Chester Cricket's New Home

Chester Cricket and His Friends #5

by George Selden, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

Crash!  One minute Chester Cricket is calmly sifting inside his stump house.  The next thing he knows, the roof is collapsing upon him!  Left without a home, Chester is forced to move in with one neighbor after another in Tucker's Countryside.  Nothing works out quite right--John Robin throws loud all-night parties, Henry and Emily Chipmunk are too tidy, and Donald Dragonfly's twig is much too small for both of them.  Even his good pal Walter Water Snake can't help joking about Chester's predicament.  All of his friends have found a happy home.  Will Chester ever find a place to call his own?

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Classics

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

George Selden (1929-1989) was the author of The Cricket in Times Square, winner of the 1961 Newbery Honor and a timeless children's classic. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Selden received his B.A. from Yale, where he was a member of the Elizabethan Club and contributed to the literary magazine. He spent three summer sessions at Columbia University and, after college, studied for a year in Rome on a Fulbright Scholarship.

People often asked Selden how he got the idea for The Cricket in Times Square. "One night I was coming home on the subway, and I did hear a cricket chirp in the Times Square subway station. The story formed in my mind within minutes. An author is very thankful for minutes like those, although they happen all too infrequently." The popular Cricket series grew to seven titles, including Tucker's Countryside and The Old Meadow. In 1973, The Cricket in Times Square was made into an animated film. Selden wrote more than fifteen books, as well as two plays. His storytelling blends the marvelous with the commonplace realities of life, and it was essential to him that his animal characters display true emotions and feelings.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...

Reviews

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the Cricket in Times Square. The most successful part of the other novel was how it incidentally revealed so much about human beings. This one was just in the animal world, so it was missing something. Still, it's a nice story about home and friends, so my 7 y.o. enjoyed it.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one may be right up there with the first book in the series (The Cricket in Times Square) as my favorite of the series. There are so many precious moments that might not mean as much to anyone else, but they spoke to my heart, especially the dragonfly moments. This one is all about the true nature of friendship! Oh, and avoiding stumps if you are "stout" woman, I consider myself warned.

A few quotes:

"Chester Cricket had found had that when something unpleasant happened to him, if he made a tale of it by telling it to some friends as a story - or best of all, if he sang it to himself as a song - then that sadness and unhappiness was easier on the heart. It sometimes even turned wonderful."

"To the frisky delight of everyone who got caught in it, there was a brief shower - a downpour that lasted just long enough to rinse the day, what was left of it, and hang it out in the sunset to dry."

"It was late in an August afternoon, but the world felt deep and tall and wide. It felt - as it always should - like new."

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book #5 in the series.

I give this 2.5 stars. Chester definitely isn't his perky, lovable self in this story. He's definitely more depressed, but if you take it with a hint of irony, which I believe is how Selden would want us to take it, Chester's tales are quite mournfully hilarious. He's lost his house (because two, shall I say "tubby," ladies squished his home) and he must find another. With each attempt at a new home, his woeful tales become more ironic and more laughable.

Ages: 5/6+

Cleanliness: Good Lord, mercy, land sakes, my dears, my stars, Gosh, my goodness are said. At one low point, Chester says he thinks he might just go into the road and get run over in order to end it all.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

BTW--that blurb up there under the title has nothing to do with what's in the book.

Underwelmed. Chester's stump is destroyed so he is shunted from one "friend" to another looking for a place to stay. He has two new sidekicks, an old turtle and an annoying watersnake whose jokes are unfunny and whose poetry reeks. Yeah...kind of like the two original neighbours from Selden's first book.
All of the female characters in this book are obnoxious and stupid (in the European sense of the word) from the humans who deprive Chester of his home to every. single. female. animal. in the story. They're selfish, inconsiderate, rude, or totally out to lunch. Chester spends most of his time depressed and grumpy and his friends, though helpful in the end, aren't the sort of friend you want in your hour of need. I wouldn't recommend this book. I usually shelve copies of other authors' characters as "ripped off original source" but in this case it's the author who is cannibalizing his own previous work. I couldn't really figure out the purpose in the story except, yeah--to make money for the author.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story with characters from The Cricket in Times Square. Chester's house has been damaged in the Old Meadow and now all his friends are wanting him to move in with them. After some of the nuttiest sleepovers imaginable where will Chester end up? The grandsons also liked this new installment just as well as the first ones. Recommend to one and all.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars (6/10 hearts). What a delightful book!! I enjoyed this one so much! I loved Walt and Simon and hope they will show up again—particularly Walt. He’s a real hoot, and yet so sweet and kind. And Simon is so wise and nice. :) I loved seeing all the meadow folks again, and Chester himself is so sweet. A perfect addition to the series!

[Darcia Scates · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written for children. The cricket in Times Square was his masterpiece, which adults can enjoy.
This title pales in comparison. It seemed to drag on, but the ending was beautiful. The ending brought it home and made it seem like a decent read.

[Jefferson 2b · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was the best book I have ever read!
Daniella

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chester Cricket of New York fame lives a quiet life in Tucker's Countryside. His home is an old stump. He enjoys looking out at the brook and across the meadow.
Then two women come walking around the pathway. One is tired. The two sit down on Chester's stump collapsing it into pieces. The cricket is left searching for a new home.
The story is cute. It is easy reading. It is definitely not a nature book.
All of the characters have some hallmarks of the creatures they are supposed to be. This is only a veneer over their basic humanness. This is a story for reading enjoyment only and does well for that.

[Paul Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is fun enough, but not nearly as good as its two main predecessors. The introduction of numerous new characters means that much of the established emotional interest is stunted. It's not bad, and it kept the three-year-old's interest. It's just not as compelling as previous entries in the series.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable story good to read aloud. " But enough of sorrow! Away all woe! Begone, all ruthless misery! The hour of joy at last is here! .....Chester now has his home at last! He is in residence! Har! Har! .... I delighted in this quote with glee! It makes me think of what it'll be like when we, as Christ followers, arrive in heaven.

[Worm of the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cute one. I can’t believe Chester Cricket actually had a pessimistic side him. And seeing him get annoyed was actually quite amusing. And that Walter Water Snake is really something…actually he is down right nuts but I loves him. I could tell we would be good friends. 😄

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chester's stump collapses (humorously), leaving him with no place to lay his head. He tries all manner of places before finally settling in. Sweet humor and fun animals throughout.

(purchased on Kindle)

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love all of these books. They are funny and sweet and make great read alouds!

[Joyfully Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! The only thing I didn't like was Walter Water Snake. He was a bit annoying. Other than that it was an awesome book.

[Elyse Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those obscure books that stuck with me when I was a kiddo. I read it before the more famous Times Square and I like it so much better. It enchanted me.

[Holly Mclaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for elementary aged readers and so cute/ quirky. Lots of great moments and a fun read for those who like Cricket in Times Square. Of course, that one is the classic.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of these animals are super annoying. Other than that, it was okay.

[Kennedi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, funny, adventurous book! Definitely going to read to my kids one day! 💙

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Chester Cricket's home gets accidentally destroyed, his plans suddenly change. Instead of sleeping peacefully in his own home, a wood stump, he moves into shelter after shelter after shelter until he finally acquires a home suitable for an overwhelmed cricket like Chester.

This book is full of characteristics of animals, making the story full of interest. Also, Chester Cricket is constantly moving, causing some more excitement. For example, when Chester moved to an old squirrel's nest introduced by a robin, he was greeted by a ginormous bird party that lasted all day- instead of peace and rest, which he wanted! At the end, he had to move away from there, which was sad for Chester... although this indecent makes the story more interesting for people like me!

The story had a lesson: that sometimes, there can be a major change, and when that happens, disasters can be triggered. Eventually, everyone will have to change something big. for example, when people (and animals in this story) move homes, lots of things, like furniture, will have to by thrown away/dissembled at times. In replacement, things would have to be bought and/or assembled. This lesson is very important to the general public, including me (even though I already knew it).

[Joseph Rizzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lighthearted children's book that was enjoyable. The theme of the book is relate able to all since it deals with the concept of a home and what you consider home. What are the intangibles that you just don't think about until you are away from them? Poor Chester has his lovely home by the brook destroyed and is rescued by his friends. This is the chronicle of many of his friends trying to find him a new home. It reminds me a bit of the Winnie the pooh segment where piglet loses his home. A good quick read if you're young or young at heart.

[Xavier6b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chester Crickets New Home was a amazing book. One minute he loses his house and then he gets a new house. plus he makes some new friends. one of his friends was going to eat him but he couldn't, why? he was his friend thats why. But Chester had some problem on his way to his new home. But he got there though and now he is living his life as he was before.

[Shun-Sho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and in keeping with Selden's other books in the series. It doesn't carry the effect that "Cricket in Time Square" did by any means but people wanting more of Chester will enjoy this read. It also introduces a fun perspective on different groups of animals and how their characteristics can be extremely human.

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is different in Thant it I'd the first in the series without Harry cat and Tucker mouse. I enjoyed it more than the books without Chester but less than the books with all three of them. This one was a very pleasant read. Easy and relaxing.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my 8 year old for bed time...a really good story. I don't know if it was time of the day or just me being tired, but I constantly was stumbling over words reading this out loud. None the less, it's a good story.

[Jen Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this one as much at the other books with Chester the cricket, but still a entertaining read for the boys that is perfect for just before bed.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read my childrens books before they do so I know what happens and we can talk about it well I though this is great little story for children it is fantastical and cozy

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I liked it a little less than the previous books in this series.

[Belinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was really easy to read so this is what happens. One minute Chester Cricket is calmly sitting inside his stump house. The next thing he knows, the roof is collapsing on him. left without a home, Chester is forced to move in with one neighbor after another.