Book signing at East Rockaway library for anti-bully book

Lisa Roth, center, held a book signing at the East Rockaway Library for “Stand Up!” She was joined by musician Paul Lanzetta, left, of East Rockaway Music, who wrote the accompanying song, and the book’s illustrator, art teacher Marsha Letvin, at right.

Rebecca Rojak/Herald

A local doctor and author Lisa Roth, of Oceanside, and musicians Paul Lanzetta and Diane Indiviglia, of East Rockaway Music, held a book signing event for anti-bullying book “Stand Up!” last Saturday at the East Rockaway Library. Lanzetta and Indiviglia co-wrote a song, also entitled Stand Up!, to coincide with the book. Roth, an allergist with a practice on Union Avenue in East Rockaway, was inspired to write the book after seeing the recent rise in bullying and school violence.

“I really love creative writing,” said Roth, who also wrote a children’s book entitled The Magical Journey. “It’s a passion of mine, and its how I like to express myself. Bullying is a really big issue in our schools and I wanted to talk about it.”

In order to better understand the issue, Roth partnered with Dr. Karen Siris, an elementary school principal and bullying expert. “We combined resources in order to try to help kids deal with these issues, and really try to educate them about what the effects can be,” Roth said.

The story’s heroes have no names and no faces, as the illustrations, hand painted by art teacher Marsha Letvin, depict only the children’s feet. Roth said she did this in order to help children relate to the story.

The song shares the book’s words and message of independence and action, and even has a dance to go with it, Indiviglia said. “Stand up, for yourself/With good friends at your side,” the song tell children “Don’t let them push you around/Stand up for yourself!”

The music for the song is simple and upbeat, and Indiviglia said that they wanted to cater the song for young children. “Its a picture book, so we wanted to keep it simple, make it catchy, fun, upbeat, kind of bouncy, so that way it would reel in the young readers.”

Indiviglia said the group was approached by Roth, who’s son has been a long-time guitar student at the shop, and asked to pen a song to help promote and share the book’s message. “We said we would love to do a song because we really have a strong connection to kids in the East Rockaway community. We teach music to a lot of the kids, who when an opportunity came along to help them, we definitely wanted to help.”