Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on … Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on the books with his mother in recent years. She was 88. Jan Berenstain in 2011. Jan Berenstain died of a stroke on February 24, 2012. Soon, Jan and her husband had created a successful franchise which, over the years, resulted in more than 300 titles released in 23 languages. But I'm not as nice or stalwart." Photograph: AP. Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on the books with his mother in recent years. Cause of death: stroke . In an interview with "The Washington Post," she once admitted that Mama bear was "based on me. Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain’s death in 2005. Jan Berenstain and her husband, Stan, published their first Berenstain Bears book in 1962. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel, was the … Selected works. After Stan's death, she worked on the books with her son Michael. His elder brother, writer Leo Berenstain, is involved with the business end of … PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jan Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years, has died. Author, Illustrator. Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain's death in 2005 at the age of 82. The sad news of Jan Berenstain's death at 88 has me reminiscing on my buddies The Berenstain Bears today. Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain's death in 2005 at the age of 82. Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain's death in 2005 at the age of 82 . Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain’s death in 2005 at the age of 82. Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on … JAN Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years, has died at the age of 88.