The Wonder of Mushrooms: The Mysterious World of Fungi

by Maya Zeller, Jenny Defouw Geuder

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Kitty Stryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that would be very fun to read with your kids, maybe as part of a lesson plan on fungi, or maybe as part of a foraging expedition (though, of course, forage responsibly!) A beautiful art book with text that is evocative and accessible, the watercolor images are stunning to look at, and the text encourages curiosity, and a sense of whimsy.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Wonder of Mushrooms is a very brief and colorful introduction to a subject that really seems to be enjoying a moment in the publishing world. While the watercolor illustrations by Jenny deFouw Geuder are eye-catching, Maya Jewell Zeller's accompanying text is just a little too slim to provide any depth, making for a breezy but insubstantial read.

[Jacob Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an amateur mycologist and friend of fungi, I found that Maya Zeller and Jenny Defouw Geuder’s newest book evokes a familiar and deeply satisfying feeling, much like the quiet thrill of discovering a mushroom in the forest. It stirs a sense of childlike curiosity that invites the reader to turn each page with eager anticipation. While the text is accessible and not technically demanding, it offers a richly enjoyable and rewarding experience for readers at any level. I look forward to seeing what else the author and illustrator plan to do.

[Melody Daggerhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and poetic pages of "glimmer" and fact about the mysterious and fascinating species of fungi. The author is very clear that this is not a field guide. I see it as more of a "look book" for my coffee table -- a walk through the woods in my mind when I cannot be present in an actual forest. Lovely.

[Fiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

With minimal text, this book is all about the lush illustrations.