Review by Booklist Review
This rare and wondrous book will capture the imagination of fungi fans. You might be thinking that's a fairly small demographic, but once kids see this graceful compilation that looks like a quaint nineteenth-century natural science tract---featuring detailed, labeled illustrations in vivid colors that pop off pages--and read about how fungi are actually closer to animals than plants, they'll be hooked. As readers progress through the galleries of the fungi museum, or fungarium, various curators (subject specialists) use straightforward language to introduce fungal biology and diversity and explain how the roughly three million fungal species (new ones are being discovered every day) interact with each other, plants, animals, and humans. The text is authoritative and informative, but the real attraction is the artwork. There are glorious spreads of ecosystems, and even the endpapers are worth a look. There are no chapter notes, alas, but sources for further research are provided. Fungarium joins other titles in the Welcome to the Museum series, which includes Botanicum (2017) and Dinosaurium (2018). This will make a handsome addition to STEM collections and should attract browsers and budding mycologists alike.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up--This beautifully illustrated title is a detailed survey of all types of fungi. It is not only detailed but close to academic and scientific in its approach. It is certainly not an introduction to fungi and the language expects the reader to be fully informed on specific botanical terms and ideas. The work uses the concept of entering a fungi museum, a "Fungarium." There are chapters and details on an amazing number of fungi and many chapters discuss specific biomes and the fungi that live there. The concept of a museum is highlighted in the incredible illustrations. They are featured on a page and then the following page gives the common name, scientific name, and many details. These illustrations would be captivating to any reader interested in science and botany. The limiting aspect of this title is the text. While detailed and offering an overwhelming amount of information, it is clearly written for a student already familiar with many botanical concepts. An example of this in the section on growth reads, "All filamentous fungi are made from narrow, cylindrical tubes called hyphae." While this is accurate, even high school students might have difficulty understanding. The creators of this book are passionate about fungi and desire to share their information and, perhaps, encourage students to pursue this discipline. The illustrations will draw readers in but the text will not. VERDICT A detailed scientific survey of fungi with incredible illustrations but overly detailed text. For advanced readers only.--Susan Lissim, Dwight Sch., New York City
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Led by Gaya, a team of mycologists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, offers an irresistible, oversized introduction to fungi. Dedicated to the "next generation of mycologists," this well-designed handbook approximates a tour of a museum, or "fungarium," complete with foil ticket for entry and four galleries--"Fungal Biology," "Fungal Diversity," "Fungal Interactions," and "Fungi and Humans." Stop-you-in-your-tracks biological illustrations colorfully depict spores, yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Specific delights include a chanterelle, with its sunny yellow curves and false gills; a tendrilled jellyspot fungus; and a stark white, poisonous destroying angel. Even the monochromatic endpapers are frameworthy. Gaya and her co-authors allay mycophobia in young naturalists ("fungi…represent some of the world's finest delicacies") but, smartly, not entirely ("remember that some of them may kill you"). The book revels in and conveys the magic of fungi, which are not only necessary to make beer, bread, most cheeses, chocolate, and wine (more than enough reason to inspire fungiphilia), but are also key to the survival of 90% of plants as well as our own survival via penicillin and other medicines. Kid-pleasing macabre facts abound: The zombie ant fungus "grows in the body of the ant," forcing the insect to disseminate its spores. The backmatter "library" (list of curators, index, additional resources) is helpful. Sadly, there is no glossary: While the prose is clear enough for older readers, this book relies heavily on Latin and scientific terms that aren't always defined. An immersive, exquisitely illustrated trip to the fungal kingdom. (Nonfiction. 8-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
