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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSChester Cricket has never been anywhere near New York City, but after falling asleep in a picnic basket and getting carried onto a train from Connecticut, he ends up stranded in the Times Square subway station. A kind boy named Mario Bellini finds him under a pile of newspapers and tucks him into a matchbox to keep as a pet at his family's struggling newsstand. Chester soon meets Tucker Mouse, a street-smart city mouse who lives in a nearby drain pipe, and Harry Cat, Tucker's calm and loyal best friend. Together the three animals become an unlikely family in the heart of the city, while Mario fights to convince his skeptical mother that a cricket really can be good luck.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Cricket in Times Square
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Cricket in Times Square. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a country insect get trapped in a picnic basket after smelling liverwurst sandwiches?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Chester hops into a picnic basket because he loves the smell of liverwurst, then falls asleep and gets carried by train all the way from Connecticut to New York City.
- First half
In what book does a boy buy a fancy pagoda pet cage for only fifteen cents?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Sai Fong sells Mario the beautiful pagoda cage for only fifteen cents, all that Mario has left from his weekly quarter allowance. The shopkeeper also includes a tiny silver bell as a free gift.
- First half
In what book does a thrifty mouse reveal life savings of two dollars and ninety-three cents?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Tucker finally confesses he has saved two half dollars, five quarters, two dimes, six nickels, and eighteen pennies. Harry adds it up to two dollars and ninety-three cents.
- Second half
In what book does a shuttle conductor smell smoke and rescue trapped animals from a burning newsstand?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Paul, Mario's friend who works the shuttle, smells the smoke and pries off the wooden cover. Onlookers are astonished to see a cat, a mouse, and a small black insect leaping out of the flames.
- Second half
In what book does a sad insect chirp the Italian ballad "Come Back to Sorrento"?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Feeling guilty after the fire, Chester chirps a melancholy Italian song. By chance it is Mama Bellini's favorite, and the music brings back memories of Naples and her courting days with Papa.
- Near the end
In what book does a stranger reach into a cage to grab a tiny silver bell?
✓ Answer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
After a concert, a thief sneaks his hand into the cage trying to steal Chester's silver bell. Papa shouts and the man vanishes into the crowd, but the scare frightens the cricket badly.
