Mushrooms Know: Wisdom From Our Friends the Fungi
A succinct glimpse into mushrooms, mycelium and all the fungi family. This is an excellent introduction, familiarising us with facts about their growth, feeding, and most importantly, the vital role they play in our ecosystem.
The main text is a heartwarming and reassuring message, perfect for a quick read or for younger children. Accompanying the main text throughout are smaller paragraphs with facts about mushrooms glowing in the dark, or how they can hibernate. Lastly, there are labels on every illustration, for the budding mycologists. Naming each mushroom variety, perfect for returning to later.
The illustrations are simple and defined with intense colours and flat shapes. This allows for the mushrooms to stand starkly against the mostly plain backdrops, giving the reader a clear look at each silhouette and colour choice. The mushrooms are illustrated with simple yet funny, endearing faces throughout. While not traditional characters, they have emotion and things to say along the way, helping to present the information in a way that is easily digestible and would perfectly capture a child’s attention.
While the factual text would be more complex for younger children, the illustrations, along with the primary story would appeal to pre-school aged readers too. This would allow the book to grow with them, moving into the more complex elements as the reader’s abilities evolve. In summing up the characteristics of mushrooms, it would be easy to create a book and make it overwhelming, but here, there’s a wealth of information while remaining intriguing, and concise throughout.
