Characters Part 1
A small black cricket from Connecticut who gets stuck on a train and finds himself in New York City. This characters is very brave and adapts quickly to his new life in the big city, even though he is far outside his comfort zone. He is also an extremely talented musician, able to chirp songs of his own composition as well as imitate songs he hears on the radio.
Chester
A young boy living in New York who works at his parents' newsstand. He is kind and compassionate, and cares deeply for Chester Cricket after finding him lost in the subway station. This character is the one human with whom Chester develops a special connection.
Mario
The story begins in a _______ station in New York City. Mario Bellini works at his family's _____ stand. Mario find a tiny _____ making music in the station.
subway
news
cricket
Tucker sleeps in the pagoda cricket cage and uses one-dollar ____ for sheets and uses one of Mama Bellini's _____ as a pillow. Chester accidentally eats a piece of a $___ bill.
bills, earrings
2
Mr. Smedley is _____ when he hears Chester playing hymns. Mr. Smedley write a letter to the ___________, imploring people to come listen to Chester's concerts.
shocked
New York Times
A mouse living in the Times Square subway station who has a habit of hoarding all sorts of things he finds on the street, including money and food. He is the first to warmly welcome Chester to New York and acts as a helpful guide and dedicated friend through the ups and downs of Chester's summer spent in the city.
Tucker
Tucker's best friend, a cat who lives in the subway station as well. This character's quieter, calmer nature balances out Tucker, and the two are both very good friends to Chester while he is in New York.
Harry
Mario names the cricket ________. Mario made Chester a bed in a _______ and fed him a tiny piece of a _______ bar. Chester meets two new friends: Tucker, a ______, and Harry, a ______.
Chester
matchbox, chocolate
mouse, cat
Mario will have to work part-time delivering ______ to pay back the two dollars. Tucker gives the largest portion of his _____ savings to the Bellinis to free Chester. Tucker, Harry, and Chester decide to have a ______ in the newsstand to celebrate two months since Chester came to New York.
groceries
life
party
When Chester leaves New York, he takes the ______ from his cage to remind him of his time in New York. At first, Mario is said that Chester left, but he says that he is _____. He wants Chester to be happy.
bell
glad
Mario's mother, who loves her family but is extremely skeptical of the idea of keeping a cricket. She wants the best for her husband and son and encourages them to make smart decisions when it comes to the family business.
Mama Bellini
Mario's father, who is stern at times but is generally more willing than Mama to let Mario do the things he wants to do, like keep a cricket. He approaches the idea of having a cricket in the newsstand with an open mind, and is always rational, never flying off the handle as Mama sometimes does.
Papa Bellini
Tucker and Harry live in a __________ behind the newsstand. Mr. Smedley discovers that Chester can _____ a perfect middle C. Mario goes to Chinatown to find a ___ for Chester. Mario keeps Chester in a ______ cage.
drain pipe
chirp
cage
pagoda
When the fire starts, Chester calls for help by jumping on an ______ clock. This gets the attention of ____ the conductor who helps put out the fire. Mama Bellini decides that Chester must ___ and calls him a _____. Mama Bellini changes her mind when she hears Chester play one of her favorite _______ songs.
alarm
Paul
go, jinx
Italian
At the end of the story, Chester decides to leave ______ and return to his meadow. When Chester plays his final concert, Times Square was as still as a ______ at evening. This was foreshadowed when Mr. Smedley compared Chester to _______. When ______ played his music, all the people and animals, even the rocks, trees, and waterfalls ______ what they were doing to listen to the music.
New York
meadow
Orpheus
Orpheus, stopped
A kind Chinese man who runs a shop in Chinatown and sells Marion a cricket cage.
Sai Fong
The conductor of one of the trains that stops frequently at the Times Square station and is a good friend to the Bellinis. He keeps an eye out for them and gives them business whenever he can.
Paul
How did Chester get to New York? How does Chester feel about being in New York?
Near his home in Connecticut, some people were having a picnic. Chester crawled into their picnic basket and ate some lunch. He feel asleep, and when he woke up, he was trapped between a bag of roast beef sandwiches. The picknickers carried their basket onto a train. Chester finally worked his way free when the people arrived in the Times Square subway station.
Why does Mario go back to see Mr. Fong? What does Mr. Fong say will solve this problem?
Mario goes back to see Mr. Fond to ask about the cricket's diet. He thinks something must be wrong with Chester if he is eating money. Mr. Fong tells Mario that Chester needs mulberry leaves.
What happens at the newsstand after everyone reads about Chester's musical talent?
People come to the newsstand out of curiosity to listen to Chester's concert. Taking advantage of the crowd, the Bellinis began selling newspapers and magazines to the audience. The newsstand often ells out of magazines and newspapers because of the crowds gathered to hear Chester.
One of Bellinis' best customers, a music teacher who repeatedly comes to the newsstand to buy magazines and papers. He is one of the first people to recognize Chester's extreme musical talent.
Mr. Smedley
This character is enchanted by Chester and tells Mario all kinds of stories about how special crickets are. He is a good friend to both Mario and Chester.
Sai Fong
How does Sai Fond show kindness to Chester and Mario?
Sai Fong compliments Chester, and then goes to find a cage for him so Mario doesn't have to come back when Chow's Emporium is open. He then sells Mario the cricket cage for far less than the cage is worth, and he add a bell to the cage for free.
At the party, what accident happens when Tucker is dancing to Chester's music?
Tucker knocks over the box of kitchen matches and several of them burst into flame when they hit the floor. One of them starts a pile of newspapers on fire, and soon the newsstand began to burn.
Why did Chester decide that he wanted to go back home? Give at least 3 reasons.
Chester did not have the fun and freedom he had before.
Two concerts per day made Chester tired.
Chester did not like being looked at while performing.
When the date changed to September 1, the thought of autumn and all its changes made Chester feel small and lost.