Reviews (428)

You'll Love it or Hate it - I Love it
We've had this book for a few years, but I hadn't ever read it with my daughter until last night. It is a wonderful book. It starts out with a mother and her new baby and she rocks him and sings him a little song about how he will be her baby as long as she lives.

Through the succeeding pages, the baby grows into a toddler, a young boy, a teenager and a man. In every stage of his life, his mother sneaks into his room sometimes, crawls across the floor, picks him up, rocks him, and sings the song. This is the part that some people find creepy (my wife included). I think the problem is that some people just don't care to suspend disbelief and expect every book to be very literal. Yes, a little old lady breaking and entering to rock her grown son is a little odd to us as adults, but if you approach the book as a young child, it might seem perfectly normal. In any case, it serves as an effective symbol to show that the mother's love endures throughout their lives.

Of course, since the son is growing up, so is the mother, and you can imagine where this is leading. When the mother gets too old to sing the song anymore, I broke down in tears right there reading to my almost four year old daughter. We had a pretty good conversation as a result.

So, now you are forewarned. I think whether you like this book or not is going to be very dependent on what sort of person you are and what sort of person your kids are.

Glad I am not a "Normal Well-Adjusted Mother"
Cynics, sickos and general crumudgeons, this book is written through the eyes of CHILDREN and recommended for 4-8 year olds. Would you rather the author show the son in the back of a cruiser after under age drinking at a party and while he is passed out in his bed after his Mom bails him out of jail she could crawl into his room to recite the poem-that would be fun to explain to a 5 year old!

As one reviewer put it, you could just tell your children you love them...think of that page turner. Once Upon a Time, I love You, The End. Oh, Mommy, please read that one again!

Where's the baby's Mother? The son's Father? Who knows? Who Cares!!! My children have never once asked me and I never once cared. Please don't ask the "Normal Well-Adjusted Mother" reviewer. I am sure it will have to do with serial-killer's or cannibles and other non-age appropriate material for a CHILDREN'S BOOK!!!

This is a WONDERFUL book. Sorry, but if you find it icky, creepy, or anything other than innocent pleasure to read take the money you would spend on other book's and spend it on therapy.

A 15 year old girl's perspective.
I adore this book! My mom read it to me all the time when I was little. This is a wholesome book that sends a message of love, not death to a child. I'm sure there are a handful of children who focus on the ending, but not many. And the adults who focus on the ending are obviously unable to handle the concept of death. This book doesn't send a message of incest or inappropriate interaction between a mother and child. It tells the story of a loving relationship between a mother and son that lasts beyond the realm of childhood. In fact, when I have children of my own, I will buy my own copy (perhaps sooner) and read it to them.

A wonderful story of unconditional love...
This is a wonderful story. It brings tears to my eyes each time I read it to my girls - and my girls love to hear it. I give a copy to each and every friend and relative who gives birth and they have all loved it too. I have never read another book that so clearly defines unconditional love. Shame on those individuals who harbor so much unhealthy mental garbage that they cannot see the true emotional beauty in this story.

A True Classic
I have loved this FICTIONAL story of unconditional love since the moment I read it 15 years ago. My sons love it, as it reminds them of how their parents will always be there for them.
However, if you harbor sick, twisted feelings against Mother/Mother-In-Law or if you still need more therapy to sort out your "baggage", this might not be the book for you. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Excellent book for girls and women..
I adore this book. It is about Princess Elizabeth who has to defeat a dragon when the Prince is kidnapped. Elizabeth has to rely on her own strengths, creativity and ingenuity to win the battle with the dragon. Every female I've read this book to has loved it, from my 3 year old niece to a group of 12 year olds to my university Women's Studies class. The book has a fantastic message about women's potential to break through sex-role stereotyping. The book boosted the self-esteem of the girls I was working with and led to some great discussions about the fact that they don't need to have a boyfriend to be happy, and the need to accept themselves and recognize their strengths. I think this book is empowering and uplifting and I reccommend it to anyone who is in contact with young girls. Heck, get it for yourself. You deserve it.

A Must Read for Four Year Old Girls
I am so happy I got this book for my four year old daughter. It's the perfect antidote to those unrealistic Disney stories (i.e., Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty). And don't get me wrong, I think that those Disney stories can be fabulous, but the subliminal messages are somewhat 18th century. The Paper Bag Princess, on the other hand is decidely modern. Its message is: if a guy isn't nice to you, he's not worth it, leave him. Really, is there a more important message about relationships that we ought to be sending to our daughters? There are other wonderful messages in here for girls: you are resourceful, be strong. And, as an added benefit, this is a great and funny book, both of my daughters love it. This would make a great gift to all of the young girls in your life (and I think the age range should start at 2, not 4).

Very Spunky!
Hoorah for a princess story where substance counts over good looks!

Not the Ordinary Princess.
This is a fantastic feminist tale for any age or gender. Once again, Munsch fails to not please. The Princess' ideals are modern, her feeling she doesn't need a prince.

This may be my favorite book!
What a brilliant story to encourage girls to be strong, smart, and realize beauty comes from within!

I have bought this for all friends with new babies...girls and boys. What a gift when we grace our children with the power of confidence and imagination. ... Read more

Book 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

Reviews (3)

My Favortie Story is Thomas' Snowsuit
My favorite story is Thomas' Snowsuit by Robert N. Munsch. It is about Thomas and his mother and his teacher fighting. My favorite part is when Thomas is wearing the teachers dress. I also like when Thomas gets the teacher and the principal back into their clothes. This book is funny. You can't live without it! By Katie

A Grand Treasury Indeed!
This book was recommended to me for my children by a 1st grade teacher. I was reluctant to purchase it at first because of the price and because I had never read a book by Munsch. However, I decided to get it and, wow, are my kids happy. The book features many children's stories - most with silly goings on that keep my 7 and 4 year old boys in stitches. Every night for the last two months they ask to have one of the stories re-read to them. The outcome is always the same - laughter. This is an excellent work because it brings out the joy of reading for the kids. Definitely worth the money!

get this book
approximately 400 pages, beautiful illustrations, relevant and humorous stories. I enjoyed the book as much as my four year old daughter did. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

I never tire of reading it & still laugh every time I do!
Stephanie's ponytail is a wonderful story to read aloud to children. It provides for a humorous way to teach about copying what other people do. I am a second grade teacher and have put multiple copies in our class library for the children to read themselves. Because they have heard me read it, and because of the repitition it contains, even my lower readers are able to enjoy it and feel some success at the same time. It has become a class favorite!

Dan Davidson
Stephanie's Ponytail is a terrific story based on a young girl trying to express her individualality. I enjoyed how the story took us in different directions for each day of Stephanie's adventures. I believe this story would be fun for the students to get into. I would recommend this book for all levels of reading.

Stephanie's Ponytail
Stephanie's Ponytail is a comical picture book that children in the primary grades would find entertaining. All children will be able to relate to Stephanie, who finds that her classmates want to copy all of her hairstyles. The illustrations are vibrant and laughable. The details in the illustrations add plot to the story and will intrigue readers. The text is written in a fun, light-hearted way and is sure to get a laugh. This book can be used to embrace the idea of being different and the importance of individualtity in a variety of classrooms.

Stephanie's Ponytail
My 7 & 5 yr old girls thought this book was very funny and could relate to Stephanie's frustration with all the copycats. Stephanie's different ponytail styles added to the fun since we tried them all once we were done reading (and laughing).

The Funniest Book
I think that this is the coolest book. Stephanie goes to school everyday with a different hair style and the next day everyone copies her. I love this book and I think the ending is so hilarious. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Colorful and funny!
This story begins with young Brigid's desire to have markers like all of her friends. Her anxious mother frets that Brigid will color on walls, floors, and herself. Brigid's plea is victorious when she makes her point for water color markers.
"They wash off with just water...Get me some of those." She gets a box of 500 water color markers. Brigid soon grows bored and makes her case for getting markers that smell, and then finally a box of "super-indelible-never-come-off-till-you're-dead-and-maybe-even-later colouring markers." Then, bored with paper, she starts coloring her fingernails....Brigid is a colorful character who slips into coloring on herself, as many young children do. Adults may fret that this book may encourage children to draw on themselves, but this story is funny because of the unreal solution to the very real problem of children coloring on themselves. The children that I have read this to seem to get that this is the real point to this book. This book is for every child who has ever preferred markers to crayons or colored pencils, and then wandered away from their original purpose.

love munsch - hate this book
It was such a shame to read this book after enjoying so many other Munsch books! The shameful lack of manners the little girl shows each time she demands new markers is only exacerbated by the fact that the mother obiently goes out and purchases them for her time and time again. My husband will not read this book to the children --- I have agreed to do so but I insert "pleases and may I's and thank you's" wherever needed (quite often!). The book IS funny, it does capture childhood creativity and vulnerability to temptation. It is just too bad that the little girl had to be such a BRAT and that the mother had to be such a WIMP! Certainly not the message we need to be sending our children.

You can't go wrong with Robert Munsch books
... and this is no exception. My 4-year-old got burned out on "Where is Gah-ning?" (after a hundred readings or so) so I needed to find another book that could both enjoy as much. We're still going stong with this one. I love Munsch books as much as my daughter does - which makes them the best bedtime stories.

A childhood dream come true!
Purple Green and Yellow takes us all back to the days of coloring and expressing our creativity in both acceptable and unacceptable ways. When Brigid exhausts her acceptable forms of free expression and ventures out to the wild side, the reader holds his/her breath while saying "Do it! Do it!' Although the readers knows her becoming invisible then re-coloring herself with the flesh colored marker are fanciful, it is delightful to consider and wonder - "What if?' As with all of Munsch's books the language is engaging and unforgettable. Who does not feel right there when they read and "cow plops that smell exactly like cow plops?" When I read this book aloud to my students they wail with laughter during the story and are often heard using his language structures in conversations and in their own written stroies. Robert Munsch is a master storyteller. This book happens to be one of my favorites because I never had the courage to color on the walls, etc. as a child but probably ached to do so. Through Brigid, Robert Munsch afforded me that opportunity. I would highly recommend his books. They are delightful and best enjoyed when read aloud because of his gift with language and dialogue.

Pure entertainment for both you and your children!!!
I bought this book when I was in highschool... I just fell in love with it! Now five years later every night I read it to the children I babysit, they love it just as much as I do! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A wonderful book for children
My son is a Robert Munsch fan and loves to read his books. With books like this every child will become a fan of reading.
Andrew's loose tooth is funny and allows your child to laugh and learn to read.
I can not say enough about Munsch's books he does a great job getting and keeping a childs attention.

My kids love this book!
Robert Munsch's amusing look at a boy's trouble with a loose tooth is a big favorite at our house. While it begins with a real situation any child with a loose tooth can understand (I can't eat my apple!), the story gets more and more ridiculous. Most kids know that while a trip to the dentist might be scary, no dentist is going to tie his tooth to a car and drive away. (And even if one did, the results are just hysterical.)

My kids also love Michael Martchenko's detailed and funny illustrations, from the little sister on the toy telephone calling the dentist (while both parents do so on two different phones), to the tooth fairy on the heavily chromed motorcycle.

Kids enjoy funny stories, especially about growing-up issues like losing a tooth. I haven't met a kid yet who didn't enjoy this one.

Eternal kid-pleaser!!!!!!
I have not read this book to or with a child yet who did not love it. It's offbeat humor may not be for everyone, but it is terribly clever and reading it over again always uncovers yet another laugh. The artistic humor is just fantastic. My kids are not even losing teeth anymore, but they won't let this book go!

THE WORST CHILDREN'S BOOK
I bought this book for my 5 year old granddaughter who has her first loose tooth. I was shocked by the expressions of pain, the scary pictures, and the complete nonsense. I would return it, but I'd rather throw it away so some other child doesn't get this book. Having a first loose tooth should be a bit of a pleasnt event. Not, a worry about "tying the huge rope to his tooth and then to his car to speed away as fast as he could."
Garbage!!

Funny!
I'm not among the legion of fans of this author's book, "Love You Forever" (but that's another review.) This book, however, is delightful -- it really appeals to the sense of humor of a five-year-old (like my son). After reading it, he's eager to have a loose tooth. As a bonus for us, it contains lots of "sh" and "th" words, which we need to practice for his speech therapy. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Aaron's Hair
I have enjoyed several Robert Munsch stories and enjoy them all very much.I love to read them with the children that I care for as well as my own Son.As many of you are aware when reading these stories there is always a key line that the children can remember and share while reading aloud.I was dissapointed however, that the strong line in this story was "Hair! I hate you!"I thought that this is a very negative and strong word to teach young children.

Aaron's Hair
The first time I saw this book was when it was told in sign language to a group of deaf children.The narrator was so demonstrative the whole room was in stitches.Then the children acted out the story in sign and it was hilarious.It has become the favorite book of both my 2-year-old and 8-year-old grandchildren.The story of Aaron and his hair is so funny.I have not read a better child's book in my 40 years of reading them...and I have read many.

Robert Munsch rocks!!
I actually haven't read this particular book, but having grown up on Robert Munsch, I can say that he is one of the most brilliant storytellers for children of our time.I can vividly remember the plots and choral repitititions (or as the other review calls them " uninventively repetitive text") from books that I haven't looked at in 10 years.If you have a pre-schooler or teach little kids, this seireis of books is an absolute must."hey mud puddle!!!" ... Read more

Book Description

Lauretta's mother takes her to buy a new wheelchair, but Lauretta isn't satisfied with a regular 5-speed or 10-speed model. No, she insists on the 92-speed, silver and gold, dirt bike wheelchair! When she gets a speeding ticket during a one-day tryout, her parents insist that the wheelchair be returned to the store...until Lauretta's older brother has an accident and only one person can whisk him to the hospital on time--Lauretta, in her amazing wheelchair! ... Read more

Book Description

Good Families Don't is Munsch's funniest book yet, about a risque subject that is guaranteed to have children--and adults--rolling in the aisles.

When Carmen tries to tell her parents that there is a big fart lying on her bed, they don't believe her."Good families like ours," they tell her, "do not have farts."But when they go upstairs to see, the fart attacks them--as it does the similarly disbelieving police when they arrive.Carmen is left to deal with the situation on her own, which she does with the help of a rose. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

OK, I hate to be a stick in the mud, but......
I bought this book because I love Robert Munsch's book I Love You Forever. I knew what I was ordering so it's my own fault, but I can't use this book. It's stuck up in my closet and I've never given it to the kids. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old boy, and I have enough trouble with them talking about things that I'd rather they didn't, so I don't know why I ordered this book. I know they'd think it was funny, but the last thing I really want to do is get them talking about farts all day. I'm sorry, if your kids are more mature I'm sure it would be fine for them. But it definitly wasn't for my family.

Good Families Don't
This was a funny book, not one of Munsch best, but full of laughs. There's very few books that actually talk about "Farts", well this is one of them.

Hysterical
My 3 year old and I read constantly. I get really tired of the same old books. When we read this book (my husband , mother in law,son, and self) we all got sick to our stomachs from laughing so hard. I never get tired of it and everybody enjoys it. It is SOOO CREATIVE. I plan to purchase more copies to use as adult gifts! It is full of "potty humor" written in a tasteful manner!

Amazing!
I am amazed by the talent of a man who can write this great funny book on a taboo subject, and can also write the poignant "Love You Forever". Robert Munsch can be on my guest list any time!

Great book for a reluctant reader!
My daughter was in second grade and having difficulty reading. Her teacher suggested she read aloud, being a perfectionist this solution was less than suitable. I brought home this book and told her that she must read it to her father. She read the first page saw the "f" word and started to giggle. It broke the ice. Although the book didn't solve her reading problems, after reading it she was more willing to give other books a chance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Alligator Baby
I really liked this book, because it was funny. Kristen's parents kept bringing home animal babies from the zoo instead of a people baby. Kristen saved the day because she went to the zoo and got the right baby from the gorilla's cage. But it was funny at the end when all the mommy animals break into the house to get their babies back

Wonderful book when you're bringing home another baby.
We got this book as a shower gift when our son was born. We read this over and over to his older sister. I can't imagine a better, more entertaining book for a 3 year old who is welcoming home a new sibling.

A favourite
This is one of our favourite books. A humorous look at a new addition to the family. This was the perfect story for our two children when #3 child arrived, the humour takes away some of the stress and expectation for young children when a new baby is joining the family. Also a great gift.

Very Good
My son loves all the Robert Munsch books. He knows exactly what makes kids laugh and this book is an excellent example of this.

School Kids love Aligator Baby!
This is my fifth year with the elementary school, yet it is my first year in the library. The first book that I read to the children was 'Aligator Baby'. I believe what the children love the most about this book is that there is never a dull moment! All the children participate in what is going to happen next, and they enjoy finishing the sentences. This tells me that the children are focused, and they want me to read it over and over! It is fun to act out the parts as I read to the classes. (1st grade to 3rd grade.) I really do need more books like this one for the chidren. One of the specials that I have with the children is that each child can share a "favorite page" from a book they borrowed. The students always have something good to say about 'Aligatory Baby'. Thanks ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A hilarious story by Munsch
Benjamin picks his baby sister up out of her crib, puts her in his knapsack and takes her to school for show and tell. She then wakes up and begins to cry. It is hilarious to watch the flustered adults in charge all try to get her to be quiet. I read this to my kindergarten class, and we all laughed so hard we cried. (If you like Stephanie's Ponytail, you'll like this one, too!) Munsch's dialog is clever, and there is just the right amount of repetition in the story for kids to chime in as it is read aloud. This is a fun book for a child with a new baby at home, too. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Makeup Mess Review
Makeup Mess is a very good book! I liked it because it was funny to see how the character Julie, portrayed a real little girl. That is because the author wrote it about his daughter Julie. I would definitely recommend this book to little girls. I don't think little boys would enjoy this particular book. But since I'm all for kids reading at young ages, I would recommend the book Pigs. It too, is written by Robert Munsch! I think all kids will enjoy this book. Overall I think Makeup Mess is a very good book and deserves 4 stars! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Rene loves to play "pretend." After convincing her dad to build her a playhouse, a play barn, and play farm animals, Rene feels something is missing--people! She wants a play mommy and a play daddy to go along with her new playhouse. But Rene's parents don't like the idea, and so she creates cutout-parents from cardboard instead. Her parents cleverly put a stop to Rene's bossiness when a playdaughter takes Rene's place at the dinner table! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book but creepy conclusion
Robert Munsch is a fantastic childrens' author. His books with illustrator Michael Martchenko are some of the most creative and enjoyable picture books out there. Unfortunately, this one starts well but doesn't succeed like their other joint productions.

In this book, a little girl asks her dad to build her a playhouse, and he does so in grand style. This playhouse looks like a guest cottage. But instead of revelling in her storybook wonderland, the girl gets more and more demanding. Most kids would assume she's going to get a come-uppance for her bratty behavior, but the way it's handled isn't going to make your kids comfortable.

Among the "more, more" things she demands are a play dad and mom for her playhouse. When her parents finally balk at her suggestion, she just makes them herself. Her parents do the same thing back to her. Maybe some kids might find that funny, but I think this is somewhat creepy. Kids don't want to feel they'll be replaced with a similacrum, even if they started it. Classic fairy tales of changelings usually had some sort of resolution; this story ends with a swapping rather than having it lead to the adventure attempting to put things right.

If a child gets a come-uppance in a kids' book, it shouldn't come at the hands of their own parents, and that's probably why this one just doesn't work. There's just too much of a moral to this one, and it's not done with his usual light touch.

Don't buy this one blind. Usually you can rely on Munsch and Martchenko, but this one is one of their rare misses. ... Read more

Book Description

Amy will not wake up for school!After trying everything, her family carries her -bed and all- out the door, down the street, and into her classroom! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Zzzzzzz....
Amy the nightowl stayed awake to watch the Late Show. Then the Late, Late Show. Then the Late, Late, Late Show. THEN she watched the Early, Early, Early, Early Show. FINALLY, she went to bed.

You can imagine the consequences of this: she couldn't wake up the next day. Her family tries to wake her up (her brother even blows her hair off her face with the volume of his voice), but to no avail. What to do?? Brother has to go to school & mom and dad have to go to work, she can't stay home! So, they take her to school in her bed!

Now the fun REALLY begins!! Her teacher can't get her to wake up, no matter how loudly she bellows. She doesn't wake up through gym. She doesn't wake up through lunch. She doesn't even wake up through recess!! Finally, she's carted off back home in her bed where she sleeps through the night.

You can imagine what happens when she comes to school the NEXT day!!

Robert Munsch has written over 20 books, including the very popular "Love You Forever". His fun, fast-paced style will hold readers' interest as well as the bright, fun illustrations by Alan & Lea Daniel, the husband and wife team who have illustrated other works by Munsch.

The illustrations will rope readers in as quickly as the story when they see the teacher teaching reading in Amy's bed (the students hold a copy of "Get Out of Bed!" themselves, creating a fun reflection-in-the-mirror effect that sharp-eyed readers will love), Amy's nose being painted during art class, and the wonderful paintings of Amy's teacher trying to WAKE THAT GIRL UP!!

For any child who is a night owl (or, at least not an early bird) this book is a must.

Get Out of Bed kept us laughing during storytime for weeks!
This book was a hit at my house. My boy wanted it read every other night for weeks. It was funny and showed silly consequences of not going to bed. Kids won't want to end up like this child and at school in there bed! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Dramatize with your student musicians
What kid wouldn't love this book? In my music classroom, half of the kids play the stair climbing sound effects on the xylophones, while the others take on the roles of Mortimer, Mortimer's father, mother, brothers and sisters, and police. Lots of fun and I'll guarantee they'll understand the concepts of upward and downward melodic direction when you're done! Plan to laugh a lot!

Music education
This book is great for helping music educators teach direction of pitch. I love to use it with a tone bell ladder or other instrument that actually shows the high and low pitches. The children LOVE to play up and down the ladder as Mortimer travels up and down the stairs. There are many giggles as we play. The children can certainly relate to the story!

Is sooooo funny
Bing Bang rattle bing bang.... I'm gonna make my noise all day!!! It's so cute. My son loves it. He sings the silly song over and over...

A book review by a 9 year old girl.
This book isn't the type of book where the beginning ties you into the story, but I CAN assure you that by the fourth page (last paragraph) you'll be chanting along with the toon of the song! (I was!) Well, I have my teacher to thank and you're probably wondering why right? Good question! I'm thanking her because she's the one who read it out loud to my whole class of 44 kids and I loved it. Just remember, Mortimer is a small, but strong, "Entertainer."

A book review by a 9 year old girl
I gave this book a rating of three because it didn't have an exciting beginning and it wasn't really my kind of book. But I like it a little bit when he sings, but I wasn't really into the book that much. I think someone else would enjoy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's another winning humorous tale from Robert Munsch! Even after eating a large breakfast, little Samuel is still hungry - so he enters a pie-eating contest in the park. His competition? Three big men!The pies? One with apples, two with peaches, and three with cherries. And the winner? Samuel! But before he can show his mother the prize medal, she proudly presents him with a pie that she had made for lunch!Luckily, Samuel's younger brother turns out to have an even bigger appetite than his sibling... and a love of pies! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

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

Reviews (7)

A family favorite!!
This was the first of the many Robert Munsch books I have given my grandchildren. It remains our favorite of all! Children love humor about things they think are a bit taboo (don't we all?) and this delightful and very true to life story never fails to bring gales of laughter to both the girls and me. My personal favorite line is from grandma. "I never had this problem with my children."

For adults it really brings back memories of those time consuming snowsuit dressing days, potty stops in the middle of nowhere, and so much more!

Potty training isn't a crisis and it certainly isn't a scandal. Robert Munsch shows us it's ok to lighten up and laugh about real life!

i have to go!
I think "I have to go" is a good book and a lot of kids could probably relate to it when they were little. It is a good book for kids and a funny one. My reading buddie is in kindergartenand he loved the book!I like it when he says "i have to go pee, and grandpa, do you have t go pee, well so do I!"I like it when robert munsch ... tells the stories. He says it with a lot of excitement and enjoyment. He is a good role model for kids and adults, and a great story teller. I would recomend this book to parents with their 1st child so they know what to expect!

A Potty Training Success Story!!
A wonderful, humorous way to present a subject which is much talked about but remains to be one of life's mysteries. How does one go about potty training? Our seven year old child with special needs became potty trained after I purchased this book(as recommended by a friend). We were able to share the humor of the story and relate it to our situation. It brings a smile every time its read!!

anonymous 9 yr old
I gave this book a rating of 5 stars because it is funny. He goes to his Grandma and Grandpa's and he yelled "I have to go" and he keeps saying "I have to go". He leaves you hanging behind.

anonymous 9 yr old
I'm in a class with first, second, and third graders all mixed togther. When my teacher read I Have to GO, all my classmates cracked up! We all especially love the parts when Andrew yells... "I HAVE TO GO PEE" (it's hilarious) If you ever decide to read this book, when you are just about to start reading the last page, remind yourself that this is a book like no other! ... Read more