Cover art copyright © 2003 by Berenstain Enterprises, Inc.

Copyright © 1966 by Stanley and Janice Berenstain.

Copyright renewed 1994 by Stanley and Janice Berenstain.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

Originally published by Random House, Inc., in 1966.

www.randomhouse.com/kids

www.berenstainbears.com

This title was originally cataloged by the Library of Congress as follows:

Berenstain, Stanley.

The bears’ picnic, by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

[New York] Beginner Books [1966] 72p. col. illus. 24cm. “B-41.”

I. Berenstain, Janice, joint author. II. Title. PZ8.3.B4493Be 68-28460

eISBN 978-0-375-98314-6

BEGINNER BOOKS, RANDOM HOUSE, and the Random House colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

THE CAT IN THE HAT logo ® and © Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. 1957, renewed 1986. All rights reserved.

v3.1

Title Page

Copyright

First Page

Mother Bear,

put your apron away.

We are going to go

on a picnic today!

Where are we going

on our picnic, Dad?

To the very best place

in the world, my lad!

Now you remember

this spot, my dear.

When we were young,

we picnicked here.

Papa, I do not

like to complain,

but your wonderful spot

is next to a train!

Where are we going

now, Papa Bear?

Is there another

wonderful spot somewhere?

Don’t pester me

with questions, please.

There’s a place I know

right in those trees.

It is everything

a picnic spot should be.

And no one remembers

it is here but me.

What a spot! What a spot!

So quiet! So cool!

Just as it was

when I was in school.

We had a school picnic

and I won first place

for eating the most pie

in a pie-eating race.

Pop, this spot may

be very fine,

but look what it says

on that big sign!

Dad, can you find us

another spot?

Are we having a picnic

today, or not?

Now stop asking questions!

Be quiet! Stop stewing!

Your father knows

what he is doing.

To pick a spot that is

just the right one,

you have to be very

choosy, my son.

Nothing can bother

our picnic here!

Lay out the picnic

things, my dear.

I do not like

to say so, Dad,

but another good spot

has just gone bad.

I hope there’s another

good spot you know.

But how much farther

do we have to go?

Why don’t you use

your eyes, Small Bear?

There’s a perfect place

right over there!

The grass is green.

The air is sweet.

Lay out the lunch,

and take a seat.

Hooray!

At last

we’re going to eat!

Well …

this place is good.

I wasn’t wrong.

But I know one better.

Let’s move along.

Now take this perfect

piece of ground.

No one but us

for miles around!

Pop, you picked

the best spot yet.

But how can we picnic

with that jet?

I am very

hungry, Pop!

When is this spot-picking

going to stop?

I am getting tired.

My feet hurt, too.

Any old spot here

ought to do.

Please, Pop, please,

can’t we picnic soon?

It’s long past lunch.

It’s afternoon!

You have to be choosy,

Pop, I know.

But what’s better up here

than down below?

What’s up here? …

I’ll tell you what.

The world’s most perfect

picnic spot!

As you can see,

it is perfectly clear

that nothing can bother

our picnic here.

No noisy crowds!

No pesky planes!

And no mosquitoes,

trucks or trains!

Oh-oh, Dad.

Here come the rains!

Pooh!

Rain to a bear

is nothing at all.

We’ll picnic here

and let it fall.

Come back!

What kind of bears are you?

Scared of a drop

of rain or two!

Bring back that food!

This place will do.

It’s dry in here.

It’s warm here, too!

It does look warm.

Yes, I agree.

But it looks much, much

too warm for me!

Wait, now! Wait!

You wait for me!

I’ll find a better spot.

You’ll see.

I’ll find the perfect

place to eat.

I’ll find a spot

that can’t be beat!

The finest spot

you’ve ever seen.…

Now,

THAT

is the kind

of place I mean!

He did it,

Mother.

Did he not?

He found the perfect

picnic spot!