Robert Munsch - Playhouse

A playhouse. Then a play barn. Then a play cow. Then a play tractor. Rene's parents are very patient people.

In Playhouse, Rene's requests keep growing — and her parents keep saying yes — until she decides she also needs a play mommy and a play daddy. When her mother finally draws the line, Rene makes her own. But when she comes home to find her parents have replaced her with a play Rene, she figures out pretty quickly that real families are the best of all.

Why You'll Love It

A perfectly constructed Munsch story — the escalating requests are funny, the twist is unexpected, and the ending lands with genuine warmth. Kids will love the absurdity of a family of play people, and parents will appreciate the gentle reminder that the real thing is irreplaceable. Inspired by a girl from Saskatchewan who wrote to Munsch as part of a school assignment and sent him a photo of her giant two-storey playhouse.

• Author: Robert Munsch
• Inspired by: A real letter from a girl in Saskatchewan
• Best for: Ages 3–7
• Perfect for: Read-alouds, gifting, and families who love a good twist ending