What’s the difference between reading a story and truly seeing it?
In this captivating episode of the Picture This Podcast, host Adam Lehrhaupt welcomes award-winning author and Disney animator Benson Shum for an unforgettable conversation!
Benson shares his creative journey and pulls back the curtain on how he blends research, imagination, and animation magic to create picture books like Anzu, Great Kaiju and Imagine You and Me.
Perfect for elementary teachers, librarians, and aspiring authors, this episode gives you:
- An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a Disney animator’s creative process
- Practical ideas for building lessons around research, even for the most imaginative stories
- Insights on how picture book illustrations add a second layer of meaning
- Strategies for using mistakes as opportunities for creative growth and teamwork in the classroom
- Tips on teaching empathy and perspective using giant monsters (kaiju!)
Whether you're seeking fresh ways to teach visual literacy or simply crave inspiration from a master storyteller, this episode is a must!
Guest Spotlight
Benson Shum is an acclaimed author, illustrator, and Disney animator, winner of the Sakura Medal and other honors for his whimsical books and art. Discover Benson’s books, teaching activities, and free resources at his Website.
⏱️ Episode Breakdown
2:12 – Researching Sloth Went: Creating believable worlds
4:35 – Sparking creativity with "what if" questions
5:36 – Why make a "cute" kaiju?
7:00 – Teaching empathy and perspective with Anzu, Great Kaiju
8:52 – Turning stories into classroom “choose your own adventures”
10:30 – Alex’s Good Fortune: Sharing cultural storytelling
13:37 – Integrating family traditions into classroom lessons
17:23 – Using the “Disney method” outside the studio
18:00 – Character development tips from an animator
20:31 – We Are Lion Dancers: Teaching teamwork
25:37 – Book Bag: The Book of Mistakes
28:17 – Creative prompts for your classroom
29:21 – The big value of visual literacy
34:49 – Find Benson Shum online
📚 Books & Authors Featured
Support your local bookstore, but if you must order online, you support our show by using links below!
- Sloth Went by Adam Lehrhaupt and Benson Shum
Sloth Went (Amazon) - Anzu, the Great Kaiju by Benson Shum
Anzu, the Great Kaiju (Amazon) - Alex’s Good Fortune by Benson Shum
Alex’s Good Fortune (Amazon) - Imagine You and Me by Benson Shum
Imagine You and Me (Amazon) - The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
The Book of Mistakes (Amazon) - We Are Lion Dancers by Benson Shum
We Are Lion Dancers (Amazon)
🎒 Free Resources for Teachers & Librarians
- Download your FREE Visual Literacy Toolkit & classroom activities: Get free teaching resources
- Stay in the loop! Sign up for teaching tips and podcast updates in your mailbox
🚀 Join the Conversation!
Like, follow, comment, and share this episode with fellow educators and book lovers—your participation helps us reach and inspire others!
Tell us in the comments: What’s a picture book you use to teach a specific concept, and how has it worked in your classroom?
Host
Adam Lehrhaupt
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