Jan Berenstain, co-author of The Berenstain Bears series of books, died at the end of last week. She was 88. (Stan Berenstain died in 2005 at age 82.) I do not know where I would have been as a parent without the Berenstain Bears to guide me through the murky waters of parenting.

Stan and Jan Berenstain were 18 when they met on their first day at art school in 1941. They married in 1946 and began to create stories that addressed children’s common concerns. The tales of Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear were inspired by the Berenstain’s own children and grandchildren. No wonder they were so good and spot on with their advice.

At last count, I had about 50 Berenstain Bears books.  My girls are 18 and 20 now, but I hold on to these books for when I am a grandmother.  Continue reading