THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE
AUTHOR: George Selden
GENRE: Fiction
SETTING: New York
CHARACTERS: Chester (cricket)
Mario Bellini (parents own a news-stand)
Mama Bellini and Papa Bellini
Tucker Mouse
Harry Cat
Mr Smedley
SUMMARY:
• Chester the cricket arrives in New York in a picnic basket and he is
quickly befriended by Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat.
• Chester becomes the pet to a young boy named Mario and the three
animals work together to save his family’s news-stand.
THEME:
• Friendship
• Loyalty
• Value of hard work
Chapter 1
Vocabulary: Draw a line from each word on the left to its definition on the
right. Then use the numbered words to fill in the blanks in the sentences
below.
Questions:
1. Why does Tucker enjoy living in an abandoned drainpipe?
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2. Why does Mario work late at his family’s newspaper stand?
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3. Why doesn’t Paul wait for his change? What does this reveal about him?
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Chapter 2
Vocabulary: Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Draw a line from
each word in column A to its synonym in column B. Then use the words in
column A to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
Questions:
1. What is the mysterious sound that Mario hears late at night in the subway
station?
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2. How does Mario solve the problem of making a home for the cricket? What
else might he have done?
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3. Why doesn’t Mama want Mario to keep the cricket?
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4. On what conditions does Mama accept the cricket?
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Chapter 3
Vocabulary: Verbs are words that show action. Draw a line from each verb in
column A to its meaning in column B. Then use the verbs in column A to
answer the questions below.
Questions:
1. How do Chester and Tucker meet?
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2. How did Chester the Cricket, a country insect, get to New York?
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3. Why does Tucker interrupt the story?
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4. How did Chester end up in the dirt where Mario found him?
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5. Why does Chester finally chirp?
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Chapter 4 and 5
Vocabulary: Use the context to help you figure out the best definition of the
underlined word in each of the following sentences. Circle the letter of the
word or phrase you choose.
Questions:
1. Why isn’t Tucker Mouse afraid of Harry the Cat?
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2. Why does Chester begin to feel happy in the city?
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3. Why do Tucker and Harry want to take Chester to Times Square?
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4. Why is Chester pleased to see a star above Times Square?
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5. How do Mickey and Mr. Smedley each express their admiration for
Chester?
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6. Why does Mario head for Chinatown?
Chapter 6
Vocabulary: Word analogies are equations in which the first pair of words
has the same relationship as the second pair of words. For example: TALL is
to SHORT as HOT is to COLD. Both pairs of words are opposites. Choose
the correct word to complete each of the
following analogies. Circle the letter of the answer you choose.
Questions:
1. Why is Chester curious about the straw hat he sees on the subway?
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2. Why does Sai Fong invite Mario into his shop in Chinatown?
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3. Why does Mario want to go to Sai Fong’s shop?
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4. How does Sai Fong’s story compare with Mr. Smedley’s story and his
motive for telling it?
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5. Why is the cricket cage so inexpensive?
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Chapter 7 and 8
Vocabulary: Use the words in the Word Box and the clues below to complete
the Crossword puzzle.
Questions:
1. How is Tucker’s reaction to the pagoda different from Chester’s reaction?
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2. Why does Harry say that Tucker looks like a mouse in a trap?
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3. Why does Tucker line Chester’s cage with dollar bills?
4. Why doesn’t the leaf in Chester’s dream taste as good as usual?
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5. How do Tucker’s solutions to the problem of admitting guilt for the lost
money differ from Chester’s?
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6. Why does Mama Bellini keep dropping stitches?
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7. Why does Mario take a part time job delivering groceries?
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8. Why does Mama Bellini release Chester from his cage?
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Chapter 9
Vocabulary: Draw a line from each word on the left to its definition on the
right. Then use the numbered words to fill in the blanks in the sentences
below.
Questions:
1. Why does Mario return to see Sai Fong?
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2. What customs and foods does Sai Fong introduce to Mario?
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3. How does Mario find out about a cricket’s diet?
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4. Why doesn’t Chester eat the mulberry leaf that is offered to him?
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5. Why does Chester sing?
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6. Why are the Chinese gentleman’s eyes moist?
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Chapter 10
Read the sentences below and then number them to indicate the order in
which they happened.
_____ Chester sets off the alarm clock.
_____ Tucker falls into the matches.
_____ Paul smells smoke.
_____ The animals run to safety.
_____ Harry suggests they need music.
_____ One match falls into the papers.
Questions:
1. Why are the three animals—Chester, Tucker, and Harry—having a party?
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2. Why do the animals decide to have their party in the news-stand?
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3. What preparations do the three animals make for the party?
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4. Why is Chester able to play so well on the night of the party?
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5. How does the fire start?
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6. How do each of the animals react to the fire?
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7. Which human is first to help put out the fire?
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Chapter 11
Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Draw a line from
each word in column A to its antonym in column B. Use the words in column
A to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
Questions:
1. Why does Chester return to the newsstand after the fire is put out?
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2. Why does Mama conclude that Chester must go?
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3. Why does Chester start to feel guilty?
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4. Why does Mama change her mind and let Chester stay at the news-stand?
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Chapter 12
Questions:
1. Why does Tucker want Chester to learn more music?
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2. How does Chester receive a musical education?
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3. Why is Mr. Smedley, the music teacher, so impressed with Chester’s
music?
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4. How does Mr. Smedley help make Chester a celebrity?
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Chapter 13
Questions:
1. How does the editor react to Mr. Smedley’s letter? Why does he print it?
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2. Why does a crowd gather at the news-stand?
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3. How does Mama use Chester’s fame to make money?
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4. Why isn’t Chester happy with his fame?
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5. What events connected with the bell and the newspaper make Chester
sad?
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6. How does Mario know that Chester is sad? What does this reveal about
Mario?
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Chapter 14 and 15
Questions:
1. How do Tucker and Harry each react to Chester’s retirement plans?
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2. What does Chester play for his final piece? Why does he choose this
piece?
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3. What miraculous change does Chester bring about in the city?
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4. How does Chester say good-bye to Mario?
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5. How does Mario know that Chester has left for good?
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6. How does Mario react to Chester’s departure?
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