The Cricket in Times Square — Chapter 4

About This Passage

This is Chester's first sight of Times Square — and the moment the book pivots from the country cricket's grief over lost Connecticut to the country cricket's bewildered wonder at the great city. Selden uses water imagery ('shell,' 'great waves breaking inside it') to describe a place made of concrete and neon, which is a small act of genius — the country animal is translating the city into country language so the reader can feel what Chester feels. The passage teaches young writers that sensory detail (colors listed by name, the roar of traffic, the hum of humans) is not decoration but the actual substance of place-writing.

Narration Prompt

In your own words, tell the story of Chapter 4. What is the surprise about the cat? What does Chester learn about how cats and mice live in New York? What happens when Chester chirps for Harry? What does Chester see when he goes up to Times Square? What does he see at the very end of the chapter that makes him feel better?

Discussion Questions

1. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat are best friends, even though in Connecticut cats and mice are enemies. Tucker explains that in New York they 'gave up those old habits long ago.' What does this tell you about how a place — a city, a neighborhood, a classroom — can change the rules people live by?
2. When Chester chirps, Harry Cat says, 'It makes me want to purr to hear it.' Later Harry praises the sound as 'lovely, very lovely,' and says 'this cricket has talent.' What does it mean that Harry — a cat, an animal who might have eaten the cricket in a different book — is the first character to recognize Chester's music as an art form?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide