Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Cricket in Times Square. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Chester Cricket, who accidentally rode a picnic basket from Connecticut to New York's Times Square subway station, becomes famous for playing music and saves the Bellini family's struggling newsstand. Homesick and tired of fame, he takes a train back to the countryside, and his friends Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat promise to visit him.
Quick facts
– Book: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
– First published: 1960
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet and warm
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Mario Bellini finds Chester in the subway station and keeps him as a pet at his parents' newsstand. Chester befriends Tucker, a street-smart mouse, and Harry, a gentle cat. Mario's mother distrusts the cricket, especially after he accidentally eats a two-dollar bill and starts a fire.
What Happens at the End of The Cricket in Times Square
Chester discovers he can play any music he hears. He performs opera and classical pieces, drawing huge crowds and saving the newsstand from failing. Mama Bellini comes to love him. But Chester misses the country and the freedom of autumn. With Tucker and Harry's help, he slips onto a train to Connecticut. Mario understands that Chester belongs at home.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Chester saves the newsstand.
- Fame makes him homesick.
- He returns to Connecticut.
- His friends promise to visit.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Chester Cricket | Returns home |
| Tucker Mouse | Stays in New York |
| Harry Cat | Stays in New York |
| Mario Bellini | Lets Chester go |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows that home and freedom matter more than fame.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the friendship between animals that would normally be enemies. Some find the goodbye bittersweet, since Mario loses his friend.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Friendship. Cricket, mouse and cat become friends.
Home. Chester longs for home.
Kindness. Chester helps the Bellinis.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Cricket in Times Square as bittersweet and warm. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected George Selden to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bittersweet and warm will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how George Selden closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1973 animated TV special follows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Cricket in Times Square with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about friendship, and do you agree with George Selden's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as bittersweet and warm, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces friendship and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what George Selden leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Cricket in Times Square often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Cricket in Times Square earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Cricket in Times Square on Amazon
Books to Read After The Cricket in Times Square
- Tucker's Countryside by George Selden
- Stuart Little by E.B. White
Related: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden: Summary and Key Takeaways · What Age Is The Cricket in Times Square Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Cricket in Times Square?
Chester Cricket, who accidentally rode a picnic basket from Connecticut to New York's Times Square subway station, becomes famous for playing music and saves the Bellini family's struggling newsstand. Homesick and tired of fame, he takes a train back to the countryside, and his friends Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat promise to visit him.
Is the ending of The Cricket in Times Square happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet and warm.
What does the ending of The Cricket in Times Square mean?
The ending shows that home and freedom matter more than fame.
Is the ending of The Cricket in Times Square the same in the adaptation?
The 1973 animated TV special follows the ending.
Who wrote The Cricket in Times Square and when was it published?
The Cricket in Times Square was written by George Selden and first published in 1960.
Is The Cricket in Times Square worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how George Selden prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Cricket in Times Square before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.