Stan and Jan Berenstain were both born in 1923 in Philadelphia.┬а┬аThey didn't know each other as children, but met later at school, at the Philadelphia College of Art.┬а┬аThey liked each other right away, and found out that the both enjoyed the same kinds of books, plays, music and art.┬а┬аDuring World War II, Stan was a medical assistant in the Army, and Jan worked in an airplane factory.┬а┬аWhen the war was over, they got married and began to work together as artists and writers, primarily drawing cartoons for popular magazines.┬а┬аAfter having their two sons Leo and Michael, the Berenstains decided to write some funny children's books that their children and other children could read and enjoy.┬а┬аTheir first published children's book was called The Big Honey Hunt .┬а┬аIt was about a family of bears, who later became known as the "Berenstain Bears".
Over 50 children's books later, Stan and Jan still plan all of their books together -- both write the stories, and both write the pictures.┬а┬аThey live outside of Philadelphia in the country.┬а┬а