The Berenstain Bears, created by husband and wife Stan and Jan Berenstain, have been a part of millions of childhoods across the world, including mine. Their appeal, at least to me, wasn't the playful, simple writing or the cartoonish illustrations, but the tight-knit Bear family anchored by bumbling Papa Bear and wise, gentle Mama Bear; practically the proto-Simpsons.
The Berenstain Bears books usually centered around navigating universal childhood fears and learning quaint (bordering on corny) life lessons: being scared of the dark, having bad dreams, resolving sibling squabbles and the virtues of keeping a tidy bedroom. There was something very reassuring about the books to me as a child - no matter what trouble the kids got into or what changes the family went through, Mama and Papa bear provided a safe haven of guidance and love in their cozy treehouse home.
Stanley 'Stan' Berenstain died in 2005 and his wife and collaborator Janet 'Jan' died last week. They leave behind hundreds of books that have been translated into 23 languages. If you'd like to learn more about their lives (I learned that Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was the first editor of the Berenstain Bear books) here are some links for more about their lives and books:
• A bear-hug farewell to Jan Berenstain, cocreator of the Bear family (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The authors Jan and Stan Berenstain interviewed by Scholastic students (Scholastic.com)
• Jan Berenstain Dies at 88; Created Berenstain Bears (NY Times)
Better yet, pick up one of their books and read it to your child today.
(Image: Carrie McBride)
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I loved Berenstain Bear books as a child and now I find there is always one to help with a particular lesson we are trying to communicate to our kids. They are so helpful to explain a complicated concept- like the importance of telling the truth, for example. Thank you, indeed.
My sister and I loved the Berenstain Bears stories growing up, and today my boys enjoy them as well. However, I do not appreciate the religious angle the son added when he started writing with his mother after Stans death. They are published by a religious publisher and I will only buy the originals from the couple.
Many thanks to Stan and Jan for making memories for my sister and I as well as my sons and I.
I too enjoy the Berenstain Bears. That being said... The books were used in a study where they researched the impact of books and TV shows that teach positive behaviors, morals, lessons, etc. The study showed that children are more likely to emulate the negative behaviors from the beginning of the book/TV show (before the lesson is learned) than they are the positive behaviors are the end of the book/TV show (once the bears learn the positive behaviors). This was true even if the lesson/concept was discussed with an adult. Just some interesting food for thought :)
Angus- my thoughts exactly. I like the old school books better... less preachy.