Friday, March 28, 2025
The children’s literature community has welcomed its newest author, Aliza Brown, of Woodmere, and her book “Rocky’s Perfect Day.”
Born and raised in Cedarhurst, Brown has three kids, who inspired her passion for writing, and many pets. Her childhood dog, Rocky, sparked the book idea.
“Rocky is a King Charles cavalier and was one of my many dogs, and he actually lived into some of my adulthood,” Brown said. “He inspired me in many ways, as most of my pets have. He was a little bit extra-special.”
Brown, 34, began working in the corporate world in 2015, selling intellectual property for nine years before transitioning into teaching last year. She now teaches remedial English at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for boys, in Woodmere.
“I found it to be so fulfilling, teaching the boys and watching them learn and grow,” Brown said, “and this book has been in the works prior to starting there.”
After she finished writing it, she encountered some difficulties as she tried to figure out the illustrations, sizing and formatting, and how and where to publish it. She ended up self-publishing through Amazon.
“I’m happy to say it finally came to fruition on Jan. 31,” she said. “It was published as an e-book, and it was published as a paperback on Feb. 5.”
Readers can order Brown’s book on Amazon, or find it at libraries in Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Island Park, Inwood, Lawrence, Lido Beach, Long Beach, Oceanside, Point Lookout and Woodmere — all, as it happens, in the 20th State Assembly District, which is represented by Aliza’s dad, Assemblyman Ari Brown.
She is currently working on a deal with Barnes & Noble, and hoping to get involved in book fairs and festivals. She wants to write more books, and currently has a second one in development.
“I’m partly inspired by my pets, partly inspired by my children and their love for reading,” Brown said.
She volunteers at BRAT Rescue — short for the all-in-fun name Bitches Rescuing Animals Together — in Far Rockaway, where she adopted two of her dogs.
“That’s part of the reason as to why I started writing as well,” Brown said, “and 10 percent of the (book’s) proceeds will be donated to BRAT Rescue to continue the lifesaving efforts that our rescue does through the founder, Christine Drakatos.”
Drakatos, who has known Brown for seven years, said she is extremely honored to be a beneficiary of her book proceeds. “Aliza is the best person I know — she is such a giving person, and lives to help everybody,” Drakatos said. “She is always thinking of us and the rescue.”
The proceeds from “Rocky’s Perfect Day” will go toward treats for the dogs, and veterinary care.
Aliza’s mother, Sandra Brown, has supported her passion from day one, and remembers the special bond between her and Rocky.
“Aliza has always had a great love for animals,” Sandra said. “She took amazing care of Rocky from such a young age. Aliza started this project a while ago, while balancing children and a full-time job. I’m immensely proud of her for seeing this wonderful children’s book to fruition.”
Alongside Rocky, Brown grew up with two cats, Kitty and Reggie, a poodle, Lenny, and later on she adopted two Chihuahuas, Stellie and Ruby. They all make cameos in her book — which, she said, she wrote in a single day, in the summer of 2021, a year after Rocky died.
“His calm, gentle nature despite his medical problems taught me to be resilient — he really taught me from a young age,” Brown said. “I model myself, really in a lot of ways, after him because of that. My love for animals grew that much more for having him.”
“Rocky’s Perfect Day” is a gentle, lighthearted story that can be read to infants and young toddlers. “It teaches them the joys of having animals, young friendship, camaraderie, and it’s just following them throughout their day as they go play together,” she said. “It ends with them coming home, settling in, having quiet time.”
Brown said she wanted to write a book she knew her children would enjoy, and that highlighted animals’ admirable qualities.
“I hope it brings interests for kids to think about animals as friends and beings that we should look out for and take care of,” Brown said. “We should really treasure them in our lifetime, because, unfortunately, we don’t have them for so long, and the more we give to them, the more we attach ourselves to them, the better it makes our lives.”
