In “The Cricket in Times Square,” the cricket’s name is Chester. George Selden’s 1960 children’s novel begins when Mario Bellini discovers a cricket near his family’s newsstand in New York’s Times Square subway station. Papa Bellini lets Mario keep him as a pet, despite Mama Bellini’s worry that the insect might attract more bugs.
Chester soon befriends Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat, who live in an abandoned drainpipe near the newsstand. He explains that he came from Connecticut after accidentally becoming trapped in a picnic basket. His musical chirping impresses Mr. Smedley, a music teacher, who compares Chester’s talent to the legendary musician Orpheus.
Readers sometimes confuse Chester with Tucker, because Tucker is the mouse and a major character in the story. Chester is eventually given a cricket cage bought in Chinatown from Sai Fong, but he later returns home to Connecticut. The book was illustrated by Garth Williams and received a Newbery Honor in 1961.