn't like it, the Birthday Boy gets it.

Update - My son liked the wheelchair and wants to keep ZOOM.

Update - There's a new Young Readers challenge for reading kids books out there. I'll think I might read Robert Munsch books for this challenge. No specific list yet - just whatever I buy next year. And if I find any Encyclopedia Brown Books, I might read some of them too. I haven't read any of those for 30 years or more.