What do you think?
Rate this book
Fascinating Fungi: Nourishers, Killers, Connectors, and Healers
From the ginormous, extinct Prototaxites to the web of mycelium stretching beneath our feet, fungi have always been all around us.
Although scientists estimate that only 10 percent of fungi have been discovered, these findings have proved fantastic. Some fungi are toxic. But others are tasty sources of protein or drive the production of bread, cheeses, and fermented drinks. Some make up medicines to treat health conditions. Others connect vast swaths of trees, capture pollutants in the water and soil, or grow into sturdy but lightweight building materials. Many fungi are even fun to look at—they might ooze blood-like sap, glow at night, and more. What else might fungi be able to do?
**2025 Kirkus Best Book**
**2025 School Library Journal Best Book**
**Starred Reviews in Booklist, Kirkus, and School Library Journal**
Although scientists estimate that only 10 percent of fungi have been discovered, these findings have proved fantastic. Some fungi are toxic. But others are tasty sources of protein or drive the production of bread, cheeses, and fermented drinks. Some make up medicines to treat health conditions. Others connect vast swaths of trees, capture pollutants in the water and soil, or grow into sturdy but lightweight building materials. Many fungi are even fun to look at—they might ooze blood-like sap, glow at night, and more. What else might fungi be able to do?
**2025 Kirkus Best Book**
**2025 School Library Journal Best Book**
**Starred Reviews in Booklist, Kirkus, and School Library Journal**
- GenresNonfictionNature
136 pages, Library Binding
Published October 7, 2025
3 people are currently reading
3177 people want to read
About the author
Karen Latchana Kenney
339 books33 followersKaren Latchana Kenney is an Indian-Irish children’s author, born near the equator in Guyana, and raised far north in Minnesota. Her debut picture book SNOW STEPS launched in November 2024 and was a 2025 Minnesota Book Awards Finalist and a 2025 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award Finalist.
She writes both fiction and nonfiction stories about immigrant and biracial experiences, scientific discoveries, momentous historical events, and civil rights struggles. Her newest YA nonfiction book, FASCINATING FUNGI, launches in October 2025 from Lerner Publishing. Kirkus gave it a starred review, saying it is "An extraordinarily well-researched, well-presented, and visually appealing book on a fascinating subject."
Her other children's books have received several starred reviews and have been named a 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor, and a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.
She lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with her family, where they explore all the wild places they can find.
She writes both fiction and nonfiction stories about immigrant and biracial experiences, scientific discoveries, momentous historical events, and civil rights struggles. Her newest YA nonfiction book, FASCINATING FUNGI, launches in October 2025 from Lerner Publishing. Kirkus gave it a starred review, saying it is "An extraordinarily well-researched, well-presented, and visually appealing book on a fascinating subject."
Her other children's books have received several starred reviews and have been named a 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor, and a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.
She lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with her family, where they explore all the wild places they can find.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 13, 2026
I now know a lot more about Fungi! Perhaps I am on my way to becoming a mycophile?? Time will tell.
I felt like this was beautifully done. The pictures were beautiful, the pages were colorful, and, as a person who does not love scientific language, I was able to understand all of what the author was talking about. An excellent choice for young readers and anyone wanting to learning about Fascinating Fungi!
I felt like this was beautifully done. The pictures were beautiful, the pages were colorful, and, as a person who does not love scientific language, I was able to understand all of what the author was talking about. An excellent choice for young readers and anyone wanting to learning about Fascinating Fungi!
August 12, 2025
Absolutely amazing! One of the best introductory level mycology books I've ever read for this age level. All of the information was incredibly easy to follow and minus a handful of examples (which were understandable given the age demographic) the material wasn't oversimplified either. The book covers a broad range of categories pertaining to fungus, from culinary to technological to medicinal and more. I was so delighted to read this I would absolutely recommend it to any bidding young mycologists out there.
September 15, 2025
An excellently done tribute to fungi with a copious amount of beautiful natural images of mushrooms and fungi to show their diversity and how they help nature and man and how man is looking to leverage them in the future. I don't think they need our help because frankly, they're living their best lives around the world wide woods and connected to trees and underground nourishing and breaking down items around them.
Some of them glow, some of them will kill you. But others help feed you.
It balances all of the pieces from understanding them all to explaining their history and future whether it's food, nature, or balancing the environment.
Some of them glow, some of them will kill you. But others help feed you.
It balances all of the pieces from understanding them all to explaining their history and future whether it's food, nature, or balancing the environment.
January 8, 2026
This book was really good researched and was a nonfiction book that I could not stop reading. I really enjoyed learning more about mushrooms. It was so easy to read and understand all of the information in this book.
December 11, 2025
This book is well researched and written and should have great appeal to its targeted readership of young teens. It is easy to read and understand.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews