When a frisky young Bumposaurus comes to life in a modern museum after millions of years of being extinct, he sets out to find himself something to eat.

His dinosaur manners lead him into comical mishaps, however, such as eating the vegetation in a swamp diorama and romping with stuffed elephants in the African wing. When this brings everything in the hall down on his head and his tummy begins to ache, he longs for his home in the real live swamp and thinks he was better off being extinct.

His adventure has a happy ending, though, and is touchingly portrayed throughout by Ramona Fradon's delightful drawings and the playfulness of her rhyme, at times reminiscent of Dr. Seuss..

The antics of this lovable creature will remind you of some of your favorite pets and will give you hope for the joy and beauty of life..