The Cricket in Times Square Study Guide

A mouse, a cat, and a cricket take a bite out of the Big Apple! Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he’d seen it all. But he’s never met a cricket before, which really isn’t surprising, because along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New York City – the Times Square subway station. Chester Cricket never intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He’d be there still if he hadn’t followed the enticing aroma of liverwurst right into someone’s picnic basket. Now, like any tourist int he city, he wants to look around.
He could not have found two better guides – and friends – than Tucker and Harry! But Chester has a hidden talent and no one, not even Chester himself, realized that the little country cricket may just be able to teach even the toughest New Yorkers a thing or two.

Background Information: Explore the cultural significance of crickets in China and their role in history, folklore, and daily life.
Vocabulary: Improve your vocabulary skills through fun activities designed to increase word recognition, retention, and understanding within the language of the novel.
Literary Techniques: Analyze literary techniques, including the use of adverbs, descriptive writing, setting, dialect, foreshadowing, fact vs. opinion, similes, metaphors, theme development, and character traits.
Moral Lessons and Character Values: Learn life lessons from the story, such as recognizing God’s presence, the value of friendship, the importance of truth and responsibility, the role of money, the joy of giving, the power of forgiveness, and the pursuit of happiness.
Activities and Writing Assignments: Bring The Cricket in Times Square to life with hands-on activities, including studying crickets, mapping New York City and Chinatown, creative writing, exploring scientific concepts, researching legends, recognizing personal talents, engaging with music and art, cooking cultural dishes, and practicing the use of chopsticks.
Suggestions for Further Reading: Expand your literary collection with a list of additional books by George Selden, as well as other stories that share similar themes and settings to The Cricket in Times Square.