The Understanding Monster Series by Theo Ellsworth

In a mutating house full of growing toys, a multi-dimensional robot, a Werewolf Exorcist and a reanimated mummy attempt to rescue a complicated being named Izadore. A Lynd Ward Prize Honor Book, The Understanding Monster—Book One is an exquisite exploration into the inner workings of an imaginary world.

Continuing where Book One left off, The Understanding Monster - Book Two follows Pharoah Tellitome, Inspector Gimble, Turtletree, Master Sponko and Minnow on their collective quest to awaken Izadore and re-establish his identity and memory. Constructed with the same lush, intricate visuals as the first volume, the story returns readers to the world of time crystals, “home bodies,” afterlife quests, thought projection resurrection and the ever-majestic Toy Mountain... moreContinuing where Book One left off, The Understanding Monster - Book Two follows Pharoah Tellitome, Inspector Gimble, Turtletree, Master Sponko and Minnow on their collective quest to awaken Izadore and re-establish his identity and memory. Constructed with the same lush, intricate visuals as the first volume, the story returns readers to the world of time crystals, “home bodies,” afterlife quests, thought projection resurrection and the ever-majestic Toy Mountain. The Understanding Monster – Book Two delves even deeper into the nature of creativity and imagination, and the tenuous relationship between reality and the subconscious. less

"An urgent (and often very funny) attempt to explain a coocoo-rococo cosmology made up of garbled fragments of role-playing games, Transformers episodes, relaxation exercises and horror movies."—The New York TimesThe final chapter of this epic trilogy finds our hero, Izadore, awoken with his mind, body and soul reunited. The last Monks of the Imaginary Man lead him beyond Toy Mountain to discover the true nature of the relationship between imagination and reality... more"An urgent (and often very funny) attempt to explain a coocoo-rococo cosmology made up of garbled fragments of role-playing games, Transformers episodes, relaxation exercises and horror movies."—The New York TimesThe final chapter of this epic trilogy finds our hero, Izadore, awoken with his mind, body and soul reunited. The last Monks of the Imaginary Man lead him beyond Toy Mountain to discover the true nature of the relationship between imagination and reality.Not simply concluding the relentless, psychedelic plot, The Understanding Monster—Book Three explains how our creativity re-shapes our world, how we can overcome doubt through self-actualization. less