PITTSBURGH -- Michael Berenstain, son of the Berenstain Bears creators, was in Pittsburgh Sunday. He visited the Allegheny Center Alliance Church and Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

See & Be Seen was at the bookstore where Michael signed autographs, took pictures and did drawing demonstrations.

Michael does most of the illustrating and writing for the family-owned business that was started in the 1960s by his parents Stan and Jan. Stan passed away in 2005. He was 82. Jan, 86, is still involved in the business. Michael told me she provides creative input and still loves to draw. Michael’s older brother Leo also contributes. “He’s involved in the business side of things,” said Michael.

Michael is the author and illustrator of the new Berenstain Bears “Living Lights” series, the first faith-based books. The series follows the Berenstain Bears as they learn morals like the golden rule and loving your neighbor. Michael said he got a lot of requests from religious families to do such a series.

Michael and Leo grew up in the Philadelphia area. His parents were magazine cartoonists before the Berenstain Bears were created. Michael and Leo sometimes showed up in their parents’ work as cartoons.

I asked Michael how the Berenstain Bears were eventually created and why his parents went with bears and not anther kind of animal. “My mother always said that bears are traditional,” said Michael. “She said they can stand up on their hind legs and look good in clothes.”

Michael explained that his parents first intended to do just one bear book, but the Berenstain Bears became very popular, so they did another one and another one. For decades the books have helped teach children valuable lessons and reminded them of the importance of family.

Family was important to Stan and Jan. Michael told me some wonderful childhood memories and described his parents as fun and funny. “They were amused by a lot of things,” said Michael. I remember them laughing harder than I ever heard anybody laugh.”

Michael said his family lived modestly. “We didn’t buy a lot,” said Michael. “Instead of buying an electric train to put around the Christmas tree, we made one.”

Growing up, Michael was a hobby kid. He made airplanes and enjoyed fishing. Leo excelled at sports. Their parents supported whatever they did.

Today, Michael is married with three kids in college. Michael said they have art and writing talents but there’s no sign they’ll get involved in the family business.

While Michael is all grown up with a family of his own, he still has his hobbies. He enjoys reading and is interested in science and astronomy.

Michael continues to work on new books and is producing and supervising a Berenstain Bears feature film set to be released in 2011. There have been a lot of Berenstain Bears television shows and specials, but this will be the family’s first feature film.

Thanks to Michael and his family, the Berenstain Bears books have been a part of the childhoods of several generations. I remember reading the books with my grandmother. My mom remembers reading the books with her dad. Many have their own fond Berenstain Bear memories. Michael said the wonderful response his family has gotten over the years is heartwarming.