Station to Station with Joe Pavia

Robert Munsch

The kitchen conversation, December 1986

The book

Author and storyteller Robert Munsch released what would become his multi-million selling children’s book Love You Forever in 1986.

It was the 11th book Munsch had published, and it was a drastic change from his silly stories that made kids and their parents laugh.

This book tells the story of the relationship between a young boy and his mother over the course of a number of years.

Munsch told me that adults who read it cried, while elements the story made the young kids laugh.

“Love You Forever, it just came out of some personal experiences … I had some baggage about things that had happened to me that I had carried into that story.”

Robert Munsch

And there was along a sing-along portion to the story that the publishers at the time weren’t crazy about.

He sang it for me and I recorded what I thought at the time was a scoop; in only my second interview ever!

Robert Munsch shared stories about his life, the storytelling process and his travels across Canada where he met a legion of young fans.

The interview was recorded on my portable JVC PC 11 stereo at the kitchen table of his home. His wife was preparing a meal and at least one of his children were in the living-room.

A portion of this interview appeared on a show that was on our college radio station, which at the time broadcast to the cafeteria and the student lounge.

Which portion aired, I can’t remember but I am certain it was not the entire interview.

LISTEN:

Click the play button to listen to my interview with Robert Munsch.