Developing Save the Day, Lock it Away

Welcome to the journey behind Save the Day, Lock it Away, a unique graphic novel dedicated to teaching children the essentials of firearm safety through accessible storytelling. Created by Lock Arms for Life, this educational tool is designed to reach third- through fifth-grade students, imparting life-saving information in an engaging, age-appropriate way. Through everyday scenarios in school, gaming, hunting, and home settings, children learn the principles of responsible gun storage and the importance of safety.

Commitment to Accuracy and Inclusivity

The development of Save the Day, Lock it Away was grounded in a rigorous, multi-layered review process to ensure the content is as inclusive, accurate, and thoughtful as possible. The review team, led by ELA content expert Cristina Everett, was composed of individuals with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and professional experiences—including firearm owners, non-owners, students, and professionals from fields like education, law, medicine, and banking. Their goal was to carefully evaluate the novel’s portrayal of gun safety, checking for accuracy and preventing any reinforcement of harmful stereotypes. Sensitivity readers and expert readers brought both personal and professional perspectives to their reviews, ensuring that the novel respects and authentically represents the diverse experiences of its intended audience.

Educational and Engagement Materials

To support learning and reflection, Save the Day, Lock it Away will be accompanied by a range of teacher- and kid-friendly resources. These materials include pre- and post-reading activities to help assess knowledge gained and student engagement. Activities and surveys will help build vocabulary, critical thinking, and communication skills, while creative prompts encourage further exploration of gun safety topics.

The Team Behind the Novel

The graphic novel reflects the combined vision of advocates and artists deeply committed to promoting safety and preventing firearm tragedies. Founded by Leesa Ross after her own personal loss, Lock Arms for Life has grown into a Central Texas nonprofit, promoting safe storage education and awareness. Kim Caldwell, Chief of Staff and author, brings her own experiences discussing firearm safety with her children into the storytelling, creating relatable narratives with help from illustrator Sherwin Parayno, whose detailed artwork captures the novel’s message. Project Manager Jeni Putalavage-Ross has overseen each phase to bring this vision to life.

With the support of the Austin Office of Violence Prevention, Save the Day, Lock it Away will soon be available in a free e-book format, accessible to students and families through schools, libraries, clinics, and community groups across the country. We believe that education and awareness, starting with young readers, can build a safer future.

Reviewer Process Explanation

Cristina Everett, an ELA content expert and assessment professional volunteered her time to lead the team through the reviewer process. She enlisted a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds, life experiences and professions to read our graphic novel to assess the accuracy of the images and text for gun safety information and ensure our book was inclusive and did not perpetuate any harmful stereotypes.

Sensitivity readers are specialists in the subject matter or characterization with personal experience of belonging to the marginalized group. They’re reading the manuscript for accuracy, authenticity, and freedom from the tropes or stereotypes that serve as shortcuts to complexity and truth. They’re making sure portrayals by outsiders don’t bring harm to readers within the group due to distortions, lies, cultural appropriation, or expropriation of intellectual property.

Expert readers don’t share the personal experiences of the characters, but may be called in because of their academic training or professional work.
Our group of readers included gun owners and enthusiasts and non-gun owners. Professions ranged from student to pediatrician.

Ancillary Materials to accompany ‘Save the Day, Lock it Away”

Teacher-friendly and kid-friendly materials will accompany “Save the Day, Lock it Away.” Materials will include pre- and post-reading activities to evaluate the efficacy and engagement of the content.

A simple survey to measure efficacy:

What was the level of background knowledge prior to reading?
What is the level of accurate information after reading?
What is the perceived level of confidence to handle situations similar to those presented in the book?

A simple survey to measure engagement:

Do readers report a favorable experience upon reading the content?
Do readers have any feedback that would improve the experience?

Pre-reading activities/handouts to:

Build background knowledge
Reinforce critical thinking skills
Build vocabulary
Practice communication skills

Post-reading activities/handouts to foster further exploration of the topic:

Creative writing/art prompts

Reviewer Bios

Daniel Bennett is a dedicated leader with over ten years of experience in finance, currently managing the Central Austin branch at WaFd Bank. Originally from Mossville, Louisiana, Daniel holds a BS in management and an MBA, embodying a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

William R. “Bill” Cox is a Texas attorney who has focused his career on Public Defense. He spent several decades representing youth in the juvenile justice system and is Board Certified in Juvenile Law and Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In addition to his current policy work as the Texas Indigent Defense Commission’s Director of Public Defense Improvement, he is active in his church and leadership roles in the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande.

Riley Ehlers is currently studying Agricultural Applied Economics at Texas Tech University. He has been around firearms for his whole life, for safety, hunting, and defense purposes. He is in support of teaching youth and adults the importance of gun safety, in and outside of homes for protection. He believes this series is a great way to introduce firearm safety for youth and young adults in our arm-bearing country.

Michelle Gallas, D.O., FAAP has worked for the last two decades caring for Austin’s most fragile and vulnerable — namely, the children that are captured by the medical safety net created through Central Health’s commitment to Travis County’s most under-resourced and underserved. Her patients are medically and socially complex, and many are recent immigrants or refugees.

Additionally, Gallas is the lead pediatrician for the group visit program, Centering Parenting, an innovative model of care for health maintenance visits (also known as check-ups) in which children participate in group well-child checks in the same cohort over a period of approximately four years. Gallas is passionate about resident education and supervises Dell Med’s pediatric residents and medical students at the program’s primary continuity site, Community Care in Pflugerville.

Debby Harris was born and raised in Port Lavaca. After graduating college, Harris went on to teach middle and high school English while also getting her Master’s in Information Science. As a school librarian at Balzier Elementary School, she is fully committed to helping her students become lifelong learners and readers! She is also passionate about making the library a welcoming, safe space for all.

About the people who made this possible:

Inspiration: Leesa Ross

Leesa Ross is a dedicated mother of three who transformed her personal tragedy into a mission to promote gun safety. After losing her oldest son, Jon, to a college-age handgun accident in 2009, Leesa channeled her grief into action. In 2018, Leesa founded Lock Arms for Life, a Central-Texas based nonprofit reducing gun tragedies by promoting safe storage through awareness, education, and resources. In her memoir, At Close Range, published by Texas Tech University Press in 2020, Leesa recounts how Jon’s accident during his college years profoundly changed her life and inspired her advocacy.

Author: Kim Caldwell

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Kim Caldwell serves as the Chief of Staff for Lock Arms for Life, helping the organization grow to ensure every gun is locked when not in use. As a lifelong writer and reader, Kim is proud to have translated her own experience learning and talking to her daughters about safe storage into the stories featured in Save the Day, Lock it Away. Over the last 20 years, Kim has worked with dozens of nonprofits to advance their missions as a team member and/or consultant, focusing on values-based storytelling, strategic planning, fund development, cross-sector collaboration, and nonprofit board governance.

Illustrator: Sherwin Parayno

Sherwin Parayno is an Art Director and Designer, who loves to draw and paint in his spare time. He began his art career illustrating posters, dedication cards, and t-shirt designs for school fundraisers at the age of 14, and later attended San Diego State University where he studied Graphic Design. After graduating, he started his professional career as a Web Designer at a startup during the Dotcom boom. In 2008, his artwork was featured in various Nordstrom locations throughout the United States, which led to more creative opportunities. He has more than 22 years of experience working in various advertising agencies and in-house design studios as an Art Director and Designer. One of his bucket list items has always been to create a comic book.

Project Manager: Jeni Putalavage-Ross

Thanks + Dedication

Acknowledgements to:

Austin Public Health Office of Violence Prevention for their investment in our vision
Travis Snyder, PhD, Editor in Chief of Texas Tech University Press
Allison and Edie Dove for their solicited and unsolicited input
Scott German for his guidance and encouragement
Asa Beau Kirby for his introduction to Fortnite