All Alone After School

All Alone After School

Author: Muriel Stanek

Illustrator: Ruth Rosner

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Major Awards: None

Grade Level: 2-6

Summary: An elementary student, Josh, found out that his mom got a new job. They couldn't afford a babysitter, so he would have to stay home alone. She prepared him by teaching him safety, giving him a key, and taping a list of important phone numbers on the wall. She also gave him a "lucky stone" to help him feel brave. At first, it was hard for Josh to be home alone, but it got easier, even though he still missed his mom sometimes. The next school year, one of his classmates had to be alone after school, too. He walked her home, told her to lock the door and call her mom, and gave her the lucky stone since he no longer needed it.

Evaluation: I really liked this book and its message. I would definitely have this in my classroom and would use it as a read aloud.

This book is best for second through sixth grade. Students younger than that are not likely to be home alone, so it is easier for older elementary students to relate to the book. The book discusses basic responsibilities that children need to know about to keep themselves safe, so it is a great tool to teach safety/security measures.

I think this book would be best to read aloud to the class, especially at the beginning of the year when methods of getting home are discussed in more detail. We would discuss preparedness, what to do in certain situations that Josh faces, and how to help others be safe. It would also be a good resource to provide for a child who may face the same situation.