December 14, 2023
Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear. These simplistic names became synonymous with children’s literature back in the 1960’s when Stanley and Janice Berenstain wrote their first book featuring three bears. Bears were easy to draw and since they were both artists wanting to get into the children’s book market, they figured they’d start with a bear family and see where it took them....

November 16, 2023
When it comes to mascots, most of the ones that come to mind right off the bat are those associated with North American sports teams or North American products. Think McDonald’s, M&M’s, the Philly Phanatic, the Energizer Bunny, the Kool Aid Man; the list goes on and on. These are all easily recognizable characters that clue people in right away to what they are selling or promoting. Engl...

October 14, 2023
Why the Detroit Tigers are called the Tigers is open to a lot of speculation. It could have been that back in the day they wore orange striped socks with their uniforms, or it could be a tribute to a group of cavalrymen from the Detroit area who valiantly fought like tigers during the Civil War. Whatever the story behind the name, the Tigers have been playing baseball in Detroit for decades and...

September 16, 2023
Perhaps the best known mascot of all time is McDonald’s Ronald McDonald, that clown that is as synonymous with the fast food chain as the Big Mac is. He is an instant link to the restaurant that has served billions across the world and his likeness can be found in comics, in books and in animated series’ alike. He is someone that 98% of children know and can recognize with just a glance and is ...

August 14, 2023
Arguably one of the most recognizable sports mascots of all time is the big furry green creature that goes by the name The Philly Phanatic. He is large, he is green and he loves the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. You can find him at all home games where he entertains the crowd and also at community events where he works in public relations for the team. He is hard to miss as he is, well, ...

July 15, 2023
Who has a red hat, a blue duffle coat and a battered old suitcase that is full of his favourite breakfast food, marmalade? Why, it’s Paddington bear of course and he, like so many other famous bears got his start in children’s books. He hails from ‘deepest, darkest Peru’ and is found by the Brown family at Paddington Station in London England when they are there to pick up their children from a...

June 15, 2023
We all know Winnie the Pooh, that lovable yellow bear in the red shirt that has an affinity for ‘hunny’ and for getting into scrapes along with his band of friends. He, along with Tigger, Owl, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and of course Christopher Robin have many adventures that were first documented in books and later in movies and television shows. It all started back in 1926 when author A.A...

May 15, 2023
You know Yogi bear, that brown guy with the green tie and cute little hat that goes around with a little bear cub named Boo Boo and tries to steal any ‘pic-a-nic’ basket he can get his hands on. Yes, that Yogi Bear not to be confused with the famous baseball player, Yogi Berra with the very similar name. Yogi has been with us since 1958 when he first debuted on The Huckleberry Hound...

April 15, 2023
We have all seen the devastation that wildfires leave in their wake and footage of the thousands of firefighters that are out trying to fight them. That is today, but back in the era of World War II, able bodied men were out fighting in Europe, which didn’t leave many at home to take on firefighter roles. This is when the United States government knew they had to step in and do something. That ...

March 15, 2023
When you think of mascots that are forever linked to a brand a few names come to mind. There’s the Kool Aid Man, Ronald McDonald, the Energizer Bunny, the M&M’s and oh yes, Mr. Clean. None of these mascots are real of course-- although there have been a few actors over the years who have played Mr. Clean on televisi...