Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around)

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Myron Smith was a PhD candidate in botany at the University of Toronto when he and colleagues discovered this exclusive fungus in the hardwood forests near Crystal Falls. "This was kind of a side project," Smith recalls. "We were looking at the boundaries of [fungal] individuals using genetic tests and the first year we didn't find the edge." Ironically, the discovery of such huge fungi specimens rekindled the debate of what constitutes an individual organism. "It's one set of genetically identical cells that are in communication with one another that have a sort of common purpose or at least can coordinate themselves to do something," Volk explains. P.S. the largest living organism mentioned in the book is in OREGON, not Oregan. Oregan is not a place. I know because I stopped reading to do a little research so I could figure out if there was a place called Oregan that I didn't know about. Very odd typo, so odd that I wasn't sure it was a typo.

Quite often fungi has a bad rep — especially when it comes to poisonous mushrooms. However, there is so much more to learn, and a good book can open this exciting world up to your child. And of course our food, medicine, actually every corner of our world you can think of — they’re there. Sadly, they’re just as susceptible to changes in global temperature and we need to know this because they are the very foundation of life on earth.

When choosing a book about fungi for your child you should consider the age of the child, reading level, and the type of book.

All of these characters tell their story in personal terms rather than scientific detail. Children who read this book might see the forest floor in new ways, engaging with the natural world as if it were intelligent, sentient, and friendly. From tiny microbes to the largest living thing, fungi are everywhere! Without fungi, our ecosystem would not work. It provides food for plants and animals and creates a place for them to live. But beware, some types of fungi can destroy crops through fungal diseases or even change animals’ behavior. This fascinating foraging book for kids is sure to keep little ones engaged and entertained!

You know those mushroom rings 🍄🍄🍄 in folklore that say they’re formed by fairies dancing in a circle? They exist! (The rings at least 😆)