Written for children 8-12 in grades 3-4, Mushrooms, by Joyce Markovics, introduces young readers to mushrooms and their importance to the environment. Markovics covers many topics regarding mushrooms and shows the many ways they benefit people’s life. Close-up photographs give readers a look at how beautiful and unique mushrooms can be.
After grabbing the attention of readers with the story of the 2,500 year old giant fungus that covers an area as big as 180 football fields, the author goes on to explain that mushrooms are only a small part of fungi that consist of thread-like webs called mycelia. She discusses their habitats, how they get nourishment and reproduce, and the way they communicate. Turning to the role of fungi in the environment, Markovics considers the importance of fungi in breaking down dead organisms, aiding plant growth, and supplying food to animals, with details about the fungus gardens of leafcutter ants. Some of the most interesting information in the book regards the uses of fungi to remove pollutants and toxic waste from water and soil, make drugs, degrade plastic, replace plastic and Styrofoam as packaging material, create a leather-like material, and be formed into bricks as a building material. A final section considers a world with no fungi and the ways things would be changed.
Mushrooms is packed with informative presented in a way that sparks interest and holds attention. The facts themselves create a whole now appreciation of fungi and the role they play in our lives, and the photographs let readers observe features they may never have noticed. An activity on mushroom identification is included in end materials along with a glossary and suggestions for more extensive information.
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