Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and Morevolume 8

2023 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books Hands-On Science Book winner

Fungi are everywhere!

They live in the coldest corner of Antarctica and on hot, sandy desert dunes. They’re in the air you breathe and the food you eat. But fungi are more than pizza toppings.

They form partnerships with plants and help us clean up our planet through bioremediation. Some fungi eat our crops; others protect them. Some fungi cause diseases; others cure them. Some are bigger than you; others are so tiny you need a microscope to see them.

And now, people are finding ways to use fungi to make furniture, building materials, and even sneakers.

So grab your gear and let’s go find some Funky Fungi.

Alisha Gabriel is an elementary music teacher and university professor. Her writing has been published in Highlights for Children and Pockets, and she has written five books for children. Sue Heavenrich is an independent environmental journalist with a master’s degree in biology. She written for Ranger Rick, Cobblestone, Highlights for Children, and more. She has written half a dozen books for children. A former science teacher, Sue counts pollinators as a citizen scientist and writes a bimonthly science column for a regional parenting newspaper.