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My kids have a couple of Berenstain Bears books, which I’ve never bothered to read, because I don’t find the art very compelling. I’m much more interested in Richard Scarry’s wry humor, or Dr. Seuss’ psychedelic meltiness, or Mel Crawford’s primary-colored frankness.
But a couple of weeks ago I visited the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY, and came across an exhibit of 1940s through 1960s era magazine illustrations by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and I was knocked over by how stupendously fun and brilliantly composed they were. The large illustrations, which appeared in Colliers, McCall’s, and The Saturday Evening Post, featured crowd scenes of dozens of kids fighting, making mischief, throwing temper tantrums, crying, taunting, hiding, and marveling at the world around them. The art rivals Will Elder‘s for its masterfully executed complexity and elements of humorous little details.
It turns out there’s a book that has many of these illustrations, called Child’s Play: The Berenstain Baby Boom, 1946-1964 – Cartoon Art of Stan and Jan Berenstain. I just ordered my copy and am looking forward to poring over the pages with my kids.