Robert Munsch’s donates personal archive to Guelph library

In this classic children's book, Princess Elizabeth sets out to rescue Prince Ronald after a dragon destroys her castle and kidnaps him. With nothing but a paper bag to wear, Elizabeth cleverly outsmarts the dragon and saves Ronald. However, when Ronald criticizes her appearance, Elizabeth realizes his shallow nature and decides to leave him behind, dancing off into the sunset alone. The story is celebrated for its subversion of traditional fairy tale roles and its empowering message about self-worth and independence.

'Mortimer' tells the story of a young boy named Mortimer who refuses to go to sleep, disrupting his family's peace with his loud and boisterous antics. Despite repeated attempts by his parents, siblings, and even the police to make him sleep, Mortimer continues to sing his own song, 'Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang, gonna make my own song all night long! '. Eventually, his parents trick him into falling asleep by mimicking his song, bringing an end to his nightly disruption. The story humorously portrays the battle of wills between children and parents at bedtime. 'Mortimer' celebrates childhood exuberance and the creative ways parents cope with their children's boundless energy.

'Mud Puddle' tells the story of a girl named Jule Ann who keeps getting dirty no matter how many times she cleans herself. Each time she gets new clean clothes, a mud puddle jumps on her, covering her in mud. Frustrated, Jule Ann tries everything to avoid the mud, but the mud puddle is always waiting for her. Eventually, she discovers that the mud puddle disappears when she calls it by its proper name: 'Mortimer'. This whimsical story emphasizes the everyday struggles of childhood and the persistence of messiness in life. The playful narrative and repetitive structure make it a favorite among young children.