Berenstain Bears

Children's book series Berenstain Bears was started by the late Stan and Jan Berenstain and carried on by their son Mike Berenstain, who took over full authorship in 2012 after Jan's passing. The stories are told from the perspective of a family of anthropomorphic grizzly bears, who typically acquire a moral or safety lesson along the way.

The Big Honey Hunt, the first Berenstain Bears book, was published in 1962, and since then, the series has expanded to over 300 books, with sales of almost 260 million copies across 23 languages. The Berenstain Bears brand has grown significantly beyond the books to include two television programs as well as a wide range of other merchandise and licenses. The series has faced criticism for its alleged sugary tone and formulaic storytelling despite decades of success and multiple awards.

The series, which Stan and Jan Berenstain wrote and drew, has been a staple of children's book shelves for many years. Following the deaths of the two original inventors in 2005 and 2012, their son Mike Berenstain continued the family legacy. The younger Berenstain is still producing books featuring the Berenstain Bears today.

• Almost 260 million copies across 23 languages

Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain
Country: United States
Language: 23 languages
Published: 1962
No. of books: over 300