The Cricket in Times Square
(Audio) by George Selden

    THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE (AUDIO) by George Selden
    Read by:  Tony Shalhoub
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/1/08
    Publisher:  Macmillan Young Listeners
    Reviewed by:  Jaglvr
    Rating:  5 Stars


    THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE is a classic children’s story.  Written in the 1960’s and the winner of a
    Newbery Honor Book award, THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE has wonderful staying power.  Now,
    courtesy of Macmillan Young Listeners, the tale truly comes to life.

    The story finds a country cricket, Chester, unwittingly stranded in New York City.  After falling asleep in a picnic
    basket in Connecticut, he wakes up in a world that is totally different to him.  He is befriended by Mario, a young
    boy who helps his parents run a newsstand in the subway.  Chester encounters Tucker, a wizened city mouse, and
    his friend, Harry Cat.  The two teach Chester how to live in the city and enjoy the wonders of the subway.

    Soon, everyone learns of Chester’s talent of recreating any music he hears, and spellbounds Mario’s parents, music
    critics, and subway commuters alike.  But Chester quickly becomes tired of the constant performing, and misses his
    quiet country life.  Tucker and Harry do their best to ensure that Chester finds his way back home.

    With the talents of Tony Shalhoub, Chester Cricket, Harry Cat, and Tucker Mouse become real characters that the
    listener can instantly relate to.  Even though the story is about animals in a Times Square subway station, the listener
    gets drawn in and wants there to be a happy ending.

    Mr. Shalhoub creates unique voices for each of the characters, and from the very beginning, it is easy to decipher
    which character is doing the speaking.  I listened to the story (an unabridged production on two CDs) with my two
    children and they were immediately enchanted.  With classical music signaling the end of each chapter, they both
    would shout out the next one.

    For anyone not familiar with the classic tale, listening to it will be an adventure.  And for those that know the sweet
    tale of Chester finding himself in a foreign land (at least for him), listening to the story will be a treat.  No one will be
    disappointed!