Cricket is a talking doll that was first unveiled in February 1986 at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
Similar talking animal toys such as Worlds of Wonder's Teddy Ruxpin and Mother Goose had previously been released but Playmates' concept was to create a humanistic doll that simulated speech capability.
Cricket Books were all hardcover and featured interesting facts and instructions for various crafts and activities.
Cricket had a younger brother named Corky which was released in 1987 and voiced by nine-year-old Edan Gross.
Tapes that were produced for Corky either came with an appropriate outfit or a workbook which included activities related to math or reading.
Cricket also had an older sister named Jill (voice actress currently unknown), released in 1987.
She could ask questions at certain parts of the tape, which could be responded to by either saying "yes" or "no" or choosing one of three answers, to which Jill would then play the correct audio track until the segment was over.
In 1989 an inanimate version of Jill with no speech capability was produced under the Precious Playmates line.
In 1988, Random House published the illustrated story book “Cricket and the Birthday Ring”, written by Emily James.