The Cricket in Times Square
Recommended. Age: 9+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
A cricket named Chester gets lost in a New York subway station. A boy, a mouse and a cat become his friends. They share what they have and help each other, even when it costs them. One old man in the story talks in a funny way that is not fair to Chinese people. This is a good book for kids in third grade and up. This is a clean, gentle classic about friendship that gives things up for the other's good. Tucker hands over his savings, and the friends let Chester go home because they love him. One thing to frame: the Chinese shopkeeper is drawn in a dated stereotype, and he tells a legend about gods that is plainly a folk tale.
For parents
Read aloud from 6, independent reading from 8. Plugged In says 6 to 10 and Common Sense Media says 9. Ask why Tucker gives up his savings and why the friends help Chester leave when they will miss him. Chester owns up to the chewed two-dollar bill. Talk about that. Explain that Sai Fong's broken English in older editions is a dated caricature and that every person is made in God's image (CCC 1934). His legend about gods turning a man into a cricket is a folk tale, not truth. Chester plays hymns, which is a nice opening to sing one.