STAND UP, a new picture book for children in grades K-4, is a great way to begin your Dignity Act initiative.  It is an inspirational story in which children recognize the unkindness of some of their classmates and stand up for the rights of others.   They help the "bystanders" with caring behaviors become allies to their peers.  The book includes a teacher's guide with information about bullying,  as well as thought provoking comprehension questions . A letter to parents about how to talk to their children about bullying is included, so the book may be sent home for further discussion.  STAND UP received the National Children's Book of the Year  FINALIST AWARD from the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Attached find a review by the director of the  New York State Center for School Safety.  STAND UP may be purchased on-line or by attaching a purchase order to an e-mail sent to bullyinterventionexperts@gmail.com.   Open the attachment below for further ordering information.

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Review

Stand Up, by Lisa Roth, M.D. and Karen Siris, Ed.D., and illustrated by Masha Levitin, is a creative and fun resource for educators and parents to use to initiate a conversation with children about civility and consideration of the feelings of others.  In over 15 years of serving as the Executive Director of a state center on school safety, I have reviewed many resources for use in schools on interpersonal violence prevention.  Few are developed to help explain such an important topic, bullying, in an age appropriate manner for the youngest children, as is done in Stand Up.  

With clear examples young children can relate to, Roth and Siris demonstrate how to think about and respond to bullying children may encounter in their daily lives.  We often think that young children do not have the capacity to understand and respond to bullying when it happens – this book illustrates both how to help children understand what bullying is, and how to take a stand to help the child being bullied.  Children learn through the story they can Stand Up to bullying behavior when they see it happen.

The impact of bullying on the lives of children can be devastating – at times leading to irreversible actions.  Young people who are stigmatized for who they are and/or what they do, often feel uncomfortable and unsafe coming to school.  We all have a responsibility to help ensure that school is safe for ALL our children.  Nearly all states have agreed that we have this responsibility, and have passed laws such as New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act, to ensure that young people can go to school without facing harassment and/or discrimination.  This book is an exceptional resource for adults to use with children to help them be part of the solution – to learn how to take action to create change and be part of what Roth and Siris term as the Caring Majority, ready to stand up and support those who are being bullied.

As our work with schools to implement laws intended to protect children from bullying expands, I am happy to have Stand Up as a resource to recommend to educators and parents.  Kudos to Drs. Roth and Siris for bringing together the thinking of medicine and education in responding to the critical issue of bullying.

Mary Grenz Jalloh

Executive Director, New York State Center for School Safety, and 

Partner, National Institute for School Safety