Jennifer Trafton Peterson, author of The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic and her brand-new book, Henry and the Chalk Dragon, explained her writing process something like this — “I think of a picture that makes me laugh, something funny, and I write to it.”
When she read aloud a portion of Henry and the Chalk Dragon last fall at Hutchmoot, the annual gathering of Rabbit Room peeps, it was the funniest thing I had heard in a long time. Of course, I immediately pre-ordered the book.
It arrived the other day. Every time I see it — and I set it in a place I would see it often — it gives me impetus to finish the book I’m currently reading so I can dive headlong into Henry’s adventure. Yes, it was written for 3rd grade boys, but I can’t tell you about a time that I’ve been more excited to read a book.
Henry and the Chalk Dragon has absolutely nothing to do with my “E” collage, except that I used the Jennifer Trafton method of creating. I sat one day with a pile of pictures spread out before me and thought about which ones would be funny together.
One of the results was this one — a butterfly chasing a pig.
It made me think of Monty Python’s Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog, when the knights were in denial of the danger, but it quickly turned to “Run away! Run away!”
My picture depicts a narrow escape from the Bloodcurdling Butterfly of Baoithein.
Fence and bunny from Catch Me, Catch Me! A Thomas the Tank Engine Story illustrated by Owain Bell
Fleeing pig from The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf illustrated by Keiko Motoyama
Butterfly from — I’m so sorry, dear illustrator, I don’t remember!
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
That is an interesting experiment – mixing pictures like this. The poor pig above looks terrified.
Finding Eliza
It does indeed. I have a lot of fun playing with the pictures.
I think the process of thinking of a picture that makes me laugh is not only a good way to write a piece but to live a life of joy in a world of stress! Thanks for sharing!
Yes — that’s very true. Looking for the joy can make all the difference.
I love this picture. I do like butterflies but I think if I came face to face with a butterfly as big as I was, I’d be making like that pig and getting out of there!
Cait @ Click’s Clan
It makes me think of Mothra from the old Godzilla movies. A moth, yet terrifying.
I can’t tell but is the butterfly’s tongue sticking out? so cute. but what if the butterfly is small?
have a lovely day.
You’re right — what if I made the same picture with a normal-sized butterfly. Would it still be funny? Would it be even funnier?
Oh, I like that!
Thanks, William.