>>> The mother of parkland
school shooting victim is
finding a new way to shine a
light on gun violence.
This subject matter could be
upsetting for some viewers.
She just released a new picture
book called walking to school
that was the day he died.
The inside is filled with rhymes
and bright colors, but also
horrifying scenes like many
picture books, it has cutouts to
help flip the page but these
cutouts are bullet holes.
Patricia Oliver is joining us.
This isn't a children's book,
even though it looks like one.
This is a book for politicians.
Why did you choose a picture
book to try to reach lawmakers?
>> First of all, good morning.
Thank you for having me here
today.
We decided to take action in a
different way.
We have been trying to do our
best to send a message through
art.
And we decided this time with a
children's book.
We work along with other tuzing
companies and presented this
project and we're following the
process.
And we saw it was a very good
tool to touch really the fibers
of these politicians in a very
dramatic and easy vocabulary
because it's very childish the
way that the narrative goes
through the book.
So that was the main reason why
we decided to move on this way.
>> What a genius way to try to
reach lawmakers and gain their
attention.
When I saw the cover of the
book, my heart stopped.
As a human, as a mother, as an
American, it's heartbreaking to
even read this title.
As if like it's your first walk
or your first time doing
something.
It's so normal.
I want to talk about how
lawmakers have been responding
to your book.
But firstly, tell me about the
story in the book.
Because you get strigt to the
point.
>> Yeah.
The book walks you through the
moment that they went through.
Joaquin and his friends,
everybody in that moment.
It's very dramatic because first
of all, you aren't expect what
you're going to see inside a
book.
And the way that is written is
in a way that you feel the words
that they are more powerful.
So if you're a mom, if you're a
human being, it's really sad.
To see the process of them going
through that moment in a very
childish way.
You see little kids, the
illustrations are taking you
through the worst scenario of
any kid that can go through.
And the response of these
politicians is being the same
way.
This was a way to make them
understand that we have to take
action.
We depend on them to take action
and move forward with the laws.
And every single need we have to
put on the table, every single
discussion that we have to put
on the table in order to be able
to see a difference, because we
haven't seen -- we have been
seeing more shootings every
single day.
>> Just quickly, have you spoken
or shown your book, met with
Republican lawmakers?
As you know, Republican
lawmakers are the ones who have
not been on board trying to pass
any kind of sensible gun reform
laws.
>> I was fortunate, I would say,
to be able to meet one
Republican lady from Florida.
Her name is Lauralee.
She was very receptive.
She acted like a mom.
She was very touched when she
saw the book.
And I explained who I was.
And asked her to read the book
for me.
And she started reading the book
and she was just out of control.
She couldn't handle it.
And she also told me I have a
10-year-old.
And every time I send my
daughter to school, I fear.
I said to her, you have to think
about your daughter because your
daughter has to feel the same
way.
She doesn't know what is going
to happen.
So we should be stopping to
limit this fear.
We have to be in a common ground
and understand that we have to
look for a solution.
It's up to you all.
It doesn't matter what party you
are.
It's a matter of to understand
that we're losing us.
We're losing our life.
We don't know if we're going to
make it or not.
>> Your book is incredibly
powerful.
What a smart way to try to reach
people.