The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Chester, meet New York City.

New York City, meet Chester.

Wow.

When a small black cricket hops into a picnic basket for a taste of liverwurst, he never imagines he'll end up in New York City. Let alone that he'll end up in the Times Square subway station, surrounded by more noise and movement and general danger than any poor country cricket has ever dealt with before.

Thank goodness for Mario Bellini, the newsstand boy who finds Chester the cricket and gives him a home in the Bellini family newspaper and magazine stand. Thank goodness too for Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat, a pair of unlikely friends who teach Chester everything he needs to know about living in the big city.

Of course there are rough spots to life, even with wonderful friends like these. Mama Bellini, for example, doesn't trust Chester and isn't sure she wants him to stay at the newsstand. And Chester does get himself into trouble all on his own with perfectly honest mistakes. But overall, it's an incredible adventure, especially when Chester takes New York City by storm with a talent all his own.

What do you think that talent could be?