Katya’s Book of Mushrooms, by Katya Arnold, is an introduction to mushrooms aimed at children 10-14 years old. It is not a a field guided intended for use in identifying mushrooms, but is aimed at inspiring excitement for hunting and enjoying the adventure of finding them. Raised in Russia where she hunted for mushrooms from the age of 5, the author shares her experiences, knowledge, and passion for her fungal friends.
Arnold covers many different aspects of mushrooms from their basic biology and and fanciful names to their habitats and ecological relationships with plants and animals in their ecosystem. One of the most the most useful sections of the book is the part on identifying mushrooms. Using diagrams and and charts the author provides a guide to examining specimens and identifying them. And yes, she includes several warnings that mushrooms are dangerous to eat, and should only be consumed once their identity has been verified by an expert. Profiles of mushrooms follow and include poisonous ones as well as chanterelles, boletes, puffballs and polypores. A final section concerns growing mushrooms at home and Arnold shares her own experience growing shiitakes in a lasagna pan.
Katya’s Book of Mushrooms is a gem! Arnold combines her scientific knowledge with many stories about her personal experiences with mushrooms as a child to create a very endearing, entertaining, and informative narrative. The outstanding illustrations add saturated colors in vivid contrasts that reflect the high energy and passion of the author. This is the kind of book that can be enjoyed over and over by young and old.