Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from our Friends the Fungi

A lovely story not just about mushrooms, Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from our Friends the Fungi by Kallie George and Sara Gillingham gives readers much to ponder about these fungi and life.

Through the pages, readers have the opportunity to see and learn about all the amazing things that mushrooms can do. Along the way, valuable lessons on cooperation, diversity, symbiosis and life can be drawn from the humble fungus.

Kallie George has done a wonderful thing through Mushrooms Know. She has created a story around a particularly intriguing topic that will grow with readers. At the early years level, readers can enjoy the simple story and the beautiful illustrations by Sara Gillingham. Simple, one sentence text flows throughout the pages to create a narrative about cooperation, kindness, self love and community care. As readers get a bit older, they can enjoy all of the sidebars on each two page spread and delve a little deeper into the science of mushrooms, mycology, to really understand the vital role these fungi play in our ecosystems. There is wonderful information about symbiosis and how fungi works with all of the other species in an ecosystem to ensure the health of these systems. 

Sara Gillingham’s illustrations are bold and vibrant! I love how the mushrooms stand out in bright brilliant colours giving this book a slight retro feel and being incredibly eye catching. This book will be hard to miss on bookshelves and the illustrations give the book a little more appeal for readers to pick it up and start developing their junior mycologist skills.