Irving ISD: Schools' guest author employs device to draw pupils in

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING – Sometimes written words alone aren't enough to attract a student's attention. In those cases, teacher and artist Bill Fountain uses his passion for graphic novels to engage reluctant young readers.

RANDY ELI GROTHE/DMN

Bill Fountain, a teacher who did a graphic-novel version of Poe's 'The Raven,' is Irving schools' visiting author this year. He works with (from left) Norma Jean Smith, Jonathan Lewis, Micheal Jones and Robert Rodges.

As part of the guest author series in the Irving school district, Mr. Fountain has been conducting readings and workshops at middle and high schools on his newest work, a 24-page graphic-novel version of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."

He drew comic-like images to accompany the work.

"I didn't change the words," he said. "I visually created a reaction to the poem. What I try to impress upon the kids is that my interpretation is just as important as yours."

Armed with a raven puppet, he regales kids at readings and performances. The students play the raven, which only says, "Nevermore."

In recent years, school libraries across the country have stocked up on such visual books in hopes of luring teens and later piquing their interest in more traditional novels. Nimitz High School, for example, has 386 graphic novels.

On a recent afternoon in the Nimitz library, Mr. Fountain led a workshop for seven students on how to create a novel. He advised them to draw from different perspectives and angles. He warned them about "static" that may interfere with their work – such as doubting their ideas and reacting too sensitively to criticism.

"What happens to a lot of us is we get an idea, and we say 'That's crazy,' " he said. "So we stop a lot of good ideas before they hit the hand."

As part of the school's project, literacy specialist Laurie Chamblee organized a contest in which students wrote story proposals.

Raymundo Martinez, 16, one of the contest winners, wrote about a cop who catches a killer.

"I like pictures," he said. "I don't mind reading as long as I've got something to look at."

Kim Norman, 17, the other contest winner, said her story is an Alice in Wonderland tale in which a girl falls into a hole that leads her into other worlds. Mr. Fountain complimented her on the bright use of colors and detail.

"I've been inspired to keep going," she said.

E-mail kunmuth@dallasnews.com

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/irving/stories/DN-novels_30wes.ART.West.Edition2.1daf9faf.html