Mushrooms & Fungi for Kids: An Introduction to Mycology

by Ariel Bonkoski

Overview

Discover the importance of mushrooms and fungi in this children’s book that includes an introduction to mycology, as well as a basic identification guide.

Mushrooms are truly amazing! They are more closely related to animals than to plants, and there are some 150,000 different species—not counting the millions that are likely waiting to be discovered. Become a young mycologist. Learn all about mushrooms, fungi, and lichens. Debut author and mushroom expert Ariel Bonkoski presents a kids’ introduction to mycology. From puffballs to lion’s mane, this book provides the information kids need to know.

A perfect guide for beginners, Mushrooms & Fungi for Kids starts with an introduction to the kingdom of Fungi. Then it guides readers through the shapes, colors, and forms of mushrooms. The book further discusses mushrooms’ important role in the environment, their relationships with insects, and more. In the field—guide section, fungi are organized by shape and structure to help kids (and adults) start understanding the basics of the mushroom world. While this is not a guide to foraging, readers can gain a lifelong appreciation of mushrooms and fungi by learning to recognize the major groups of them.

Inside You’ll Find

• Beginner’s guide to mushrooms and fungi of North America
• The basics of mycology and mushroom anatomy
• Identification guide to common groups of mushrooms and fungi
• Fun bonus activities for the whole family

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647554293
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/06/2025
Series:	Simple Introductions to Science
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	930L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ariel Bonkoski is a mushroom identification expert who resides in Duluth, Minnesota. She has been studying fungi since 2016 and has taught mushroom identification courses and led forays for colleges, public schools, mycological societies, and nature centers throughout North America. She is an active Master Naturalist, with a passion for learning, giving back to nature, and connecting people to nature.

Read an Excerpt

Discovering Mushrooms and Fungi: an Introduction to Mycology

Mycology is the scientific study of fungi, which are a diverse group of lifeforms that includes yeasts, molds, mushrooms, and more! Some are too small to see without a microscope (microorganisms), while others are easy to spot (macroorganisms).

Fungi play important roles in various ecosystems, as they are involved in decomposition, recycling nutrients, and special relationships with plants (known as symbiosis). Mycologists, or scientists who specialize in mycology, explore the biology, taxonomy (organization), ecology (relationships with other lifeforms), and medical significance of fungi.

The Kingdom Fungi

Imagine a mysterious kingdom where some of the weirdest and most amazing living things live. It’s called the Kingdom Fungi, and it’s a hidden world right under our feet! Fungi include mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. They can occur in every environment on Earth and play very important roles in most ecosystems. Fungi are our friends, too! Yeast helps bakers make bread fluffy, and they’re behind the scenes in the making of other delicious things like pizza dough. Some of us enjoy eating grocery—store mushrooms in our soups or pastas! So, grab your magnifying glass, put on your adventure hat, and let’s explore the magical Kingdom Fungi together!

Fungi are a group of eukaryotic organisms—all eukaryotes have a membrane—bound nucleus. The nucleus is the part of a cell that holds an organism’s DNA, and the membrane is a barrier that lets some things in but not others. Plants and animals are also eukaryotes (say it, yoo—carry—oats). What sets fungi apart from plants and animals is their special cell structure. Almost all fungi have cell walls made of chitin (the same thing that makes insect shells hard). Fungi also do not move during their life, don’t contain chlorophyll, and are larger than bacteria. The rules on what’s considered a fungi have actually changed over the years as scientists have learned more, so some things that used to be considered fungi no longer are. Slime molds (see page 15) are one cool example!

One exciting thing about mycology is that it is a fairly new field of study, at least in North America. Fungi have been closely studied in places like Europe and Asia for many years. But when mycologists started working in North America, they assumed we had many of the same mushroom species as in Europe because they looked nearly identical. In recent years, mycologists have been studying the DNA of different fungi and have discovered that this isn’t actually true! A lot of mushrooms in North America are actually different species than those found in Europe. This has resulted in lots of species name changes and other unexpected discoveries. If you keep studying and become a community/citizen scientist or a mycologist, you may just make some discoveries yourself!

Where Do Fungi Grow?

Fungi can grow anywhere in the world, even Antarctica! They can grow in dry conditions like in deserts or, rarely, even underwater. As mentioned earlier, you can also find fungi growing on spoiled food or in water—damaged buildings. Most of the time, though, you find fungi out in nature. To find mushrooms near you, look around your yard or visit a local park with an adult.

Table of Contents

My Mushroom Awakening

Introduction

Identifying Mushrooms

Meet the Mushrooms

Projects and Activities

Glossary

Recommended Reading and Community Science

About the Author