The Berenstain Bears Tree House
Home PageGalleryNewsAppearancesBooksBear MuseumBear MuseumLinksSign up for our Newsletter

THE BEAR MUSEUM

The Bike Lesson, 1964


ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION!
Papa Bear brings home a brand-new bike for his son Small Bear, but before Small Bear is allowed to ride it, Papa Bear has to show him how. "First come the lessons, then the fun. How to get on is lesson one." Of course Father Bear promptly falls off the bike and covers up by saying "That is what you should not do. So let that be a lesson to you."

This sets the pattern that the other six lessons follow. Each lesson ends with Papa Bear in some sort of trouble which Small Bear always manages to get him out of. Of course, when Papa Bear actually lets Small Bear ride the bike, he does so perfectly.

Stan and Jan enjoyed exploring the possibilities of their characters. On the cover of their second book, editor Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Suess) surprised the Berenstains by announcing, “ANOTHER ADVENTURE OF THE BERENSTAIN BEARS.” This was the first time the Bears had a name and perhaps the first time book characters were known by their authors’ names.

“Your bears are a vaudeville troupe like Murgatroyd’s Mules and Dugan’s Dogs,” Geisel observed. He also shortened Stanley and Janice to Stan and Jan for book covers. “That’s what you call each other,” he explained. “Besides, it rhymes.”


  • See October’s Bear Museum.
  • See November’s Bear Museum.
  • See December’s Bear Museum.


    • © 2006, Berenstain Bears, Inc.  |  Visit The Berenstain Bears  |  Links
    Box 163, Bedminster, PA 18910
    215-795-0228
    Refund/Exchange Policy  |  Order Cancellation Policy