The Cricket in Times Square is a delightful tale that begins one night in New York City. The usual rumbling of subway trains, thrumming of automobile tires, and hooting of horns are interrupted by a sound unfamiliar to even Tucker Mouse, a seasoned inhabitant of Times Square.

Mario, the son of Mama and Papa Bellini, who run the subway-station newsstand, hears this new, strangely musical chirping. The sound comes from Chester Cricket, a disoriented cricket from Connecticut, who was drawn to the city by the irresistible smell of liverwurst and ended up in Times Square.

Mario is thrilled to find Chester and convinces his parents to let him keep the cricket in the newsstand, assuring his mother that crickets are harmless and perhaps even good luck.

What follows is an enchanting twist on the city mouse/country mouse story, as Chester adapts to the bustling city life. Despite his comfortable matchbox bed and the company of Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat, Chester misses his peaceful life in the Connecticut countryside.

This Newbery Honor Book, charmingly illustrated by Garth Williams, captures the imagination with its vivid storytelling and timeless charm, making it a must-have for children's bookshelves.