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Search for a Mysterious Mushroom: Pick Your Path
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26A new and exciting addition to the Science Explorers series, offering a fresh pick-your-path STEM adventure for emerging readers!
Get ready to join an expedition to remote tropical forests in search of a mysterious mushroom called Amparoina spinosissima. This rare, spiny wonder is not easy to find, but you can help! Choose a location and all the tools and equipment you’ll need for your search. Be careful—not every path leads where you expect, but you’ll see and learn amazing things whichever you pick.
Emerging readers will be enticed by the colorful comic–paneled images and action-packed text as they choose the path their expedition will follow and visit new habitats across the globe.
A GROWING The first book in the series, Search for a Giant Squid, was named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Public Library, a Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award winner, and more. In its starred review, Booklist hailed it as “immensely engaging” and said, “This reader packs an informational punch.”
SPARKS INTEREST IN This introduction to the work of a mycologist—a scientist who studies fungi—lets readers dip their toes into the career of this specialized research scientist as well as the other team members it takes to lead a successful expedition.
ENTERTAINS WHILE IT EDUCATES: Each possible path leads to a different outcome, so readers learn new facts about scientific expeditions and ecosystems as they explore rainforests in search of an elusive tiny fungi.
COMIC BOOK The bright, graphic-paneled imagery will entice kids drawn to comic books, while also making the abundance of information accessible even for the most reluctant reader.
INCLUSIVE Research shows children need to "see it to be it." The images in the book showcase a broader range of inclusivity than many STEM titles allowing all reaxers to envision themselves undertaking a career science.
Perfect readers with an interest in STEM, forests, and fungi!Excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and homeschool educators to explore science, travel, and career topicsFans of other pick-your-path type books, National Geographic kids' books, and the Magic Tree House and Who Would Win book seriesBirthday, holiday, or summer break gift for boys and girls who love adventure books and stories about the mysteries of the natural world
Get ready to join an expedition to remote tropical forests in search of a mysterious mushroom called Amparoina spinosissima. This rare, spiny wonder is not easy to find, but you can help! Choose a location and all the tools and equipment you’ll need for your search. Be careful—not every path leads where you expect, but you’ll see and learn amazing things whichever you pick.
Emerging readers will be enticed by the colorful comic–paneled images and action-packed text as they choose the path their expedition will follow and visit new habitats across the globe.
A GROWING The first book in the series, Search for a Giant Squid, was named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Public Library, a Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award winner, and more. In its starred review, Booklist hailed it as “immensely engaging” and said, “This reader packs an informational punch.”
SPARKS INTEREST IN This introduction to the work of a mycologist—a scientist who studies fungi—lets readers dip their toes into the career of this specialized research scientist as well as the other team members it takes to lead a successful expedition.
ENTERTAINS WHILE IT EDUCATES: Each possible path leads to a different outcome, so readers learn new facts about scientific expeditions and ecosystems as they explore rainforests in search of an elusive tiny fungi.
COMIC BOOK The bright, graphic-paneled imagery will entice kids drawn to comic books, while also making the abundance of information accessible even for the most reluctant reader.
INCLUSIVE Research shows children need to "see it to be it." The images in the book showcase a broader range of inclusivity than many STEM titles allowing all reaxers to envision themselves undertaking a career science.
Perfect readers with an interest in STEM, forests, and fungi!Excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and homeschool educators to explore science, travel, and career topicsFans of other pick-your-path type books, National Geographic kids' books, and the Magic Tree House and Who Would Win book seriesBirthday, holiday, or summer break gift for boys and girls who love adventure books and stories about the mysteries of the natural world
- GenresNonfiction
100 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 3, 2025
In a kingdom all their own, mushrooms are curious and important additions to life on planet Earth. While mushroom scientists—or mycologists—know a lot about some kinds of mushrooms already, there are countless new discoveries to make every day. From one landscape to another, intrepid explorers endeavor to better understand these ephemeral fungi as best they can. But while not every expedition is successful in achieving its intended goal, the peripheral knowledge gained from these missions continues to amplify human understanding of the wider world.
This choose your own adventure-themed nonfiction book is an informative and engaging continuation of the Science Explorers series by siblings Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser. A richly informative introduction prepares readers to better understand the myriad elements of the story, including both the people and the equipment that can make scientific missions successful. Diverse characters invite readers to three far corners of the world in search of one particular mushroom type, and young scientists will relish the opportunity to direct the pacing of the story to their own taste. Whether holding fingers in the pages or reading one storyline at a time, readers will find a wealth of information provided within the pages of this book no matter how they approach it. Pronunciation guides, extensive back matter, and a plethora of details balance well with the approachable text to make this an entertaining and memorable addition to nonfiction collections for young readers. Meticulously researched and elegantly presented, this book is thoughtfully designed to connect young readers to the worlds of mycology and science in a way that encourages ongoing learning and discovery.
This choose your own adventure-themed nonfiction book is an informative and engaging continuation of the Science Explorers series by siblings Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser. A richly informative introduction prepares readers to better understand the myriad elements of the story, including both the people and the equipment that can make scientific missions successful. Diverse characters invite readers to three far corners of the world in search of one particular mushroom type, and young scientists will relish the opportunity to direct the pacing of the story to their own taste. Whether holding fingers in the pages or reading one storyline at a time, readers will find a wealth of information provided within the pages of this book no matter how they approach it. Pronunciation guides, extensive back matter, and a plethora of details balance well with the approachable text to make this an entertaining and memorable addition to nonfiction collections for young readers. Meticulously researched and elegantly presented, this book is thoughtfully designed to connect young readers to the worlds of mycology and science in a way that encourages ongoing learning and discovery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love fungi, so this book really interested me! I love how it started out with the expedition team and told about each job. This could really peak a child's interest in a more specific area of research. I enjoyed the scientific names and the hunt to find a unique fungus. There was a lot of information about what it is, where it grows, what it looks like, and how it is reserached. The illustrations are bold, fun, and contain a good amount of detail. I did enjoy the choose your own path portion, but it was somewhat difficult to follow on an ebook. You had to go back and forth quite a bit and the pages were spread out. I think this would be much more enjoyable using an actual book. During my first adventure, I did not find the A. spinosissima which was disappointing. It would be fun to go back through and pick a new adventure and learn more information on the way. This book is heavy on information and some scientific terms. I would say it is best for ages 6+. I'm sure younger children would enjoy the illustrations and some of the information, but probably wouldn't completely comprehend what was happening. I would recommend this book to any child that loves science and nature. I think this would be a book that could entertain for hours. I will be adding this book to my classroom library!
Thank you Amy Seto Forrester, Andy Chou Musser, and Chronicle Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Thank you Amy Seto Forrester, Andy Chou Musser, and Chronicle Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Search for a Mysterious Mushroom is a clever and engaging book, and I think it would be a fantastic way to get children interested in science. It’s written in a choose-your-own-adventure format, which isn’t a new concept, but it’s used especially well here. When I was younger, those types of books were usually mysteries or purely fictional adventures. Fun, yes, but not particularly educational. This book manages to do both, making learning feel like part of the adventure rather than a lesson.
I read this as an e-book, and honestly, that’s not the ideal format for this title. The page numbers didn’t always line up, and because the story requires a lot of flipping back and forth, it became a bit tedious on a screen. This is really a book you want to hold in your hands so you can easily jump to the correct page. I would strongly recommend a physical copy over an e-book.
That said, it was still a very enjoyable read. Even though I’m not the target audience, I learned quite a bit along the way. I don’t think this book would be boring for either children or the adults reading along with them. If you come across it, it’s definitely worth picking up.
I read this as an e-book, and honestly, that’s not the ideal format for this title. The page numbers didn’t always line up, and because the story requires a lot of flipping back and forth, it became a bit tedious on a screen. This is really a book you want to hold in your hands so you can easily jump to the correct page. I would strongly recommend a physical copy over an e-book.
That said, it was still a very enjoyable read. Even though I’m not the target audience, I learned quite a bit along the way. I don’t think this book would be boring for either children or the adults reading along with them. If you come across it, it’s definitely worth picking up.
December 2, 2025
This book is amazing!! It soooo full of knowledge and so engaging with the audience. Every little details is being told in the book. I read it without even a single knowledge about mushroom and now i have learn the patterns of it, how to even do research. It amazing. I enjoy reading this book so much and gaining knowledge of mushrooms~
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Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for this chance to read this book in advanced~
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Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for this chance to read this book in advanced~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wonderful. A great book for someone younger looking to learn more about fungus. The information is all sound and easy to understand without oversimplifying the material. The choose your own adventure method for teaching is also super unique and I think it worked really well. I'm very glad I read this.
I received a free copy from the publisher for review
I received a free copy from the publisher for review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fun choose-your-own-adventure book! My 7yo and I had a lot of fun trying to find the elusive mushroom (we still haven't found it but he wants to keep trying) and learned about mushrooms along the way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There was so much information about fungi! It was interesting to read, and the pronunciation guide for all the scientific words was super helpful. I thought the "choose your own" adventure part was a little confusing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
A Science Choose-Your-Own-Adventure for young readers. Go on a fun adventure to find an elusive mushroom - and learn a ton about fungi along the way! Lots of information in an easy to understand format and a lot of fun to try different paths to find the mushroom.
A Science Choose-Your-Own-Adventure for young readers. Go on a fun adventure to find an elusive mushroom - and learn a ton about fungi along the way! Lots of information in an easy to understand format and a lot of fun to try different paths to find the mushroom.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews