Cricket Songs

Cricket Songs tells the story of a cricket named Chester who arrives in New York's Times Square one hot summer day. Chester befriends a young boy named Mario Bellini, whose family runs a newsstand in the subway station. The unlikely pair forms a friendship that leads Chester to interact with various city dwellers, including Mario's parents, a talented mouse named Tucker, and a wise cat named Harry. Through these encounters, Chester discovers his musical talent and its effect on the busy city around him. Night after night, Chester plays his violin legs in Times Square, bringing beauty and music to an urban landscape of concrete and steel. His performances begin to change the atmosphere of the usually frantic subway station and those who pass through it. The story explores themes of friendship across boundaries, the transformative power of art, and finding one's place in an unfamiliar world. Through its blend of realism and fantasy, Cricket Songs presents an alternative view of city life and human connection.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of George Selden's overall work: Readers remember George Selden most for The Cricket in Times Square series and value his ability to blend fantasy with realistic New York City settings. Parents and teachers note that the books remain engaging for elementary school students despite being written in the 1960s. Readers liked: - Characters that feel genuine and relatable - Gentle humor throughout - Clear, straightforward writing style - Chester Cricket's personality and wisdom - Educational elements about music and city life Common criticisms: - Some ethnic stereotypes that reflect the era - Slower pacing compared to modern children's books - Limited appeal beyond the first book in the series Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: The Cricket in Times Square - 4.0/5 (41,000+ ratings) Amazon: The Cricket in Times Square - 4.7/5 (1,200+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 from parents, 4/5 from kids Several teachers mention using the books for read-alouds, noting strong student engagement and opportunities for discussion about friendship and perseverance.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden A cricket befriends a mouse and cat in New York City and brings music to their lives through his singing.

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White A spider uses her web-writing skills to save her friend, a pig named Wilbur, from becoming Christmas dinner.

Stuart Little by E. B. White A mouse navigates life in New York City with his human family while searching for his bird friend Margalo.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary A mouse discovers he can ride a toy motorcycle by making engine noises and forms a friendship with a young boy at a hotel.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo A small mouse with large ears falls in love with a princess and embarks on an adventure to save her from rats in a dark dungeon.

🦗 Author George Selden kept a pet cricket named Tucker in a matchbox while living in New York City, inspiring his more famous book "The Cricket in Times Square" 🎵 Male crickets are the only ones that chirp, and they do so by rubbing their wings together - a process called stridulation 📚 This lesser-known work by Selden was published in 1967, seven years after his breakthrough success with "The Cricket in Times Square" 🌙 Crickets change their chirping speed based on temperature - the warmer it is, the faster they chirp 🎨 The book features Japanese-inspired illustrations by Garth Williams, who also illustrated "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little"