Family Dinner Book Club: The Cricket in Times Square

Time to plan this month’s Family Dinner Book Club!  This month we are featuring the book, The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden.  We hope that you’ve been enjoying reading this classic book with your family.  If you haven’t started to read or are just learning about Family Dinner Book Club, you still have plenty of time to participate!

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Just to review a bit… Family Dinner Book Club is a monthly book club for your family.  On the first of each month, we share the title of the book that is being featured.  Then, on the 15th of each month we share all the details for your special club dinner.  Sarah from Daisy at Home shares a special menu to compliment the book.  And, I will share conversation starters and table decoration ideas for your special family dinner.  We invite you to share a picture from your dinner with us anytime during the month on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page. Now, on to preparing for book club this month!

Family Dinner Book Club: The Cricket in Times Square

The Book

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

A cricket from Connecticut finds himself shuffled to New York via a picnic basket.  It’s there that he meets some great friends and takes in the sites of Times Square.  He also brings a great gift to a hard-working family.

Table Topics

I’m pleased to share six conversation starters to get your dinner book club rolling.  Just click on this link (The Cricket in Times Square Conversation Starters) for a one page PDF file that you can print and then cut apart.  Use the cards on your chosen dinner night.  You, of course, don’t have to use all of them or you may even have some other discussion points that developed while you were reading.  These are just meant to be a guide.  Happy talking!

• Which character did you like the most?  Why?
• How did Mario’s life change from the beginning of the story to the end?
• Would you prefer to live in the city or country?  Why?
• If you could help out a friend with your talents, would you?
• Why did Chester not like being famous?  Do you think everyone who is famous feels like Chester did?
• Mario kept Chester as a pet.  What pet would you like to own?

Table Decorations

This month we are keeping the table decoration ideas simple.  The Bellinis owned a newsstand so cover your dinner table with newspaper. Make place cards with letters cut from magazines.  A simple centerpiece of apples or colored Christmas lights in a tall glass vase to represent Times Square will add the finishing touches to the table.  Listen to some lovely Italian classical music in the background while you discuss the book. The Bellinis loved Italian opera.

Menu

For your yummy The Cricket in Times Square Menu, head over to Daisy at Home.

And please snap a picture and share with us on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.  We will also be talking about the book and how the club is going on the page too.  We’d love for you to join us!

We are working on planning for the future of Family Dinner Book Club.  We would love your feedback.  Please take a few moments to fill out this survey.

  Click here to take the Family Dinner Book Club Survey

Check back on October 1st to see which book we will be featuring for the new month! Is there a book you would like to see us feature this year?  Please share your ideas below in the comments on our Facebook page!