Mushrooming for Kids
Introducing children to the world of mushrooms is a great way to peak their interest in science, nature, and the great outdoors. Mushrooming with your child also provides a way of having quality time in a quiet and peaceful setting instead of the crazy go-here, go-there, never-stop bustle of today's world. With all of that in mind we want to offer up some suggestions for resources that can help you to introduce you children to the world of mushrooms. Always remember though that you need to instill a good sense of caution in the children and never allow them to sample mushrooms without your approval.
The following is provided by our member, Sandy Sheine, who is the NAMA Education Committee Chair
Children's Books About Mushrooms
My favorite fiction book for Elementary school classrooms is The
Fungus that Ate my School, written by Arthur Dorros. It is a
hilarious tale of kids returning to school, after spring vacation,
and finding the whole school covered with a slimy, green and purple
fungus! That's only the beginning of a romp through the fungi
world.. Even the lunch menu includes Tuna leucocephalum., Peaches
sporangia, Green Beans epidendrum and sour milk Another classroom
book that I recommend is There's a Fungus Among Us,
Your-Complete Fungus Growing Kit (originally published as Grow
Your Own Fungus) by Carol Benanti. It includes ten experiments
that can easily be done in the classroom or at home. For a wonderful
book on teaching basic facts about fungi, nothing beats A Young
Person's Guide to the Fungi, by Bryce Kendrick. It has
excellent drawings by Mary Ann Milne. Another unique book, part
fiction and part fact with beautiful and accurate illustrations, is
Katya's Book of Mushrooms, by Katya Arnold and Sam Swope.
For young children, I recommend the non-fiction Mushroom by
Barrie Watts and the story Mushrooms in the Rain by Mirra
Ginsberg. For fourth grade students through adults, I am excited by
Fungi by Roy Watling, published in 2003. It can be ordered
from the Smithsonian Institution Press, as part of their Life
Series. Fun for all ages is Mushrooms of the World Coloring Book
with illustrations by Jeannette Bowers and text by David Arora.
Two more Elementary School age fiction books that I am fond of are
Crackle Creek by Mary Elise Monsell, a lovely story about a
mouse who writes with mushroom ink. Also, A New Home for 'Lil
Gnome by Nancy Parker, a NAMA member. It tells the story of the
adventures of a gnome made of mushroom dyed wool (no doubt, one of
Susan Hopkin's gnomes).
More information on children's mushroom books can be found on the NAMA website: www.namyco.org. To purchase copies, check websites, including Ebay, and bookstores that sell children's books.
Fascinating
Fungi of the North Woods by Cora Mollen (Author), Larry
Weber (Author), Rick Kollath (Illustrator), Bonnie Wenborg (Illustrator)
Part of the popular North Woods Naturalist Series, this field guide contains detailed information with an innovative format that makes field identification a snap! The guide will help you know what to look for and when, and it was developed exclusively for the regions surrounding the North Woods of the United States and Canada.