Fact Friday: Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman

Image: Sleeping Bear Press

Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman and illustrated by Jamie Green. Unpgd. Sleeping Bear Press, March, 2022. 9781534111509. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features another #nevertoooldforpicturebooks entry. What are your thoughts on mushrooms? Mine? Never ate them as a kid, but was weirdly fascinated by them. As an adult, I adore the earthy goodness of lots of varieties. My own kids? Not so much. 

Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman and illustrated by Jamie Green is a terrific introduction to these fascinating fungi. I love a good impressionistic lesson. One that piques curiosity and avoids info-dumps. Ms. Zimmerman's simple yet lyrical text conveys the variety, diversity and hardiness of mushrooms and Ms. Green's earth-toned illustrations just dazzle with their depth and detail. Backmatter is designed to look like a scrapbook or scientific notebook and contains more information about mushrooms as well as instructions for making mushroom art and suggestions for further reading.

Recommended for all libraries. Happy reading!

Fact Friday: Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya

Happy Friday! We made it! It's sharply colder, but the sun is shining and the weekend promises to be fine.

Image: Candlewick Press

Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya. Welcome to the Museum series. 80 p. Big Picture Press/ Candlewick Press, April, 2021. 9781536217094. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya. This gorgeous, over-size volume is part of the Welcome to the Museum series and it is not to be missed. Fungi fans will feast on the facts about fungal diversity and biology and linger over the exquisitely drawn specimens. Not a fungi fan? You might become a budding mycologist after spending some time with this book. At the very least, you'll learn more about the fungus among us.

Fungarium is a terrific addition to the STEM library. While the text veers a tad technical at times, there is plenty of fascinating information that is well-organized and appealingly laid out. The illustrations are captivating and beg to be lingered over. At my school, fifth graders do a fun unit on classification in science and I can see this book being a big hit.