The Cricket In Times Square: By George Selden

 The Cricket in Times Square is about a cricket named Chester Cricket.  Chester is from Connecticut, but he gets stuck in a picnic basket and transported to Times Square New York.  He has adventures with the cat and mouse he becomes friends with.  He also becomes friends with a boy named Mario.  Mario's father works in Times Square at a new stand where Chester spends most of his time.  Chester learns to play music and crowds come to watch him, but he becomes tired and decided to retire.  He plays a farewell concert and then leaves to travel back home.  

I do not know if I would use this book in my classroom.  I think it is a fun book to read, but I am not sure what else it could relate to.  I think this book would be better for a classroom library for students to read independently in around grades 3-5.