Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Brake.

Growing up, one of my favorite childhood memories was using my imagination to build new things.

I'd take apart old, unused electronics or appliances in our home, and then try and rebuild them into something new and interesting.

They usually didn't work. They were more like works of art than functioning inventions, but I had a blast doing it.

What's great about a product like KiwiCo is the things you build as part of the engineering kits actually work.

My kids and I have built a few different projects together, including a ukulele, a pinball machine, headphones, and a speaker.

These projects include detailed instructions and also explain the science behind how the devices work.

As a parent, it can be hard to find creative ways to keep your children busy, challenged, and off screens.

KiwiCo does the legwork for you, so you can spend quality time tackling projects together.

KiwiCo also has boxes for geography and culture, the Atlas crate, and another one focused on cooking.

Other subjects are science, art, engineering, crafting, and design. KiwiCo also has crates designed for kids and adults of all ages.

Redefine Learning with Play. Explore hands-on projects that build creative confidence and problem-solving skills with KiwiCo.

Give 50% off your first month plus free shipping on any crate line at KiwiCo.com forward slash bedtime history.

That's 50% off your first month at kiwico.com slash bedtime history.

3 Little Bears. One with the light. One with the stick. And one with the rope. A spooky old tree.

Do they dare go into that spooky old tree? Yes, they dare.

These are the opening lines from one of my favorite children's books of all time called The Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Barinstein.

You may have heard of the Barinstein Bear books, but growing up they were some of my all-time favorites.

I have many good memories of my mom reading these books to me and my siblings when we were little.

Tonight we're going to learn about Stan and Jan, the authors and illustrators of these fun and imaginative stories.

Jan and Grant and Stan and Barinstein were born in the same year and in the same town, 1923 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

They were born during the Great Depression, which was a very hard time for most people living in the United States.

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