What if your students could paint with emotions, write with memory, and hear music in everyday sounds? In this first-ever guest episode, Adam chats with award-winning author and library teacher Lisa Rogers about how nonfiction picture books spark creativity across the curriculum.

If you're looking for authentic, project-based learning that builds background knowledge, vocabulary, and student confidence—this one’s for you.

Guest Info

Name: Lisa Rogers
Bio: Lisa Rogers became inspired to write for children during her career as an elementary school librarian. She is the award-winning author of Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, illustrated by Il Sung Na (Random House/Anne Schwartz Books); 16 Words: William Carlos And “The Red Wheelbarrow”,” illustrated by Chuck Groenink (Random House/Schwartz & Wade), and Hound Won’t Go, illustrated by Meg Ishihara (Albert Whitman), inspired by her rescue dog.
Website: lisarogerswrites.com

Instagram: @LisaLJRogers

BlueSky: @lisaljrogers.bsky.social

Chapters

• 0:00 – Welcome + Adam’s mission for the show
• 1:30 – Lisa’s journey from daydreaming kid to nonfiction author
• 6:00 – Building background knowledge through nonfiction
• 9:00 – Art, poetry, and music as entry points for self-expression
• 11:10 – Mining memories with Joan Mitchell + sensory writing prompt
• 14:00 – Picture books as powerful writing mentors
• 18:45 – 📚 Adam’s Book Bag: Max, wants vs. needs, and Where the Wild Things Are
• 20:50 – Revision lessons + juicy verbs with Watercress and 12 Kinds of Ice
• 22:57 – 💡 Story Sparks: Personal connections to history + second-person POV
• 26:30 – Synaesthesia, color as emotion, and emotional trust in picture books
• 29:45 – How to connect with Lisa + free activity guide download

Books Mentioned:

• Joan Mitchell Paints a Symphony – Lisa Rogers (Amazon) | Art, poetry, emotional expression, sensory writing
• Beautiful Noise – Lisa Rogers (Amazon) | Music, creativity, second-person POV writing
• 16 Words – Lisa Rogers (Amazon) | Poetry, imagery, mental pictures
• Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak | Character development, SEL (wants vs. needs)
• Watercress – Andrea Wang | Word choice, sensory writing, SEL
• 12 Kinds of Ice – Ellen Bryan Obed | Imagery, anticipation, descriptive writing
• One Girl’s Voice – Vivian Kirkfield | Biography, social studies, women’s history
• Hiding in Plain Sight – Beth Anderson | History, problem-solving, creative empathy

If you loved this episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a teacher friend or librarian who needs a spark this week. Subscribe to Picture This for more creative classroom ideas, free resources, books, and author visit options. And hey—drop us a review or tag us on social to tell us your favorite picture book lesson!

Spark creativity & problem-solving in your elementary classroom!

Welcome to Picture This… with Adam Lehrhaupt, the podcast that helps educators and librarians bring picture books to life across the curriculum! In this inaugural episode, join award-winning author Adam Lehrhaupt as he dives into the dynamic intersection of picture books and STEM education.

Discover creative ways to transform your STEM lessons into imaginative adventures! Adam shares actionable teaching strategies and lesson ideas to integrate engaging stories like Chicken in Space and The Most Magnificent Thing with hands-on activities. Learn how these books can serve as catalysts for engineering challenges, design thinking, and fostering a growth mindset where curiosity thrives and failure is a stepping stone to innovation. Perfect for elementary educators, school librarians, and literacy coaches looking for fresh classroom activities!

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How picture books can be "launchpads for the classroom."
• Practical ways to connect literature with hands-on learning in science, math, and beyond.
• Strategies for fostering perseverance and problem-solving in young learners.
• The importance of makerspaces and creative exploration.

📚 Featured Picture Books & Their Connections:

We recommend purchasing through your local independent bookseller whenever possible, but if that isn't an option, use the Amazon affiliate links below:

• Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt (K–3) Buy Now >>
  • Curriculum Connections: Design thinking, engineering principles, growth mindset
  • Why Adam Recommends It: Encourages students to dream big and view everyday materials as tools for innovation.
• The Floating Field by Scott Riley (3–5): Buy Now >>
  • Curriculum Connections: Real-world engineering, teamwork, environmental adaptation
  • Why Adam Recommends It: Demonstrates how determination and creativity can overcome environmental challenges.
• Invent-a-Pet by Vicky Fang (1–4): Buy Now >>
  • Curriculum Connections: Cause and effect, iteration, basic programming logic
  • Why Adam Recommends It: Introduces the concept of inputs and outputs in a fun, accessible way.
• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (K–3): Buy Now >>
  • Curriculum Connections: Problem-solving, perseverance, engineering design process
  • Why Adam Recommends It: Highlights the importance of resilience and learning from failure.
• How to Build a Hug by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville (2–5): Buy Now >>
  • Curriculum Connections: Biography, neurodiversity, empathy, invention
  • Why Adam Recommends It: Provides a real-life example of innovation driven by personal experience and need.

⏰ Episode Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Welcome to Picture This: The Power of Picture Books in Education
• 2:15 – Chicken in Space: Designing Imaginative Flying Devices
• 6:30 – The Floating Field: Real-World Engineering & Teamwork
• 9:45 – Invent-a-Pet: Intro to Programming Logic through Play
• 13:00 – The Most Magnificent Thing: Embracing Failure for Innovation
• 16:20 – Why Makerspaces Are a Magnificent Match for Literacy
• 18:50 – Adam’s Book Bag: How to Build a Hug & Inspiring Invention
• 22:10 – Recap & Final Thoughts: Integrating Picture Books with STEM

💡 Curriculum Connections & Action Items:

• Try this with your class this week: Read Chicken in Space

Get ready for Picture This, coming soon.

The Picture This podcast explores innovative ways to use picture books in classrooms and libraries, going beyond just teaching students to read. Each episode offers creative ideas, expert insights, and practical tips to help educators and librarians engage young minds with the power of storytelling.