Join Adam Lehrhaupt on Picture This as he sits down with award-winning author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen to explore the magic and craft behind creating captivating stories for young readers!

In this illuminating conversation, Sudipta shares her unique insights from years of writing and connecting with students. We dive into:

* **Picture Books vs. Chapter Books:** The fundamental differences in approach, world-building, and emotional exploration for each format.
* **Leveraging Non-Fiction Research:** How a science background informs even fictional stories, ensuring believability and depth.
* **Teaching Writing to All Ages:** Sudipta's powerful techniques for guiding elementary, high school, and adult writers, including her popular "Character & Plot" graphic organizer exercise.
* **The Power of Revision:** Why authors (yes, even professionals!) embrace the challenging but essential editing process.
* **Tips for Educators:** How to use Sudipta's books—like 'Duck Duck Moose,' 'Chickens Run Wild,' 'Chicks Rule,' and 'Cats in Construction Hats'—for engaging classroom lessons on literacy, language, and self-understanding.
* **The Art of Collaboration:** Insights into the dynamic partnership between authors and illustrators, and how it enriches the storytelling.

**Adam's Book Bag:** Sudipta shares her love for "We Love Fishing" by Ariel Bernstein and how it perfectly illustrates friendship and embracing differences. Discover a fun writing assignment based on this gem!

**Story Spark:** Sudipta reveals a surprisingly effective source of creative ideas for aspiring writers (and teachers seeking prompts!).

**Chapters**
00:00 Welcome Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen!
01:08 Picture Books vs. Chapter Books for Authors & School Visits
03:52 How Science & Research Inform Writing (Fiction & Non-Fiction)
08:55 Teaching Writing to All Ages: Adults to Elementary
10:04 Graphic Organizer: Character & Plot Exercise
13:17 The Importance & Pain of Revision
16:47 Sudipta's Tips for Educators & Using Her Books
19:07 The Power of One Word & Rhyme
20:00 Illustrator Collaboration & Art Details
24:34 Adam's Book Bag: "We Love Fishing" by Ariel Bernstein
28:18 Story Spark: The Rule of Threes in Writing
31:43 Story Spark: Graphic T-Shirt Puns for Ideas

**Connect with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen:**
Website: https://www.sudipta.com/

**Connect with Adam Lehrhaupt & Picture This:**
Download the FREE "teaching activity pack": https://adamlehrhaupt.com/teachers-guides-2/
* Check out Adam's books: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/adam-lehrhaupt-books/
* Sign up for our newsletter for more teaching tips and podcast updates: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/newsletter-signup
* Listen to other episodes of the Picture This Podcast: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/podcast/

Don't forget to **Like, Comment, and Subscribe** for more strategies that turn stories into classroom success! What's your favorite tip for teaching writing? Share below using #PictureThisPodcast!

#SudiptaBardhanQuallen #AdamLehrhaupt #PictureBooks #ChapterBooks #WritingProcess #AuthorVisits #Literacy #EducationPodcast #TeachersOfYouTube #WritingCommunity #KidsLit #BookRecommendations #SEL #Storytelling #ChicksRule #CatsInConstructionHats

In this episode of Picture This, join Adam Lehrhaupt as we explore the incredible power of picture books to address tough topics and spark meaningful conversations in the classroom and beyond. Discover how these seemingly simple stories can help navigate complex themes like grief, identity, environmentalism, justice, and anxiety, providing a safe space for emotional growth for all ages.

We dive deep into:

• Why picture books are perfect for discussing difficult subjects with students of all ages (from elementary to high school and even adults!).
• How stories like "There Was a Hole" by Adam Lehrhaupt and Carrie O'Neill help children (and adults) explore big emotions and deal with what's missing.
• The insights "The Blue House" by Phoebe Wall offers on change, displacement, and emotional safety.
• "What If Pig" by Lindsay Hunter's approach to anxiety, worry, and the importance of friendship.
• "The Proudest Blue" by Ibtihaj Muhammad & SK Ali, illustrated by Hatem Ali, for exploring identity, confidence, and sibling relationships.

Download your FREE "Big Ideas Teaching Pack" today! This valuable resource includes activity ideas, a complete list of the books discussed, and reflection prompts to help you integrate these powerful picture books into your teaching.
➡️ Get your teaching pack here: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/teachers-guides-2/

What tough topic have you successfully explored with a picture book? Share your experiences in the comments below using #PictureThisPodcast!

Chapters
00:00 Welcome: Picture Books for Tough Topics
00:46 Why Picture Books Aren't Just for Kids
01:38 Deep Dives: Big Ideas for All Ages
02:27 The Safety & Speed of Picture Books
03:52 Book 1: There Was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt
06:21 Activity: Create Your Own Emotional Metaphor
07:44 Book 2: The Blue House by Phoebe Wall
08:44 Activity: What Makes You Feel Safe?
10:52 Book 3: What If Pig by Lindsay Hunter
11:51 Activity: The "What If" Wall for Worries
13:17 Today's Sponsor: Tissues & Teaching Pack
14:04 Book 4: The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad & SK Ali
15:15 Activity: Great Things About Me Gallery
16:16 Story Spark: What Part of You Matters Most?
17:34 Listener Challenge: Start a Tough Conversation
18:17 Closing: Giving Kids the Language
18:50 Free Download & Connect With Us

Explore More & Connect:
Check out Adam's books: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/adam-lehrhaupt-books/
Sign up for our newsletter for more teaching tips and podcast updates: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/newsletter-signup
Listen to other episodes of the Picture This Podcast: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/podcast/

Subscribe to Picture This for more strategies that turn stories into classroom success!

#PictureBooks #ToughTopics #SocialEmotionalLearning #ClassroomStrategies #Grief #Identity #Anxiety #SEL #EducationPodcast #AdamLehrhaupt #Literacy #ChildrensBooks #TeachingResources

How can you inspire boundless creativity and strengthen evidence-based teaching using the magic of picture books? In this illuminating episode of the Picture This Podcast, host Adam Lehrhaupt sits down with acclaimed author and educator Carmen Oliver!

Designed specifically for **elementary teachers** and **librarians**, this conversation is a treasure trove of actionable ideas. Carmen shares her expertise on seamlessly integrating picture books into your curriculum to boost **student engagement**, enhance **literacy skills**, and support the **science of reading**.

Discover innovative strategies like:
📖 Sensory writing activities with "The Twilight Library"
🎶 Building instruments from recycled materials inspired by "Building an Orchestra of Hope"
✍️ Fostering young writers through student-created class books
🌍 Using picture books to discuss social issues & activism with "My Voice Is a Spirit Bear"

Whether you're looking to deepen social-emotional learning, ignite a passion for STEM, or simply find new ways to connect with your students, Carmen Oliver provides practical, evidence-based methods to transform your teaching.

Guest Spotlight:
Carmen Oliver is a passionate advocate for children's literature, founder of The Booking Biz, and an expert in connecting authors with young readers. Her insights will empower your teaching!
🔗 Learn more about Carmen Oliver's work: https://www.carmenoliver.com

📚 Picture Books Featured in This Episode:

Note: I’ve included an amazon affiliate link for each book mentioned below, but I always recommend shopping at your local independent bookstore whenever possible.

• Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies by Carmen Oliver (Reading comprehension, social skills)
• Building an Orchestra of Hope by Carmen Oliver (STEM, music, environmental studies)
• Twilight Library by Carmen Oliver, illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora (Sensory writing, descriptive language)
• A Voice for the Spirit Bears by Carmen Oliver (Social studies, environmental activism)
• Grandfather Gandhi by Bethany Hegedus and Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Evan Turk (3–5: History, art, social-emotional learning)

💡 Actionable Takeaways for Educators:

• "The pictures really are the story." - Carmen Oliver
• "If you write, you’re a writer. The only difference between me and you is that I’ve been published." - Adam Lehrhaupt
• "Picture books are perfect conversation starters." - Carmen Oliver

Try this with your class this week: Implement the Five Senses Game using 'Twilight Library'.
Add to your lesson planning: Student-created class books to promote creativity and ownership.
Consider for your next unit: Design a STEM project where students build instruments from recycled materials.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Download your FREE Visual Literacy Toolkit! Get exclusive activities and resources to integrate visual literacy into your curriculum: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/teachers-guides-2/
• Explore more of Carmen Oliver's work and books: https://www.carmenoliver.com
• Sign up for our newsletter for more teaching tips and podcast updates: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/newsletter-signup]
• Listen to other episodes of the Picture This Podcast: https://adamlehrhaupt.com/podcast/

How can you help young readers truly *see* the story? In this insightful episode of the Picture This Podcast, we dive into the incredible power of **visual literacy** in picture books. Join us as we explore how illustrations aren't just pretty pictures, but powerful tools that convey emotions, build critical thinking skills, and tell stories just as profoundly as text.

Perfect for **elementary teachers** and **school librarians**, this episode with Adam Lehrhaupt uncovers the hidden depths of picture book illustrations. Learn practical strategies and engaging activities to foster a deeper understanding of visual cues in your classroom or library. We reveal how children can infer meaning, create suspense, and connect with stories on a richer level, even before they master complex texts.

Discover:
* Why **visual literacy** is a foundational skill for all students, especially **reluctant readers**.
* How diverse **illustrator techniques** enhance storytelling and foster empathy.
* **Engaging classroom activities** to encourage students to "read" images.
* The connection between noticing visual details and **deeper learning** across subjects.

Empower your students to become more observant, empathetic, and critical thinkers by unlocking the magic within every illustration.

**Ready to enhance your students' visual literacy?**
📚 **Download your FREE Visual Literacy Toolkit** packed with activities and resources for your classroom or library: [https://adamlehrhaupt.com/teachers-guides-2/]

**Explore More & Connect:**
* Check out Adam's books, including "I Will Not Eat You": [https://adamlehrhaupt.com/adam-lehrhaupt-books/]
* Sign up for our newsletter for more teaching tips and podcast updates: [https://adamlehrhaupt.com/newsletter-signup]
* Listen to other episodes of the Picture This Podcast: [https://adamlehrhaupt.com/podcast/]

**Sound Bites:**
"The pictures really are the story."
"Create a visual suspense story."
"What do you think just happened?"

**Timestamps:**
0:00 - The Power of Visual Literacy (Introduction to Visual Storytelling)
09:58 - Exploring Picture Books and Their Illustrators (Techniques & Examples)
19:33 - Connecting Emotions Through Illustrations (Visual Cues for Empathy)
24:27 - Engaging Activities for Visual Literacy (Practical Classroom Ideas)

#VisualLiteracy #PictureBooks #ElementaryEducation #Teachers #Librarians #ReadingSkills #CriticalThinking #Empathy #ClassroomActivities #Storytelling #AdamLehrhaupt #PictureThisPodcast #EducationResources #EarlyLiteracy #LiteracySkills #BookIllustrations

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.