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Mike Berenstain

Born

in The United States

December 21, 1951

Website

http://www.berenstainbears.com

Genre

Children's Books

Influences

Stan & Jan Berenstain

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Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents, Stan and Jan, working together to write and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Mike is married to Andrea and they have three children. They live in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks a lot like Bear Country.

Mike's earliest memory is of his parents studio in suburban Philadelphia. He remembers sitting on the floor scribbling on yellow typewriter paper with a big black pencil. His mother looked at the tangled hairball he had created, pointed out some random shape and said, "Look! Youve drawn a fish!" It did, indeed, look like a fish. That was his first drawing lesson. Hes been drawing ever since.

Aside from drawing, Mikes primary interests growing u Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents, Stan and Jan, working together to write and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Mike is married to Andrea and they have three children. They live in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks a lot like Bear Country.

Mike's earliest memory is of his parents studio in suburban Philadelphia. He remembers sitting on the floor scribbling on yellow typewriter paper with a big black pencil. His mother looked at the tangled hairball he had created, pointed out some random shape and said, "Look! Youve drawn a fish!" It did, indeed, look like a fish. That was his first drawing lesson. Hes been drawing ever since.

Aside from drawing, Mikes primary interests growing up were playing whiffle ball with his older brother Leo, collecting insects, stamps, coins, bottle caps, baseball cards, etc., building model planes, playing Davy Crockett in the backyard and fishing. He was also interested in watching the creation of his parents magazine cartoons during the 50s and finally, the birth of the first Berenstain Bears book in 1962. Hes often asked which is his favorite Berenstain Bear book. The answer is THE BERENSTAIN BEARS PICNIC, created when he was twelve. It features a picture of Papa Bear getting a big load of garbage dumped on his head. He thought this was very funny. Ever since, hes enjoyed drawing garbageapple cores, banana peels, old bed springs and the like.

Mike attended art school in Philadelphia in the early 70s, then worked as a designer in the Childrens Book Department of a New York publisher before starting his career as an author and illustrator. His first childrens book was published in 1976 followed by some thirty more over the next sixteen years. These ranged in subject from wizards to dinosaurs.

Since the late 80s, he has been very much involved as a writer and illustrator with his familys creation, the Berenstain Bears. He continues to work with his mother, Jan, creating new books, writing and illustrating.

Aside from the bears, Mike is interested in many thingsin classical music, American history, astronomy and physics. He likes to ski. He spends a lot of time with horses.

Mike is married, his wifes name is Andrea. They have three children whose antics and activities growing up have provided inspiration for many Berenstain Bears books over the years." ...more

Combine Editions
Mike Berenstain’s books

Average rating: 4.01 · 38,696 ratings · 2,493 reviews · 487 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Berenstain Bears: We Love Soccer! 4.21 avg rating — 549 ratings — published 2016 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears Go Christmas Caroling 4.31 avg rating — 304 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears' Night Before Christmas 4.07 avg rating — 320 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears: Gone Fishin'! (I Can Read Level 1) 3.80 avg rating — 306 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears: When I Grow Up: A Career Day Picture Book about Jobs from Firefighter to Astronaut 4.01 avg rating — 281 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears Are SuperBears!: A Classic Story About Superhero Play and Becoming Real-Life Heroes for Kids (Ages 4-8) (I Can Read Level 1) 3.73 avg rating — 290 ratings — published 2015 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel 4.19 avg rating — 257 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears' Lemonade Stand (I Can Read Level 1) 3.78 avg rating — 273 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears Visit the Firehouse: Sliding poles, alarm bells, and heroic firefighters―join the bear family for a fun, educational picture book adventure for ages 4-8. 3.88 avg rating — 257 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Berenstain Bears: We Love Baseball!: Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister cheer, catch fly balls, and try mascot duty in this Level One I Can Read ballpark adventure for ages 4-8 (I Can Read Level 1) 4.03 avg rating — 242 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Mike Berenstain…

Series by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears (205 books)
by

Mike Berenstain

4.11 avg rating — 395,734 ratings

I Can Read! The Berenstain Bears - Phonics Fun (12 books)
by

Mike Berenstain,

Jan Berenstain,

Cathy Toohey (Phonics scope and sequence)

3.64 avg rating — 187 ratings

Quotes by Mike Berenstain (?)

“The whole family sang:
"Over the river and through
the woods, now grandmother's
cap I spy!
Hurray for the fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!"

"But Gran doesn't have a cap," said Sister. "She has a scarf."
"Well, I spy it anyway--through the kitchen window," said Brother.”
― Mike Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings

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“Hello, there, young'uns!" he said, squeezing the cubs in a big bear hug. "Are you ready for our great Thanksgiving feast?"
"Yes, Gramps," said Sister. "But, you know, we should also think about all our Thanksgiving blessings."
"I always do!" said Gramps, leading them inside and into the kitchen. "And the Thanksgiving blessing I think about most is Grizzly Gran, herself--the best cook in Bear Country!"
"Now, Gramps," scolded Gran. "Stop your nonsense and help get the food on.”
― Mike Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings

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“It's a shame there aren't any Native Bears here to share it with us," said Brother.
"Never fear," said Gramps, seating himself at the head of the table. "My great, great grandmother was one-quarter Native Bear and I am ready to share. Let's eat!”
― Mike Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings

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Mike Berenstain’s Followers (173)

Mike Berenstain

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Series by Mike Berenstain

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Mike Berenstain’s books