Jan Berenstain (1923–2012)
Author of Bears on Wheels
About the Author
Jan Berenstain was born Jan Grant on July 26, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She met Stan Berenstain on their first day of classes in 1941 at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art. During World War II, Stan served as a medical illustrator in an Army hospital and Jan worked as a show more draftswoman in the Army Corps of Engineers and as an aircraft riveter. They married in 1946 and together began drawing cartoons for the McCall's/Good Housekeeping All in the Family series. They worked on this feature from 1956 through 1990. They also published artwork in magazines like Colliers and the Saturday Evening Post. The Big Honey Hunt, published in 1962, was their first book for children. This book, which was written for Dr. Seuss's Beginner Books series, was so popular that Dr. Seuss himself, Theodore Geisel, encouraged them to write more stories. His advice launched them on a life-career writing and illustrating the Berenstain Bears books. The Berenstain Bears' New Baby, published in 1974, was the beginning of the First Time Books series. She wrote more than 300 books during her lifetime. The couple received numerous awards including the Children's Choice Award for The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors in 1995 and the Ludington Award in 1989 for their work in children's literature. There have been television shows based on the Berenstain Bears books, as well as CD-ROMs and videos. She died after a stroke on February 24, 2012 at the age of 88. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:
Do NOT combine "Jan Berenstain" with either "Stan Berenstain" or any of the various "Stan & Jan Berenstain" pages. They are two separate people. Thank you.
Series
Works by Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2008) 1,048 copies, 10 reviews
The Berenstain Bears: God Loves You! (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2008) 513 copies
The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2008) 486 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2011) 392 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2008) 385 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bears Show Some Respect (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2011) 321 copies, 3 reviews
The Berenstain Bears, The Very First Christmas (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2015) 309 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Faithful Friends (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2009) 296 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Humongous Pumpkin (Berenstain Bear Scouts) (1995) 290 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bear Scouts Save That Backscratcher (Berenstain Bear Scouts) (1996) 289 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest: A Picture Book for Kids and Toddlers (1997) 246 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Sci-fi Pizza (Berenstain Bear Scouts) (1996) 232 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Terrible Talking Termite (Berenstain Bear Scouts) (1996) 184 copies
The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Things: Stickers Included! (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2013) 144 copies
The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Run-amuck Robot (Berenstain Bear Scouts) (1997) 141 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2013) — Author — 121 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears: All Things Bright and Beautiful: Stickers Included! (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2012) 115 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears and the Showdown at Chainsaw Gap (Big Chapter Books(TM)) (1995) 107 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears The Very First Easter (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2019) 101 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Get Ready for Christmas: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2011) 95 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears God Shows the Way: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2014) — Author — 95 copies, 2 reviews
The Berenstain Bears Follow God's Word (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2011) 90 copies
The Berenstain Bears' Gossip Gang: Stickers Included! (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2011) 85 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears' Caring and Sharing Treasury (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2016) 59 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears 5-Minute Inspirational Stories: Read-Along Classics (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith… (2017) 57 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear and the Golden Rule: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith… (2017) 54 copies
The Berenstain Bears, Faithful Cubs: 3 Books in 1 (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2013) 51 copies
The Berenstain Bears Friendship Blessings Collection (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2017) 45 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears: God Bless the Animals: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2012) 39 copies
The Berenstain Bears: Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple (Lift the Flap / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights) (2011) 37 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Bear Country Blessings (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2013) 32 copies
The Berenstain Bears God's Wonderful World (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2017) 31 copies
The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear and the Kind Cub: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith… (2017) 30 copies
The Berenstain Bears' Epic Dog Show: An Early Reader Chapter Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2019) 30 copies
The Berenstain Bears Respect Each Other: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2018) 30 copies
The Berenstain Bears Lessons in Love (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2018) 25 copies
The Berenstain Bears Get the Job Done: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2018) 25 copies
The Berenstain Bears Play a Fair Game: Level 1 (I Can Read! / Berenstain Bears / Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2018) 24 copies
The Berenstain Bears Good Deed Scouts Help Their Neighbors (I Can Read! / Good Deed Scouts / Living Lights) (2013) 23 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears' Nature Rescue: An Early Reader Chapter Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2020) 22 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2015) 18 copies, 1 review
The Berenstain Bears Favorite Classic Tales - I Can Read - 6 Books in 1 - ZonderKidz (2015) — Author — 17 copies
My Favorite Berenstain Bears Stories: Learning to Read Box Set (I Can Read Level 1) (2018) 17 copies
The Berenstain Bears Classic Collection (Box Set) (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2016) 15 copies
The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear Favorites: 3 Books in 1 (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2020) 15 copies
How to Teach Your Children About Sex... Without Making a Complete Fool of Yourself (1970) 15 copies, 1 review
How to Teach Your Children About God: Without Actually Scaring Them Out of Their Wits (1971) 12 copies
The Berenstain Bears 12 copies
The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear Favorites: 3 Books in 1 (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2020) 12 copies
The Berenstain Bears God Loves the Animals (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2020) 11 copies, 1 review
5 Berenstain Bears Step into Reading Books: Big Bear Small Bear; Ride the Thunderbolt; Catch the Bus; Go Up and Down;… (1998) 11 copies
The Berenstain Bears Very Beary Stories: 3 Books in 1 (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2020) 11 copies
Berenstain Bears - Pick Up and Put Away / Go Out to Eat / Big Fun Park / Go to the Movies (2011) 10 copies
The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2016) 9 copies
The Berenstain Bears Easter Fun Sticker and Activity Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2017) 8 copies
The Berenstain Bears Take-Along Storybook Set: Dinosaur Dig, Go Green, When I Grow Up, Under the Sea, The Tooth Fairy (2016) 6 copies
The Ultimate Berenstain Bears Collection: Learn About Strangers;bad Dream; Berenstain Bears and the Truth; Don't… (2005) 5 copies
Berenstain Bears Reader Collection: Berenstain Bears' Class Trip; Berenstain Bears Down on the Farm, The… (2012) 5 copies
The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers / The Berenstain Bears and the Disappearing Honey (1988) — Author — 5 copies
... And Beat Him When He Sneezes: A Guide to Happy Pregnancy, Delightful Infancy, Hilarious Child Development (1960) 4 copies
Moo! 4 copies
Berenstain Bears Set : Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners / Get the Gimmies / Berenstain Bears Th (2010) — Author — 4 copies
Berenstain Bears Set - Funny Valentine / Moving Day / In-Crowd / Don't Pollute (Anymore) (1991) 4 copies
The Berenstain Bears Meet Questron: One-Two-Three, How Many Wheels Can You See? (Questron Electronics Books) (1987) 4 copies
The Berenstain Bears and The Truth plus The Berenstain Bears Save the Bees, VHS, 30 minutes 3 copies
The Berenstain Bears' Giant Coloring and Activity Book (Dover Coloring Books for Children) (2013) 3 copies
The Berenstain Bears' Too Much Trouble (Includes Too Much Junk Food and Too Much TV) (2016) 3 copies
Baby Makes Four — Author — 3 copies
The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room / The Berenstain Bears and the Terrible Termite [video] (1988) — Author — 3 copies
Show God's Love 2 copies
The Berenstain Bears Hugs and Kisses Sticker and Activity Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story) (2016) 2 copies
The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Coloring and Activity Book (Dover Christmas Activity Books For Kids) (2014) 2 copies
The Bear Essentials: Everything Today's Hard-Pressed Parent Needs to Know About Bringing Up Happy, Healthy Kids (2005) 2 copies
Be Good or I'll Belt Ya! — Author — 2 copies
Berenstain Bears A Book 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Book Set (13 books) — Author — 1 copy
The Berenstain's A Book 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Christmas Fun Sticker and Activity Book (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (2016) 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends / The Berenstain Bears and the Coughing Catfish [video] — Author — 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Always Look on the Bright Side [movie] — Author — 1 copy
The Berenstain Bear Scouts Collection (3 books) — Author — 1 copy
ghost versus ghost 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Collection (12): The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food; the Berenstain Bears Learn About… (2005) 1 copy
Set of Six First Time Books Featuring the Berenstain Bears (Green-Eyed Monster, Too Much Birthday, Go to School, Blaza… (1995) 1 copy
Home Sweet Home 1 copy
Berenstain Bears Set - The Bully / Too Much Birthday / Count Their Blessings / Attic Treasure (1990) — Author — 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears First Time Book Set (6 books) — Author — 1 copy
Get ready for christmas 1 copy
5 Books The Berenstain Bear Scoutsand the couching Catfish, in Giant Bat Cave, and Run-Amuck Robot,and the Sinister… (1997) 1 copy
Berenstain Bear Scouts CHAPTER Book Unboxed Set/6 Save That Backscratcher, The Dress Code, Meet Big Paw, The Terrible… (1997) 1 copy
Berenstain Bears Set - Bears in the Night / He Bear She Bear / On the Moon / Spooky Old Tree (1974) 1 copy
Berenstain Bears Set of 5 Chapter Books (Sinister Smoke Ring ~ Giant Bat Cave ~ The Dress Code ~ Scouts Save That… (1997) 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Book Set (4 books) — Author — 1 copy
Set of 5 Berenstain Bears Books: The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare, Trouble At School, Dollars and Sense, Mad… (2001) 1 copy
Dinosaur Bone 1 copy
ON THE MOON 1 copy
The Berenstain Bears Book Set (6 books) — Author — 1 copy
Associated Works
The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud (1998) — Author — 1,664 copies, 14 reviews
Child's Play: The Berenstain Baby Boom, 1946-1964 - Cartoon Art of Stan and Ja n Berenstain (2008) — Contributor — 22 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Berenstain, Janice Marian
- Other names
- Grant, Janice Marian (birth name)
- Birthdate
- 1923-07-26
- Date of death
- 2012-02-24
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Place of death
- Doylestown Hospital, Pennsylvania, USA
- Cause of death
- stroke
- Places of residence
- Solebury Township, Pennsylvania, USA
- Education
- Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art
Radnor High School - Occupations
- children's book author
children's book illustrator - Relationships
- Berenstain, Stan (husband)
Berenstain, Michael (son) - Short biography
- Janice "Jan" Berenstain, née Grant, and Stanley Berestain are best known for the children's book series The Berenstain Bears, which became a franchise including a television series, toys, and stage productions.
- Disambiguation notice
- Do NOT combine "Jan Berenstain" with either "Stan Berenstain" or any of the various "Stan & Jan Berenstain" pages. They are two separate people. Thank you.
Members
Discussions
Child goes up hill and is frightened by owl screeching in Name that Book (February 2016)
Project: Berenstain Bear book author/combining cleanup in Combiners! (February 2012)
Reviews
The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight by Stan Berenstain
This book is about a brother and sister who get in a fight and how their parents help them work through their sibling conflict. Kindergarten-3rd grade
Independent Reading Level: First Grade
Awards: Ludington Award: The Educational Paperback Association awarded the series this award for its contribution to children's literature
Drexel Citation: Drexel University awarded the series this citation
Philadelphia Literary Children's Roundtable Honors: The series has won multiple honors from the Philadelphia Literary Children's Roundtable
State reading association awards: The series has won many awards from state reading associations
Awards: Ludington Award: The Educational Paperback Association awarded the series this award for its contribution to children's literature
Drexel Citation: Drexel University awarded the series this citation
Philadelphia Literary Children's Roundtable Honors: The series has won multiple honors from the Philadelphia Literary Children's Roundtable
State reading association awards: The series has won many awards from state reading associations
Independent reading level: Grades k-2
Awards: None
Awards: None
Lists
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 560
- Also by
- 4
- Members
- 164,099
- Popularity
- #36
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 1,106
- ISBNs
- 2,994
- Languages
- 13
- Favorited
- 3