Transforming Literacy: Ignite Creativity in Students With Nonfiction Picture Books (Picture This... Episode 2)

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!