Out of respect to writers you have to read the book in the way in which the author visualised it going out into the world.
I have never had trouble with any actor being able to visualise things. They are amazing. As long as you have your monster head on a long stick so you can hold it up there and you can wave it around and let them see it and explain it to them they are just great.
I made some truly awful movies. 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot' was the worst. If you ever want someone to confess to murder just make him or her sit through that film. They will confess to anything after 15 minutes.