Living on - Shawn's Sense with Shawn Loughlin
Last week, local headlines were abuzz as acclaimed Canadian children’s author Robert Munsch officially donated his archives to the Guelph Public Library - just a hop, skip and a jump from Huron County.
This decision comes after a much bigger one was discussed earlier this year, which is that Munsch has been approved for MAID (medical assistance in dying) as he faces dual diagnoses of dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. That news struck a chord with many Canadians who were saddened to learn of the challenges Munsch was facing and that, regardless of how the next bit plays out, they would be losing a national treasure.
The archives sound like a treasure trove for those interested in Munsch’s work. It includes original story drafts, notes from publishers, photographs and a number of other artifacts. It seems only fitting that Guelph will be home to his lasting legacy, as he had lived and worked there for nearly half a century.
Like many Canadians my age and younger, Munsch was my guy growing up. I loved his books. I was a big reader when I was a kid and had as many of them as I could find. He, along with Roald Dahl and a handful of series (The Berenstain Bears and Little Critter books among them), was who taught me about storytelling. His books were so silly and fun and yet they had so very much heart.
It’s safe to say that he is best known for Love You Forever - a touching generational story about the love and care of a parent for a child and from the child back to the parent as roles reverse. It has sold well over eight million copies and has, here in Canada, become shorthand for the love of a family.
When I was a child, my mom would ask me if I’d take care of her as the son does in the tail end of the story. I remember always telling her that I would. Then, when Jess and I knew we were going to be parents for the first time, I bought her a copy of the book for her first-ever Mother’s Day (Tallulah would be born just a few weeks later). Both kids now have this book on their shelf and any time they’ve asked to read it, I’ve tried and then made up a reason to ask if they want to read another book, as I can’t get through it without crying.
It’s such a simple, straightforward story to which we can all relate, and yet, there’s just something so special about it. It shows us how time passes, how people change and how love remains consistent throughout the years.
The story took on a whole new meaning for me as an adult when I learned the story behind it. Munsch and his wife had two stillborn children and the “Love You Forever” song was something he would sing to them in his head. He and his wife would go on to adopt three children, but, when you know that history, there is a certain sadness to the story that comes through the words on the page.
My personal experiences with the work of Munsch have shaped a lot of my life. He has shown how a touching, life-changing story can be told in just a few dozen pages - perhaps the absolute height of writing and storytelling. However, going back to the issue at hand, it’s amazing to me to know that Munsch’s work will live on; that his archives will be housed in a beautiful city, not too far away and that his stories will continue to thrill and inspire generation after generation in rural Ontario.
At a time when every celebrity thinks they can write a children’s book that people will buy (and they usually do because everyone loves a name they recognize), Munsch taught us how to be funny, touching and real, all in just a few hundred words. A true master.