Friendship, Loyalty, and Being True to One’s Self

Books were great companions growing up. Call me a bookworm, but over the course of a quiet Sunday afternoon during my 90’s childhood, I could easily lose myself in a storybook or two. One book that I never tired of re-reading was The Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden. Written in 1960, this children’s book follows Chester Cricket and his brave front over finding himself initially stuck and alone in New York City’s infamous Times Square. Along the way, we learn of the friends he makes in the unlikeliest places: Mario Bellini and his family at their newsstand in Time Square subway station, best buds Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat in an abandoned drainpipe, Mr. Smedley, who is a music teacher and frequent patron of the Bellini newsstand, and even shop owner Sai Fong, who generously supplies Chester’s diet of mulberry leaves.

Not only were Garth Williams’ illustrations throughout the storybook appealing, but the descriptions of each setting and action, along with the constant and universal themes of friendship, loyalty, and being true to one’s self, threaded throughout the chapters, captivated my attention until I reached the book’s back cover.

Like many or most stories, I found that The Cricket in Times Square fit quite well into Kenn Adams’ Story Spine structure. I can envision how the sketching and initial drafting of the story’s basic building blocks came into fruition, before blossoming into the award-winning story that’s existed since the 60’s.

Once again, I found all 4 I’s of Engaging Storytelling evident in my favourite children’s book:

• Interest: A tiny cricket lost in the big and bustling world of Times Square? How did he end up there? Where is he from? How will he get back home?
• Instruct: The book was structured clear enough for a nine-year-old to understand and follow. Although many characters (and their backgrounds) were introduced throughout the story, you could always tell that the main focus was on Chester and his adventure.
• Involve: Can you remember a time when you got lost? How alone and scared did it make you feel? How did it make you feel when you made a new friend? Someone you connected with and got along really well with?
• Inspire: Does Chester’s story make you want to go out and seek your own adventures? Perhaps, be a bit braver when venturing out on your own? Does it make you see people and strangers in a different way? Perhaps people are more helpful and generous than you’re willing to give them credit for? Although change can be a good thing, how do you stay true to yourself at the end of the day?

A classic children’s story that fits many of the storytelling principles out there, The Cricket in Times Square contains your classic beginning, middle and end. It even leaves behind a teaser ending for a sequel, in which George Selden actually ends up writing six of! Of course, those sequels provided further reading entertainment for my young self, but really, the OG is always the best one.