Wordplay, Walking, and "Dinosaur-Sized" Problems

In this episode of Picture This, host Adam Lehrhaupt catches up with Oklahoma Book Award winner Tammi Sauer. They discuss the long (and often anxious!) wait for illustrator sketches, the joy of "FNGs" (folded and gathered pages), and Tammi’s secret weapon for revision: the three-and-a-half-mile walk.

Tammi breaks down how her background as a teacher and librarian informs her interactive school visits and shares a brilliant, scalable activity to help students move past "bland" sentences. Whether you’re a fan of Nugget & Fang or hungry for her new release, Pizzasaurus, this episode is packed with "words that sing."

✨ Key Takeaways for Educators & Librarians:

• The Bland Sentence Fix: A live-action classroom strategy. Start with "He walks past the tree" and use costumes and student "experts" to build it into "Cowboy Dan struts past the oak."
• The Power of the Setting: Two magic questions to spark student ideation: "What can go wrong here?" or "Who doesn't belong here?"
• Revision as a Game: How to help students see revision not as a chore, but as a "satisfying fix-up" where changing just 10 words can shift an entire 300-word story.
• Juxtaposition in Art: Exploring how the text can say one thing while the illustrations show another (perfect for teaching inference!).
• Interactive Author Visits: Why school visits should be educational, entertaining, and interactive—and why the "Librarian" line dance is a must-see.

🔑 Key Topics & Time Stamps:

• 04:16: The Origin of Pizzasaurus: Using wordplay in business names as inspiration.
• 06:03: The Illustrator Partnership: Why the "disassociation" from a manuscript is a good thing.
• 10:30: Talking what you love: Joy as the secret to public speaking.
• 13:10: The "Librarian" Flash Mob: Making reading memories stick.
• 18:38: Fish-out-of-water stories: Putting farm animals in the city.
• 23:00: The Words that Sing: How to make sentences specific through "Cowboy Dan."
• 28:27: Revision Tips: Recording yourself reading and listening for the "falters."
• 34:17: The "Beat" of a Story: Why a simple "..." or "Ooh" can be the most important word in the book.
• 43:20: Story Sparks: Using "What could go wrong?" to create Nugget & Fang.

📚 Featured in this Episode:

• The New Release: Pizzasaurus by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Kyle Beckett.
• Tammi’s Classics: Nugget & Fang, Mary Had a Little Glam, Chicken Dance, and Caring for Your Lion.
• Adam’s Book Bag: I Will Not Eat You (Illustrated by Scott Magoon).
• Tammi’s Book Bag: Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings. A perfect example of teaching voice through letters.

🔗 Connect with Tammi Sauer:

• Website: TammiSauer.com
• Instagram: @TammiSauer
• BlueSky/Facebook: Search "Tammi Sauer"

🔗 Connect with Adam Lehrhaupt:

• Website: AdamL.Rocks
• Instagram: @Lehrhaupt

Less Talking, More Writing

In this episode of Picture This, host Adam Lehrhaupt sits down with Milken Educator Award winner Patty McGee, often called "The Writer Whisperer." With experience serving over 50,000 students, Patty shares her "fast routine" for literacy: The teacher does less so the students can do more.

They dive into the "Somebody Wanted, But, So" framework, the power of questionable endings, and why fan fiction is the ultimate reciprocal love between authors and students. Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran librarian, Patty’s insights on "elbow room" in writing will change how you view your next 20-minute lesson.

✨ Key Takeaways for Educators & Librarians:

• The 2-Minute Rule: Start with a 2-minute "pointer" or tip, then let the kids write for the remaining 18 minutes. Proportional feedback is the key to growth.
• The "Writer Hat" Strategy: Learn how to transition students from "reading like a reader" to "reading like a writer" by asking: "What did this author do that I can also do?"
• Revision Hacks: How to use "real estate" on a page to make revision feel like a fun before-and-after comparison rather than a tedious chore.
• Layered Parfait Strategy: Increasing the sophistication of writing prompts across grade levels while keeping the core strategy consistent for K-12 students.
• The Power of the Fan Fic: Why inviting students to send your characters on "further adventures" is the best way to spark engagement.

🔑 Chapters:

• 03:42: The Secret to Fast Writing: Slowing down the teacher.
• 05:40: Using Picture Books as Mentor Texts: The "What did the author do?" frame.
• 08:17: Becoming a "Co-Author": Critiquing books from the inside out.
• 10:40: Why "Questionable Endings" spark the most student curiosity.
• 13:20: The Revision Hack: Managing page "real estate" for young writers.
• 17:42: Scaling prompts from Kindergarten to High School.
• 23:43: Adam’s Book Bag: Independent Dames by Laurie Halse Anderson.
• 26:46: Story Sparks: The unique (and often hilarious) beauty of "Kid Language."

📚 Featured in this Episode:

• This Is a Good Story by Adam Lehrhaupt.
• Independent Dames by Laurie Halse Anderson (Perfect for Revolutionary War research and teaching text structure!).
• Runny Babbitt by Shel Silverstein (Embracing the freedom of mixed-up words).

🔗 Connect with Patty McGee:

• Website: PattyMcGee.org (Note: That’s Patty with a "y"!)
• Resources: Look for Patty's work with districts and schools to turn writing into a student-led adventure.

🔗 Connect with Adam Lehrhaupt:

• Website: AdamL.Rocks
• Instagram: @Lehrhaupt

In this engaging conversation, Patricia Newman, a master of nonfiction writing, shares her insights on the intricacies of crafting nonfiction for children. She discusses the importance of research, the challenges of maintaining historical accuracy, and the techniques she employs to engage young readers. Patricia emphasizes the significance of connecting with educators and the role of concise writing in storytelling. The discussion also touches on the various styles of nonfiction and the creative inspirations that drive her work.


Key Takeaways

• Patricia Newman has a background in both writing and education, which informs her approach to nonfiction.
• Nonfiction should be based on real events, people, and dialogue, emphasizing the importance of accuracy.
• Writing concisely is crucial in picture books to convey complex ideas effectively.
• Engaging young readers involves presenting relatable characters and real-world problems.
• Collaboration with educators helps create relevant curriculum connections for her books.
• Research is essential, especially when dealing with historical events and figures.
• Different styles of nonfiction cater to various audiences and purposes, including narrative and browsable formats.
• Creative inspiration often comes from personal interests and the desire to learn about new topics.
• The writing process can involve multiple drafts to refine ideas and language.
• Empowering children through stories of civic role models can inspire them to make a difference in their communities.
  
  

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nonfiction and Personal Connections
04:49 Defining Nonfiction: Purity and Creativity
09:39 Crafting Picture Books: The Art of Conciseness
16:03 Engaging Educators: Connecting Literature to Real-World Issues
20:37 The Process of Writing: From Idea to Execution
26:24 Unraveling Myths: Tesla and Edison
27:25 The Challenge of Historical Accuracy
31:28 The Importance of Expert Consultation
35:23 Exploring Nonfiction Structures
39:30 Creative Sparks and Inspirations