Paper Bag Princess day: Winnipeg book lovers celebrate Robert Munsch classic

Winnipeg book and toy stores celebrated princesses and encouraged all to stand up to dragons during The Paper Bag Princess day.

It’s a celebration of “The Paper Bag Princess,” a children’s book written by Robert Munsch.

“I do remember reading all of the Munsch books when I was a little kid… like, ‘mummy, read it again,’” said Olivia Dawes of Toad Hall Toys.

“It’s a great story,” added Michael Bumsted, the co-owner of Whodunit Mystery Bookstore. “It’s one of my youngest (sister’s) favourite books as well from when she was little.”

Bumsted says his shop has been celebrating The Paper Bag Princess every year. This year’s theme: stand up to dragons.

“For me it’s about being willing to call out the larger entities in your world and things that are trying to control your space,” Bumsted said. “Particularly sort of, large, nameless ones, and to give, not necessarily the little guy, but smaller groups and individuals a chance to speak up against the injustices that they face.”

Over at Toad Hall Toys, Dawes was preparing for an afternoon book reading of the beloved Munsch novel. She says the book brings back a fond memory from her school years.

“In Grade 11 in English class, the entire class had to rewrite ‘The Paper Bag Princess,’ and that thing turned out to be a brilliant beast of hilarity,” she recalled. “So many pages, so many tears of laughter, it was ridonkulous and had very little to do with the actual book by the time we were actually done with it. I think there was a motorcycle in there at some point.

“I don’t remember much of it unfortunately, but it was very funny. I do remember the laughter.”

Across Manitoba, four libraries and stores celebrated The Paper Bag Princess, along with dozens of others across North America.