SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Local author and illustrator Rashad Doucet has doodled for as long as he can remember. “I would get in trouble for talking in church. My grandmother would give me paper to draw on to help me behave.”

From that humble beginning grew a lifelong desire to combine writing and drawing. He’s published three books featuring his work.

Doucet spent time with 2nd and 3rd graders at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary School (JGLES) as part of the Savannah Book Festival’s “SBF@Schools” program. It was an opportunity for him to share his love of illustration with kids who were the exact age when he became interested in the art form. He shared how he goes from an idea to a story to a finished book.

“This gets them excited. My book, “Art Club,” is about the creative process of a kid wanting to learn about comics in school. It’s great to actually do it and show people how we go about doing things. Because it’s a combination of writing and drawing and it’s kind of unique in that way, because you can do both of those things at the same time.”

Doucet took suggestions from the kids and created a new character. He does this during every presentation. “I’m a big kid, so I like to get excited and laugh with them and make jokes and all that kind of stuff.”

On this day, the kids had him draw a coal mining unicorn that has the superpower of turning things to ice.

Doucet explained how comics — or sequential art — is a great medium because it combines many talents. “Comics have been around for a long time, so it’s good to finally see it getting some traction. Because I want people to read. And I think comics is a great way to get people, especially kids, to read. [They] got me to read.”

Evanita Wallace-Lewis, principal at JGLES, said Doucet’s appearance helps kids see how reading is important in any profession. “Literacy is a marker of what we do when we are able to have someone to come into the school, share their love of literacy, writing and being an illustrator. It helps our children see they can do that. It creates in them that love that we want for them to have for literacy.”

Each student was given a copy of “Art Club” — signed by Doucet — to take with them. Wallace-Lewis says the gift has far-reaching benefits. “Kids love getting things and what better way to show them the importance of reading? By getting a book! They can build their own home libraries. They can read it themselves, their siblings and it shows them that reading can be fun.”