The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion (Big Chaper Books) by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain | Dec 3, 1996

Illustrated in black-and-white. When Papa Bear discovers that almost all of the antiques in the Grizzly mansion have been replaced with fakes, the Bear Detectives spring into action. Could it really be as simple as the butler, did it?  

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in black-and-white. When Papa Bear discovers that almost all of the antiques in the Grizzly mansion have been replaced with fakes, the Bear Detectives spring into action. Could it really be as simple as the butler, did it?

About the Author

Stan and Jan Berenstain were both born in 1923 in Philadelphia.  They didn't know each other as children, but met later at school, at the Philadelphia College of Art.  They liked each other right away, and found out that both enjoyed the same kinds of books, plays, music and art.  During World War II, Stan was a medical assistant in the Army, and Jan worked in an airplane factory.  When the war was over, they got married and began to work together as artists and writers, primarily drawing cartoons for popular magazines.  After 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.  Their first published children's book was called The Big Honey Hunt.  It 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.  They live outside of Philadelphia in the country.

Product details

• Publisher‏: ‎ Random House Books for Young Readers; 0 edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language‏: ‎ English
• Paperback‏: ‎ 104 pages
• ISBN-10‏: ‎ 0679881565
• ISBN-13‏: ‎ 978-0679881568
• Reading age‏: ‎ 7 - 10 years
• Lexile measure‏: ‎ 600L
• Grade level‏: ‎ 3 - 4
• Item Weight‏: ‎ 7 ounces
• Dimensions‏: ‎ 5 x 0.25 x 7.75 inches

About the author

Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Berenstain Bears during 2012! Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005 and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from his studio in Pennsylvania.