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"When a storm grounds their boat, the Summers family is stranded on an island with an angry volcano. Splitting up to look for help, the family encounters various frightful creatures. A "splinter" (a tree root) dislodged from the volcano's foot finally restores peace. This bizarre mishmash of a story is as unsubtle as the slick illustrations."
"Welcome to Monster Isle is a children's book I would have loved to read to my own kids. Of course, what with Eddie now being 20 and Kelly being 17, that isn't likely to happen ... The kids will love these monsters, and adults reading this book to those kids will appreciate the homages, the lively plot, and the fun art. Welcome to Monster Isle earns four Tonys. It'd be a terrific gift for any creature-loving kids in your life."
"Filled with exuberantly colorful and cartoony illustrations, Welcome to Monster Isle is a rhyming picturebook about a family's vacation that takes a turn for the wild when a storm sends their skipper's boat off course. Seven castaways are stranded on an uncharted desert island - filled with wild and fierce monsters! From a griffon to a zillard to a volcano with a face, can the refugees survive and even make friends with such fantastic beasts? An enthusiastic, upbeat tale perfect for reading aloud to young monster lovers."
"It's a charming introduction to crytozoology for very young children, with the polysyllabic words they seem to enjoy, and gorgeously illustrated. And it has positive messages aplenty: man and manimal can live in harmony; you create your own fears; and working cooperatively is rewarding. If, as an adult, you have to read the same story every single night till your sanity gives way, this will be more pleasant than 99 per cent of the competition."
"The artwork is simply amazing!"
"Here is a book that is geared towards kids, but embraces the adventurer in all of us. If you are as huge a fan of the SciFi Channel's DESTINATION TRUTH as I am, youll definitely want to check out this book of monsters creatively illustrated by Jeff Miracola. The story by Oliver Chin is pretty simple: a family crashes their boat onto a desert island and run into one monster after the next as they explore its shores. Its a quick read, one that will most likely please those youngsters who are just forming an interest in comics. Perfect bed time story reading material."
"Jeff's work has fascinated me since we first met while working on games like Dungeons & Dragons. His art and imagination were cutting-edge then, and what he brings to the children's book world is cutting-edge now."
"If I were a zombie, Jeff Miracola's brain would top my list of things to eat. And this book would be dessert."
"The words tell a fun and adventurous tale, yet it is certainly Jeff Miracola's illustrations that bring this story and it's beasts to life. I love that the Yowie (Australian Bigfoot) makes an appearance! This is definitely a book with kid appeal!"
"I think most people have a bizzare fascination and would probably enjoy being stranded on an island, myself included--at least for a short while. This book will take you and your children on that adventure, and given the beautiful illustrations, your imagination and your children's imagination will be completely immersed in that netherworld known as--well, Monster Isle."
"Monster Isle looks set to be an excellent read for younger audiences with some impressive illustrations."
January 28, 2010
Welcome to Monster Isle is the 2009 Winner of Bookbuilders West award for Best Children's book cover!
November 7, 2009
I am happy to announce that "Welcome to Monster Isle" is now online in digital form through a very innovative and exciting website, astorybeforebed.com, which has partnered with Monster Isle publisher, Immedium, Inc.
AStoryBeforeBed.com allows anyone with a webcam to record themselves reading a book from their online library, page by page. The user can then purchase their reading of the book and share the link with friends, family, or whoever. Like a picture-in-picture feature on television, the recipient can then see the video of you reading the book, along with the actual book on screen. Check out the site and view the demo. It is pretty cool!
The website also offers discounts to men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
For a direct link to the Monster Isle book, click here.
August 18, 2009
The Reading Tub has posted a review of Monster Isle. Check it out here.
May 9, 2009
Jeff will have artwork in an exhibit at the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) in Oakland, CA, in a show that will run from May 9 through June 14, 2009. Opening Reception is Friday, May 9 from 2-4PM. Sadly, this venue is too far away for Jeff to attend, but it should be loads of fun as there are a number of illustrators involved with the show, including Don Freeman, author and illustrator of Corduroy. The exhibit will feature a current and childhood piece of art from each illustrator. Copies of "Welcome to Monster Isle" will be on hand for sale during the exhibit.
April 15, 2009
Two more reviews for Monster Isle have come in. Tony Isabella from Comics Buyer's Guide give the book four "Tonys", while the book also gets thumbs up from the folks over at the wildly popular blog, Super Punch.
January 12, 2009
Annalee Newitz of the insanely popular Science Fiction blog, io9, has written an outstanding review of Monster Isle. Read it here.
October 31, 2008
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Artist, Jeff Miracola, appeared on "The Morning Blend," a popular Wisconsin morning TV show on WTMJ-4 NBC to talk about "Welcome to Monster Isle" with hosts Alison de Castro and Molly Fay.
View the video here
October 26, 2008
For those of you in the Metro Milwaukee area, tune in to WTMJ-4 TV's "The Morning Blend" this Thursday, October 30th at 9:00am as artist Jeff Miracola sits down with hosts, Molly and Alison, to discuss Welcome to Monster Isle.
October 1, 2008
A Study Guide for Welcome to Monster Isle is now available. You can download it here (PDF - 505kb).
September 15, 2008
Kidlit Central News has a little blurb about the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Wisconsin Chapter's upcoming Fall retreat, along with a mention of some Wisconsin writers & illustrators that have books coming out this Fall, including Jeff Miracola. Read the blog posting here.
September 7, 2008
The popular book blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, is featuring a number of illustrations from Monster Isle illustrator, Jeff Miracola. Read the article here.