Stan과 Jan Berenstain은 1923년 Philadelphia에서 태어났다. 그들은 어릴 적에는 서로를 몰랐지만 Philadelphia아 대학에서 미술을 전공하면서 만나게 됐다. 그들은 한 눈에 서로를 사랑하게 되었고 같은 분야의 책, 음악, 미술을 좋아하는 것을 알게 되었다. 2차 세계대전시 Stan은 군대에서 의무병이었고 Jan은 비행기공장에서 일을 했다. 전쟁이 끝난 직후 그들은 결혼했고, 작가와 미술가로 같이 일을 시작한다. 두 아들 Leo와 Michael을 얻고 나서 그들은 자신들의 아이들과 다른 아이들도 읽으며 즐길 수 있는 어린이들을 위한 책을 쓰기로 결심한다. 그들의 첫 번째 책은 The Big Honey Hunt이고 이것은 훗날 Berenstain Bears의 효시가 된다. 어린이들을 위한 책을 50권 이상 펴낸 Stan과 Jan은 여전히 같이 글을 쓰고 같이 그림도 그린다. 그들은 현재 Pennsylvania주의 Bucks County라는 곳에서 살고 있다.

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 the 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.