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Something Good
“Something good” is exactly what Tyya, Andrew and Julie want to put into their shopping cart. Tyya’s dad won’t buy anything good at the store—no ice cream, no candy, no cookies. But when Daddy gets fed up and tells Tyva to "Stand here and Don't Move!" Tyva knows she's in big trouble... and that's when the story becomes Munsch's own, witty and warm.
32 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1990
35 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Robert Munsch
290 books1,666 followersRobert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He 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.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 19, 2021
I remember going to the grocery story with my parents and begging for this food or that food with all the bright colors. It was easy to be demanding with everything one sees there. Then I went shopping with my niece and nephew and experienced this phenomenon from the other side. It is horrible. Kids fighting each other for who gets what, screaming they want this or that and crying when told no. My word, it’s a place of horrors to go to with a young kid. I felt lucky to make it out alive with my life.
I had a friend who told the story of her son threw a tantrum in line to pay about something he wanted in front of all these people. She looked at him and said, “I want you to see what you look like. This is what you are doing.” She got down on the floor and began to throw the same tantrum. The boy got quiet and she paid and left. I can only imagine what the adults around her thought. That would be a show. I didn’t have the guts to try it and my niece is so strong-willed that I don’t think she would have stopped or cared. She would have gotten louder.
Anyway, this is about a father taking his kids to the grocery store. The young daughter doesn’t think Dad buys any good food, so she loads up her cart with ice cream and cookies and has to put them all back. It really is funny and it goes on to show the girl in trouble and what happens, but the good part is the kids in the store.
I had a friend who told the story of her son threw a tantrum in line to pay about something he wanted in front of all these people. She looked at him and said, “I want you to see what you look like. This is what you are doing.” She got down on the floor and began to throw the same tantrum. The boy got quiet and she paid and left. I can only imagine what the adults around her thought. That would be a show. I didn’t have the guts to try it and my niece is so strong-willed that I don’t think she would have stopped or cared. She would have gotten louder.
Anyway, this is about a father taking his kids to the grocery store. The young daughter doesn’t think Dad buys any good food, so she loads up her cart with ice cream and cookies and has to put them all back. It really is funny and it goes on to show the girl in trouble and what happens, but the good part is the kids in the store.
June 26, 2020
WTH? This book is terrible, and I can't believe it has a 4.06 average rating.
March 28, 2023
tumblebooks
Clever, lively (especially on tumblebooks), and imo pretty darn adorable.
Reread in The Munschworks Grand Treasury.
Clever, lively (especially on tumblebooks), and imo pretty darn adorable.
Reread in The Munschworks Grand Treasury.
July 17, 2025
Ирония этой книги осталась для меня непостижимой.
Папа не хочет купить дочке сладости, объясняя тем, что они не полезны, но затем отдает деньги магазину за "выкуп" собственного ребенка?
Папа не хочет купить дочке сладости, объясняя тем, что они не полезны, но затем отдает деньги магазину за "выкуп" собственного ребенка?
September 27, 2013
Tyya went shopping with her family. Tyya gets her own cart and loads it up with 100 boxes of ice cream. Her father does not let her buy the sugary junk. While she is putting it back, she passes the candy section and puts in 300 chocolate bars in the cart. Her father says no. Her father tells Tyya to not move while he finishes his grocery shopping. A lady puts a price tag on Tyya’s nose and put her on the shelf with all of the other dolls. A man wants to buy her for $29.95. Then, a lady wants to buy her. Then, Tyya’s father is looking for her and is wondering why she is on the shelf. In the end, the father has to pay for his daughter because she has a price tag on her nose.
Tyya is Robert Munsch's daughter, and this story was created because she wanted to buy a suggary marshmallow cereal, and he wouldn't let her.
This story is one of my favorites by Robert Munsch because it not only has his daughter doing exactly what she is supposed to in the end, it backfires on him and he has to pay for her because her behavior was so good that everyone thought that she was a doll!
Tyya is Robert Munsch's daughter, and this story was created because she wanted to buy a suggary marshmallow cereal, and he wouldn't let her.
This story is one of my favorites by Robert Munsch because it not only has his daughter doing exactly what she is supposed to in the end, it backfires on him and he has to pay for her because her behavior was so good that everyone thought that she was a doll!
December 24, 2020
In Something Good , Robert Munsch writes about Tyya, a young girl who gets in trouble in a shopping store. Frustrated, Tyya's father asks her to stand still and not move. She does as she is told and ends up getting mistaken for a toy doll. Through Munsch's predictable repetitive pattern, various customers come along and pick Tyya up. Eventually, Tyya's father finds her and has to pay to bring her back home.
The story and writing style are hilarious and engaging. This book is cute although it desensitizes readers to the objectification/commerce of children (especially girl children)
The story and writing style are hilarious and engaging. This book is cute although it desensitizes readers to the objectification/commerce of children (especially girl children)
January 13, 2021
#12 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia
The exaggerated bits don't make me laugh, the sweet bit doesn't make me smile. Perhaps I come too Munsch too late, but this was only good.
Library copy
The exaggerated bits don't make me laugh, the sweet bit doesn't make me smile. Perhaps I come too Munsch too late, but this was only good.
Library copy
August 24, 2015
It's ok
Not one of my favorites but my 5 year old daughter thought it was funny. Happy Munsch books are on kindle unlimited.
Not one of my favorites but my 5 year old daughter thought it was funny. Happy Munsch books are on kindle unlimited.
Read
February 7, 2015I must first admit that I may be over thinking this book. I understand the premise and message, however, I would not recommend to or buy this book for someone. If the father would have said, "You are priceless...," versus forking out $29.95 for her, I would have felt better about the book. And yes...here comes the over thinking part. I can't help but be concerned about 2 main things: children worry too much about their "value" to others as it is and at a time of heightened awareness of human trafficking this doesn't sit well with me. As a therapist, this doesn't send the messages that I feel are beneficial.
December 23, 2018
This book by Robert Munsch was just okay. It had parts that were funny, but I didn't love it as much as the other ones. I did try to find the humour that someone would make a father pay $30 for his daughter, but I just thought that was dumb.
I thought it would be more about kids being annoying at the grocery store wanting to buy all the things. That is how it started out as, but it lost me after he told his daughter to stay put and not move.
I thought it would be more about kids being annoying at the grocery store wanting to buy all the things. That is how it started out as, but it lost me after he told his daughter to stay put and not move.
December 3, 2017
Miss 6 was mortified by Tyya's definition of good food. She definitely needs vegetables and not just candy.
August 25, 2023
Hello Book Peeps
This was actually much better than I was expecting.
I really enjoyed this tbh and I will likely pick it up from
my closet book shop.
Great read, a good message and a lot of fun.
Happy Reading
Jo
This was actually much better than I was expecting.
I really enjoyed this tbh and I will likely pick it up from
my closet book shop.
Great read, a good message and a lot of fun.
Happy Reading
Jo
January 16, 2024
I had forgotten about this book from my childhood until seeing the illustrations. Super cute book with a good message about respect and following instructions/expectations and a fun read.
May 24, 2018
This realistic fiction picture book is told by a little girl who goes grocery shopping with her brother, sister, and father. According to Tyya (the little girl), her father does not buy anything good; only buying bread, eggs, cheese, spinach, etc. Never "ice cream, cookies, chocolate bars, or ginger ale!", exclaims Tyya (p. 1). So, the little girl comes up with a few solutions of her very own; however, this makes her father upset so he has another solution. This leads to another problem, which is resolved in the end.
As a mother of three children of my own, I can relate to the problem within the story and am thankful that I was able to be creative in my parenting to find a solution before my children did. I recommend this book for mothers, fathers, family members, and children who have had the experience of going grocery shopping with each other.
In the classroom, I would use this as a mentor text to help students find problem and solution in the story. Then have them write their own problem and solution realistic fiction story.
Read more about this book and my #BookaDay Summer Reading Challenge at http://readwritesparklecoffee.blogspo...
As a mother of three children of my own, I can relate to the problem within the story and am thankful that I was able to be creative in my parenting to find a solution before my children did. I recommend this book for mothers, fathers, family members, and children who have had the experience of going grocery shopping with each other.
In the classroom, I would use this as a mentor text to help students find problem and solution in the story. Then have them write their own problem and solution realistic fiction story.
Read more about this book and my #BookaDay Summer Reading Challenge at http://readwritesparklecoffee.blogspo...
December 4, 2013
Something Good by Robert N. Munsch. This story is about Tyya that went shopping with her family. Tyya gets her own cart and loads it up with 100 boxes of ice cream. Her father does not let her buy the sugary junk. While she is putting it back, she passes the candy section and puts in 300 chocolate bars in the cart. Her father says no. Her father tells Tyya to not move while he finishes his grocery shopping. A lady puts a price tag on Tyya’s nose and put her on the shelf with all of the other dolls. A man wants to buy her for $29.95. Then, a lady wants to buy her. Then, Tyya’s father is looking for her and is wondering why she is on the shelf. In the end, the father has to pay for his daughter because she has a price tag on her nose. This can be used in a classroom to both represent that you should eat healthy, but also that children do not always get what they want.
December 9, 2014
Something Good by Robert Munsch
Tyya and her family went shopping, but they didn’t by any good stuff. So Tyya got a cart and grabbed tons candy and ice cream. Her dad was not happy. He told Tyya to stand right there next to the dolls and not to move. So she did. But store manager thought she was a doll and gave her a price tag. Than people wanted to buy her. Tyya Screamed. Her dad came back, Tyya was mad. They went to go pay. Tyya still had a price tag on her nose and her dad had to pay. Tyya was not mad anymore.
The style of the art was very detailed and cartoon like but still very believable. In the classroom go over the idea of want verse need. To do this I would as a whole class make a chart and start naming things off and giving or getting explanations on why that thing is a need or a want.
⦁ Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (1990). Something good. Toronto: Annick Press.
Tyya and her family went shopping, but they didn’t by any good stuff. So Tyya got a cart and grabbed tons candy and ice cream. Her dad was not happy. He told Tyya to stand right there next to the dolls and not to move. So she did. But store manager thought she was a doll and gave her a price tag. Than people wanted to buy her. Tyya Screamed. Her dad came back, Tyya was mad. They went to go pay. Tyya still had a price tag on her nose and her dad had to pay. Tyya was not mad anymore.
The style of the art was very detailed and cartoon like but still very believable. In the classroom go over the idea of want verse need. To do this I would as a whole class make a chart and start naming things off and giving or getting explanations on why that thing is a need or a want.
⦁ Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (1990). Something good. Toronto: Annick Press.
August 17, 2010
This is one of my family's favorite by Munsch. We find his stories particularly humorous due to the mixture of real life settings and over the top responses. My teens have also shared this story in American Sign Language and it never fails to have everyone laughing!
Every child needs to know they are loved and of 'worth' by their parents. How better to show it than to place the price tag on their nose?
Every child needs to know they are loved and of 'worth' by their parents. How better to show it than to place the price tag on their nose?
December 31, 2017
This is a silly story about a man who ends up paying for his daughter at the store. While the narrative is fun, the theme of grabby, greedy children at the grocery store is one that most parents can relate to.
Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://tumblebooks.com), which is available for free as one of the online resources from our local library
Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://tumblebooks.com), which is available for free as one of the online resources from our local library
August 6, 2024
Tyya and her sister and brother go grocery shopping with their father who won't let them buy junk food. He told Tyya to not move - because she kept filling a cart with the wrong things - and he continued to shop. People thought she was a beautiful doll because she didn't move at all, and they tried to buy her. Sweet ending to this story and fabulous illustrations.
April 9, 2019
Classic Munsch! Who doesn't love these wonderful, humorous, touch of real life children's books. Yes, Tyya is a challenge when grocery shopping with Daddy and her sister and brother, but everything is classic "grocery shopping with your kids". Will Daddy pay the price to get Tyya back when a salesperson puts a price tag on her nose?
December 28, 2017
One of my favourite classic Munsch books from my childhood. I've been reading it (and Mortimer) everyday last week to the kids at daycare and they love it. Munsch has a way with words that make his stories so entertaining and captivating to little listeners and adults alike.
May 2, 2020
Rated 3 Stars because the story was so absurd, I couldn't help but laugh and had to read it aloud to my husband. I'm not really sure what the point of the story was, but it made me smile and the illustrations were great too. Really though... The point?
November 26, 2017
This is such a quirky book that also really funny.
January 4, 2019
I did not enjoy the book. The author treats the daughter as an object, not very realistically.
June 12, 2025
The absurdly high numbers of items is what makes this work.
2025, Maddie: I love Robert Munsch books!
2025, Maddie: I love Robert Munsch books!
June 27, 2021
A silly children's story about a girl going grocery shopping with her dad. Kids will probably find it amusing but I wasn't in the mood for silly nonsense.
March 11, 2019
Tyya just won't give up on trying to convince her dad about all the sugary treats loaded into her cart. She wanted chocolate bars to ice cream. All the things that scream cavities which means hefty dentist bills. Probably what Tyyas father was imagining getting in the mail.
I give this story four stars because it was funny and I can relate to Tyya wanting all the things in the grocery store that her father wouldn't let her have. It didn't get a full five because it wasn't Robert Munsch's best book.
This book falls under informational story books because it shows the students wants and needs. I used this story for more government and economics class for a lesson plan about societies wants and needs and how everything has a consequence just like her father saying no but still paying for his daughter haha.
I give this story four stars because it was funny and I can relate to Tyya wanting all the things in the grocery store that her father wouldn't let her have. It didn't get a full five because it wasn't Robert Munsch's best book.
This book falls under informational story books because it shows the students wants and needs. I used this story for more government and economics class for a lesson plan about societies wants and needs and how everything has a consequence just like her father saying no but still paying for his daughter haha.
April 13, 2021
Everyone should read the amazing Something Good. It will clearly make you smile ear to ear. It has illustrations and a surprise ending. The first reason why you should read Something Good is because it has the best illustrations! The illustrations show you how the character is feeling. For example, on one page it shows the main character, Tyya, with one hundred ice cream tubs. The illustrations show Tyya all greasy and sticky because of the melting ice cream! The second reason why you should read Something Good is because it has a surprise ending. The ending was so funny it was hilarious! For example, the father spent 29.95 dollars for his daughter. It happened since her father said "Stay still." So Tyya did, but this lady said that she was a doll. I think all children will prefer Something Good. It will make you jump so high you will touch the ceiling. It is glorious!- Carys G.
January 3, 2024
Martchenko's illustration style is lively and stayed with me from my own childhood. Robert Munsch's stories often are rooted in everyday activities that resemble real-world childhood behavior, usually with an absurdist twist. Can be a fun read for parents, entertaining for kids of the right age and disposition, though often an exhibition of behavior that we might not want kids to replicate (in this case a clamoring for sweets and junk food) with parental counterpoints being undermined in the story. Fun if you don't overthink it though!
October 13, 2024
Though I appreciate Munsch's style and humor, this is a rare miss for me.
The family has gone to the grocery store and the youngest wants to buy all sorts of junk. Dad loses his temper finally and tells her to stay still. She does and is mistaken for a doll. Several people try to buy her but she speaks and scares them off. When her dad finds her, he brings her along but the manager won't let them leave until he buys her because of the price tag on her nose. The message of worth and importance is there but it doesn't have the usual zing of a Munsch book.
The family has gone to the grocery store and the youngest wants to buy all sorts of junk. Dad loses his temper finally and tells her to stay still. She does and is mistaken for a doll. Several people try to buy her but she speaks and scares them off. When her dad finds her, he brings her along but the manager won't let them leave until he buys her because of the price tag on her nose. The message of worth and importance is there but it doesn't have the usual zing of a Munsch book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews