Author Ben Clanton Inspires Creativity at Fulton Elementary Schools

FULTON – Students in the Fulton City School District recently met and worked with New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Ben Clanton during a four-day visit to all four of the district’s elementary schools, according to an October 22, 2026, release from the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation.

Clanton, creator of the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series and dozens of other stories, met with students, shared his journey as a writer and encouraged their creativity by helping them create zany new characters and stories.

UPK students snacked on waffles, a favorite of Clanton’s Narwhal character. Older students heard one of his unfinished works, giving them a firsthand look into the sometimes-lengthy process of writing and revision.

Desiree Schepp, library media specialist at Volney Elementary, said students loved Clanton’s creativity and enjoyed hearing about his journey.

“Opportunities like these bridge the gap between the books on our shelves and the real world,” Schepp said of author visits like this one. “Ben Clanton showed our students that an idea on a piece of paper can grow into a lifelong passion, inspiring a new generation of enthusiastic readers and creators. Ben connected with our students on such an authentic level.”

Clanton won the 2017 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers and has had several titles on the New York Times bestseller list. He lives in Seattle, Washington.