Marvellous Munsch! A Robert Munsch Collection. Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2016. 180 pp., hardcover, $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4431-4863-4. Contents: Give Me Back My Dad! See review at Vol. XVIII, No. 2, September 9, 2011. Down the Drain! See review at Vol. XV No. 17, April 17, 2009. Moose! See review at Vol. XVII, No. 32, April 22, 2011. Put Me in a Book! See review at Vol. XVII, No. 15, December 10, 2010. Too Much Stuff! See review at Vol. XVII, No. 18, January 14, 2011. Hugs. See review at Vol. XX, No. 29, March 28, 2014. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 4-8. Review by Dave Jenkinson. **** /4

excerpt:

"Wow!" said Hailey. "Can you put me in the book?"

"Are you absolutely sure you want to be the kid in this book?" said the writer.

"YES!" said Hailey.

"WONDERFUL!" said the writer, and he picked Hailey up, folded her and flattened her, and stuck her in the book. (From Put Me in a Book!)

Marvellous Munsch! is a collection of five Munsch-authored and Martchenko-illustrated picture books that were previously published between 2009 and 2011, plus the pairing's Hugs that originally appeared as a board book in 2014. The collection's only really new material is found in the book's three closing pages, "How a Robert Munsch Book Is Made", wherein a third person description, accompanied by full-colour photos, provides an overview of the steps it takes to transform a Munsch oral story into an illustrated published book.

      Like the other Munsch compilations, Marvellous Munsch! offers excellent monetary value, especially if parents or librarians were considering purchasing the six books as separate volumes. The book's increased dimensions will also make the illustrations much more visible when the stories are being read to small groups of listeners. Those who are reading to groups will also appreciate the significantly larger font size used for the text. Marvellous Munsch! would make a fine gift for an individual child or a most useful addition to school or public library collections.

Highly Recommended.

Dave Jenkinson, CM's editor, lives in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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