Berenstain Bears co-author remembered

Two generations of parents and kids are mourning children's book legend Jan Berenstain, who died Friday at age 88.

Berenstain Bears co-creator Jan Berenstain dies

Jan and her husband Stan Berenstain created the lovable Berenstain Bears (Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother,) back in 1962. Since then, 300 books have been published about the bear family and the many predicaments they have faced and conquered. Their "big tree house down a sunny dirt road" has been the scene of lessons in family life that have sold more than 250 million copies. The bears also have come to life in animated TV shows and even on the stage.

But why bears?

In a 1993 interview, Jan Berenstain said "They're fun to draw. They practically look human. They ride bikes. They do everything people do, and it went well with our name."

Stan Berenstain died in 2005.

But Jan's death last week doesn't mean the end of the Berenstain Bears. The couple's son Michael has been illustrating and co-writing the books since 1992.

For Blackstone's full report on the beloved characters' creators, watch the video in the player above.

John Blackstone

From his base in San Francisco, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone covers breaking stories throughout the West. That often means he is on the scene of wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and rumbling volcanoes. He also reports on the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley and on social and economic trends that frequently begin in the West.