Discussion Questions

Chapter 1 Discussion Questions:

1. In what New York City subway station does Tucker live?

2. If Mario were in your class, do you think he would be a friend of yours?

3. Why does Tucker enjoy living in an abandoned drainpipe?

4. Why does Mario work late at his family’s newspaper stand?

5.. Why doesn’t Paul wait for his change? What does this reveal about him?

Chapter 2 Discussion Questions:

1. What is the mysterious sound that Mario hears late at night in the subway station?

2. How does Mario solve the problem of making a home for the cricket? What else might he have done?

3. Why doesn’t Mama Bellini want Mario to keep the cricket?

4. On what conditions does Mama accept the cricket?

5. Why do you think Mario is so happy to have found a cricket?

Chapter 3 Discussion Questions:

1. How did Chester end up in New York City?

2. Do you think Chester and Tucker will become good friends?

3. What problems might a country creature face in a busy city?

Chapter 4 Discussion Questions:

1. Why isn’t Tucker Mouse afraid of Harry the Cat?

2. Why does Chester begin to feel happy in the city?

3. Why do Tucker and Harry want to take Chester to Times Square?

Chapter 5 Discussion Questions:

1. How would you react if Mario showed Chester to you?

2. How do Mickey and Mr. Smedley each express their admiration for Chester?

3. Why does Mario head for Chinatown?

4. How are Chester’s communications with Mario different from his communications with Harry and Tucker? Why do you think the author created this difference?

Chapter 6 Discussion Questions:

1. Why is Chester curious about the straw hat he sees on the subway?

2. Why does Mario want to go to Sai Fong's shop?

3. What do you think is the moral of the fable that the Chinese storekeeper told Mario about the first cricket?

4. How much did Mario pay Sai Fong for the cricket cage?

5. Why do you think Sai Fong is so generous to Mario?

6. What kind of house would you make for Chester?

Chapter 7 Discussion Questions:

1. How is Tucker’s reaction to the pagoda different from Chester’s reaction?

2. Why does Harry say that Tucker looks like a mouse in a trap?

3. Why does Tucker line Chester’s cage with dollar bills?

Chapter 8 Discussion Questions:

1. Why doesn’t the leaf in Chester’s dream taste as good as usual?

2. How do Tucker’s solutions to the problem of admitting guilt for the lost money differ from Chester’s?

3. Why does Mama Bellini keep dropping stitches?

4. Why does Mario take a part time job delivering groceries?

5. Why does Mama Bellini release Chester from his cage?

6. Have you ever sleepwalked or found out later that a sound or touch in a dream was something real?

7. Do you think it is fair to make Mario replace the money?

Chapter 9 Discussion Questions:

1. Why does Mario return to see Sai Fong?

2. What customs and foods does Sai Fong introduce to Mario?

3. How does Mario find out about a cricket’s diet?

4. Why doesn’t Chester eat the mulberry leaf that is offered to him?

5. Why does Chester sing?

6. Why are the Chinese gentleman’s eyes moist?

7. How does Mario feel when he leaves? How would you feel?

8. Do you think Mario will visit Sai Fong again? Why or why not?

Chapter 10 Discussion Questions:

1. Why are the three animals—Chester, Tucker, and Harry—having a party?

2. Why do the animals decide to have their party in the newsstand?

3. What preparations do the three animals make for the party?

4. Why is Chester able to play so well on the night of the party?

5. How does the fire start?

6. How do each of the animals react to the fire?

7. Which human is first to help put out the fire?

Chapter 11 Discussion Questions:

1. Why does Chester return to the newsstand after the fire is put out?

2. Why does Mama conclude that Chester must go?

3. Why does Chester start to feel guilty?

4. Why does Mama change her mind and let Chester stay at the newsstand?

5. Do you think Mama will change her mind again and want Chester to leave?

Chapter 12 Discussion Questions:

1. Why does Tucker want Chester to learn more music?

2. How does Chester receive a musical education?

3. Why is Mr. Smedley, the music teacher, so impressed with Chester’s music?

4. How does Mr. Smedley help make Chester a celebrity?

5. If you had a cricket such as Chester, what music would you want him to play?

6. Do you think Mr. Smedley has any selfish motives in promoting Chester’s talent?

7. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of being a celebrity?

Chapter 13 Discussion Questions:

1. How does the editor react to Mr. Smedley’s letter? Why does he print it?

2. Why does a crowd gather at the newsstand?

3. How does Mama use Chester’s fame to make money?

4. Why isn’t Chester happy with his fame?

5. What events connected with the bell and the newspaper make Chester sad?

6. How does Mario know that Chester is sad? What does this reveal about Mario?

7. Do the changing seasons affect you, causing you to feel happy or sad?

8. What do you think Chester is about to do?

Chapter 14 Discussion Questions:

1. How do Tucker and Harry each react to Chester’s retirement plans?

2. What does Chester play for his final piece? Why does he choose this piece?

3. What miraculous change does Chester bring about in the city?

Chapter 15 Discussion Questions:

1. How does Chester say good-bye to Mario?

2. How does Mario know that Chester has left for good?

3. How does Mario react to Chester’s departure?

Final Discussion:

1. Why do you think the music of a cricket can have such a great effect on life in the city?

2. What comment do you think the author is making about city life?

3. What else might bring about these changes in people’s lives in the city?

4. . Do you think the author is suggesting that Chester has a responsibility to stay with the Bellini family, or does he want the reader to be sympathetic to his return home?

5. How do you think Mario, Mama, Papa, and even Tucker have each been changed by Chester’s brief appearance in their lives?