WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Fungi Grow by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Diana Sudyka
ABOUT THE BOOK
Above ground, below ground, all around, fungi grow. They root and fruit and twist and twine everywhere on earth. Some are edible, some are medicinal, some are even poisonous. Step into this book and discover the amazing array of mushrooms and see how they multiply. Learn how fungi heal and help humans. Explore the incredible underground fungal network that helps forests thrive. And so much more!
REVIEW
"Fungi grow. Start with a spore--a sort of seed." Thus begins this fascinating look into the world of fungi, how they grow, starting as a spore, how they spread, how they develop. The use of words such as Hyphae and mycelium, and mycorrhizal expanded my vocabulary as I learned how some fungi entwine their roots with tree roots in a symbiotic relationship. The poetic main text beautifully presents the main ideas while smaller subtext gives additional information on most two-page spreads. The way some of the text is blended into the art creates a very appealing look to the pages. The art wonderfully compliments the text highlighting the concepts being taught. I especially appreciated how the illustrator labeled the many different types of fungi included in the book. The amount of research and work that went into the book is remarkable to consider. The water color illustrations that were finished digitally work so well and blend perfectly with the text. In this sort of science book I often prefer illustrations, but here the illustrations and text work to create not only an informative book but a truly beautiful one as well. The back matter includes a glossary, additional information and fun facts, along with a life cycle diagram, along with sources, further reading, and additional resources. What a book! Informative and beautiful at the same time. One of my favorite books of the year.
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