From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:
Munsch, Munsch, Crunch, Crunch
Mortimer once sang, “Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang
Gonna make my noise all day!” (Munsch, Mortimer, p.9).
When you think of your favourite childhood stories, what would make your top five? It’s safe to say that Robert Munsch would be an author featured on many of our lists. Choosing specific titles, however, might be a challenge – not because there are so few, but because Munsch has written so many classics that never seem to grow old. Take Mortimer, for instance.
Do you remember this prolific author’s book MMM…Pkwezhgaanhsak? During his visit to Sault College in April of 2004, Munsch was preparing to release the children’s book, more commonly known as ‘MMM…Cookies’, in the Ojibway language.
The college was granted permission to translate and publish ten of Munsch’s stories, a project made possible through grant funding. Carolyn Hepburn, who was the college’s Ojibway Language Initiatives Coordinator at the time, remarked, “having a title available in Ojibway will catch the interest of aboriginal children and parents. The book supports our efforts to help native people reclaim the Ojibway language” (Sault Star, April 2004, p. 13). With literacy being such a vital part of child development, publishing a well-known title in the Ojibway language was seen as a significant step toward ‘reclaiming’ the language in a meaningful way.
Since storytelling is an important aspect of Indigenous culture, having stories written in the language is essential for its preservation. During his visit to the Sault College gymnasium, Munsch stated, “when a language starts to die, one of the first that dies are kids’ stories, because people think they’re trivial” (Sault Star, April 2004, p. 2). It is no surprise that the children’s author would support and promote translated versions of his books, as Munsch often advocated for early literacy, school libraries, and meaningful education. These ideals were not something Munsch merely talked about or advocated for – he practiced what he preached.
When talking about his writing, the Mortimer author said that a lot of the development of his stories happened while in front of an audience. He stated that “I basically do what I learned in daycare. I don’t tell a story and it’s done. I play along with it, and they develop over a long time…” (Sault Star, October 2007, p. 21). By interacting with the audience while reading the story, the storytelling becomes more dynamic and meaningful.
This dynamic and meaningful storytelling inspires children to utilize their imagination and lends itself well to early literacy and learning. In anticipation of the author’s visit, a sensation of sorts occurred in Algoma, affectionately called Munschmania. Organizers of the event received copious amounts of calls about the reading and author visit, stating, “I think what really impresses me is the level of excitement and interest the callers are showing” (Sault Star, April 2004, p.12). Schools and daycares in the region used the event to inspire youth to read and celebrate all things Munsch, including a read-a-thon in Echo Bay, where students read over two thousand stories.
The event held by Sault College had children going “from raptly listening, as an animated Munsch told a few of his tales, to shouting the popular refrain” from his famous story Mortimer (Sault Star, April 2004, p.2). The Canadian best-selling author also read from the then newly translated book, MMM…Pkwezhgaanhsak alongside Barb Nolan, showcasing both English and Ojibway languages.
One of the key reasons Robert Munsch’s books have stood the test of time is that the stories are relatable to adults and children alike. Linda Felton, a former associate children’s librarian, once said, “He brings to life [the] fantasies of children” when describing Munsch’s books (Sault Star, April 2004, p.12). This statement couldn’t be more true, because who hasn’t dreamt of a pizza day during a snowstorm, saving a sleepwalking dad, or outsmarting a ferocious dragon?
How about a glass of milk and a cookie…. or two?
Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provide SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.
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