The Cricket in Times Square

by George Selden (Author) Garth Williams (Illustrator)

After Chester, a cricket, arrives in the Times Square subway station via a picnic basket from his native Connecticut, he takes up residence in the Bellini's newsstand. There, the tiny creature is lucky enough to find three good friends: a little boy named Mario whose parents run the unsuccessful newsstand, a fast-talking Broadway mouse named Tucker and his pal, Harry the Cat. The comic, sometimes tragic side of life in the city is brought into relief as the friends struggle to bring success to the almost bankrupt newsstand.

"Most appealing whimsy, with beautiful illustrations." -- Library Journal,
A Newbery Honor Book.

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School Library Journal

Starred Review
"The story of a musical cricket and his friends, a mouse and a cat of real character, who took up their abode in a Times Square newsstand...Most appealing whimsy with beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams." —Starred, School Library Journal
"The story of a musical cricket and his friends, a mouse and a cat of real character, who took up their abode in a Times Square newsstand...Most appealing whimsy with beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams." —Starred, School Library Journal
"The story of a musical cricket and his friends, a mouse and a cat of real character, who took up their abode in a Times Square newsstand...Most appealing whimsy with beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams." —Starred, School Library Journal

Review quotes

"The story of a musical cricket and his friends, a mouse and a cat of real character, who took up their abode in a Times Square newsstand...Most appealing whimsy with beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams." —Starred, School Library Journal
George Selden

George Selden (1929-1989) was the author of A Cricket in Times Square, winner of the 1961 Newbery Honor and a timeless children's classic. The popular Cricket series grew to seven titles, including Tucker's Countryside and The Old Meadow. In 1973, The Cricket in Times Square was made into an animated film. Selden lived in New York City until his death in December 1989. He enjoyed music, archaeology, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Garth Williams illustrated all seven of the Chester Cricket books and many other distinguished works, including Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780374316501
Lexile Measure
780
Guided Reading Level
S
Publisher
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Publication date
January 01, 1960
Series
Chester Cricket and His Friends
BISAC categories
JUV007000 - Juvenile Fiction | Classics
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Mice
New York (N.Y.)
Crickets
Newbery Medal
Honor Book 1961 - 1961

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