In bear country

S. JAGADISAN

"I wish I could go to Bear Country and live in a tree house with the bears." This was the spontaneous response of the children on reading the series "The Berenstain Bears." Both Stanley Berenstain and Janice Grant were born in Philadelphia. They met at the Philadelphia College of Art and were married in 1946. While serving a few years in the Army, Stan drew cartoons for an army newspaper. Later the Berenstains settled down to writing and illustrating cartoons in their series "It's All in the Family." The success and popularity of the series encouraged them to write children's books. Their sons, Michael and Leo, enjoyed Dr. Seuss's books. Theodore Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, invited the Berenstains to write a book for his "Cat in the Hat Beginner Series". In 1962, they released their first book about a bear family, "The Big Honey Hunt." Since then, 250 Berenstain Bear stories have appeared, and over 240 million copies have been sold. Besides Stan and Jan, their now grown up sons Mike and Leo write and illustrate the books. In 1974, they published "The Berenstain Bears' New Baby," the first in their series of "First Time Books." The bear stories are meant for children who learn a great deal about life from them. The authors rely on their own real life experiences for the ideas running through their books.

The Bear Family shifted from their cave in the Great Bear Mountain in the Bear Country to a treehouse in the valley. "It was a fine tree house, with a downstairs, and an upstairs and an attic - and even a room of your own." Each book in the series describes an episode or experience in their life, leading them to learn a lesson. Brother Bear and Sister Bear and sometimes even Papa Bear tend to go off the track, and Mama Bear, who is clearheaded and gentle but firm, talks them into being sensible. "Everything in its place and a place for everything" - this idea is driven home in The Messy Room. "A little organisation and a few rules. It is much more enjoyable to live in a neat, clean, well organised room and so much more relaxing." Who is not stung by the TV bug? Leave alone the Bear children, even Papa Bear cannot escape this infection. There is no harm in watching TV, but do not overdo it and get glued to the idiot box. Too Much TV underlines this idea. "I don't have anything against the TV. I like it. What I am against is the TV habit - sitting in front of it like stumps waiting for dry rot to set in." "Too Much Junk Food" is another warning .j"Most of it is not nourishing. Instead of helping build and strengthen our bodies, they pile up extra fat, and even worse, they fill you up so you're not hungry for the food the body really needs." In the story "The Berenstain Bears and the Truth," Brother and Sister while playing break Mama's favourite lamp. They tell a series of lies to hide the truth. Mama knows all about it. She does not punish them, but says "Trust is one thing you can't put back together once it is broken." Aren't there children who neglect their studies and are afraid to take their progress reports to the parents for signature? They would do well to read "Trouble at School". "If you find yourself on the wrong road, don't keep on going until you're in over your head. Back up and start over on the right road. It's never too late to correct a mistake."

In their recent books, the Berenstains have focussed on the current problems - gunning, drug addiction, etc. - threatening youth in general and American youth in particular. They chose the bears as the main characters "because they can stand up, they look good in clothes, and are fun to draw." To a question in the course of an interview, Stan said.

"Mama is 27, and Papa is 29. Sister Bear is in the first grade and Brother is in third. They won't ever grow older!" No specific names are given to the bears. "Sister is Sister's name, Brother is Brother's name, Papa is Papa's name, and Mama is Mama's name. Giving them specific names didn't seem important. Beyond that, we wanted every child to identify with the characters." The apparently animal stories are charged with human interest. Like Aesop's Fables and Panchatantra Stories, Berenstain Bears carries a universal message. The Berenstains have received many awards, but what they cherish most is the children's enjoyment and appreciation of their stories.

Berenstain Bears: Stan and Jan Berenstain. Random House, New York.

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