HarperCollins Acquires Berenstain Bears Program

Posted on March 7, 2003

HarperCollins Children's Books announced that they have acquired the classic and bestselling Berenstain Bears franchise. Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief Kate Morgan Jackson signed the deal for more than fifty books in six different formats with Sterling Lord of Sterling Lord Literistic, who represented authors and illustrators Stan, Jan and son Michael Berenstain.

"The Berenstain Bears are among the most beloved and bestselling children's book characters of all time," said Jackson. "It is a great honor and an amazing opportunity to welcome Stan, Jan and Michael and this legendary program to the Harper list."

Harper will release a hardcover picture book, The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas, for this upcoming holiday season, and then will follow with a multi-book relaunch of the Berenstain Bears program in January 2005 with two 8x8 paperback picture books, two color and activity books and two board books. They then aim to release 12-15 Berenstain Bears titles annually, with formats to include 8x8 paperback picture books, color and activity books, shaped board books, hardcover picture books and audios. Harper will work with the Berenstains to develop a new branded look for the books and will back the publishing program with a trade, consumer and educational marketing campaign.

"I well remember, as a child, watching my parents create the very first Berenstain Bears book some forty years ago," said Michael Berenstain. "I enjoyed reading the books then, and I enjoy working on them now. Having grown up with the characters, I identify with them closely. They are, in fact, my second family -- a little furrier, a little longer in the muzzle -- but still close relatives. It has been a great privilege for me to be able to work with Stan and Jan illustrating Berenstain Bears books over the past ten years. I believe our new relationship with HarperCollins is a wonderful opportunity to move our Bears into fresh, exciting, new creative territory."

Stan and Jan Berenstain were already successful cartoonists for magazines and adult humor books when they created the Berenstain Bears. The first story starring the bear family, The Big Honey Hunt, appeared in 1962. Since then, more than 250 Berenstain Bears books have been published, and more than 240 million copies have been sold. Over the years, the stories have expanded to include picture books, beginning readers and chapter books, and writing and illustrating the books has become a Berenstain family affair -- their son Michael has illustrated more than 25 Berenstain Bears books and will be an integral part of the new program.