Munsch's stories do not have a recurring single character instead, the characters are based on the children to whom he first told the story, including his own children. He makes up his stories in front of audiences and refines them through repeated tellings. Munsch is known for his exuberant storytelling methods, with exaggerated expressions and acted voices. On October 2, 2021, Munsch told the CBC that he had been diagnosed with dementia and, as a result, can no longer write. On May 15, 2010, Munsch announced that he had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive disorder, and that he had a cocaine addiction that started in 2005 and was a recovering alcoholic at the time, Munsch had been clean for four months, and had regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous for the previous 25 years and Narcotics Anonymous meetings more recently.

He has since retired, but continued to publish two previously written books each year. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his memory. Munsch has publicly talked about his bipolar disorder and addiction issues. Munsch and his wife, Ann, discovered they could not have biological children after two pregnancies ended with still-births. Munsch's other famous book, The Paper Bag Princess, has sold over seven million copies and is considered to be a feminist story, as well as a literary classic. It has since sold over 30 million copies and has been featured on the episode 'The One With the Cake' from the television show Friends, as well as being mentioned by Oprah Winfrey on Late Night with David Letterman as being her favorite children's book.

One of Munsch's best-known books, Love You Forever, was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6.97 million copies (not including the 1.049 million hardcover copies). In Guelph, he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with. Munsch also taught in the College of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. He moved to Canada in 1975 to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. In 1973, Munsch received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. Munsch studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after having jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. Munsch graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. Robert Norman Munsch CM (born June 11, 1945) is an American-Canadian children's author.

I Have to Go! by Robert Munsch