The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone is a book in the Berenstain Bears Beginner Books series. It was published on March 12, 1980.
It was adapted into an episode of the same name for the 1985 TV series The Berenstain Bears.
Summary[]
The Bear Museum is having an exhibit on the dinosaur skeleton, but there's a problem: One of the bones has gone missing. The Bear Detectives and their dog Snuff work to help Dr. Bear find the bone just in time for the exhibit's opening.
Plot[]
As several bears lined up outside the doors to the Bear Museum for the dinosaur skeleton, Dr. Bear is pacing in circles. When the Bear Detectives peek inside the window, Dr. Bear tells them that someone took a dinosaur bone. The Bear Detectives and Snuff enter through the window and start searching for the dinosaur bone, as the exhibit for the skeleton opened at noon. While searching for the bone, the Bear Detectives come across the Mummy Room, and Sister thinks that the thief was in there. Dr. Bear turns the light on to show her that it was a mummy case.
Around 11:15, as the Bear Detectives continued to look for the dinosaur bone, Snuff sees a valuable vase and runs into the pedestal it was on. Dr. Bear quickly catches the vase, reminding the Bear Detectives that there was nothing but "valuable dust" inside. At 11:30, the Bear Detectives and Dr. Bear head to the tower in search of the dinosaur bone. Sister believes she found the dinosaur bone along with another face. Dr. Bear turns the light on to reveal that it was an Indian totem pole, with the face on the bottom having a bone through its nose.
At 11:45, Brother comes under the belief that the bone thieves work in packs, as he saw three shadow figures with a sword, gun, and an axe. Dr. Bear shows them that they were wax figures of Blackbear the Pirate, Wild Bear Hickock, and Genghis Bear. At 11:59, just one minute before the exhibit opens, the Bear Detectives and Dr. Bear were unable to find the bone. However, Sister looks out the window and sees a bone-shaped mound. In happiness, Dr. Bear takes the missing bone and places it on the dinosaur skeleton. As he is happy, he notices some paw prints left on the ground, and the Bear Detectives realize that Snuff was the one who took the dinosaur bone, to which he raises his paw with a sheepish grin. At noon, Dr. Bear opens the doors to the museum and the patrons all enter to see the dinosaur skeleton.
Publication history[]
- 1980, Random House (Hardcover)