Make your way to the ballot box --- Mama is running for mayor! There are lots of improvements to be made in Bear Country, and Mama has a plan. She's going to fix the roads, pick up the trash, and replace the broken streetlights. But will she promise too much? The Berenstain Bears continue the tradition of bringing engaging stories to beginning readers in this diplomatic I Can Read.

Stan and Jan Berenstain were already successful cartoonistsfor magazines and adult humor books when they began writingchildren's books. The first story starring the bear family, The BigHoney Hunt, appeared in 1962. Since then, more than 250 BerenstainBears books have been published, and more than 260 million copieshave been sold. What began as an idea sparked by their young sons'interest in children's books has become over the years arguably thebest-selling children's book series ever.
　　Since their inception, the Berenstain Bears stories haveexpanded to include picture books, beginning readers, and chapterbooks—even a hit TV show on PBS. Writing and illustrating the bookshas become a Berenstain family affair. Mike joined with his parentsas a creative team in the late 1980s. The Bear family has expandedover the years as well. Sister Bear arrived in 1974, and baby Honeyjoined the family in 2000.
　　Since Stan's death at age eighty-two in 2005, Jan and Mikehave continued to write and illustrate wonderful new adventures forMama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear. They live in BucksCounty, Pennsylvania, which looks a lot like Bear Country.