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Humongous Fungus
Inhabiting a whole kingdom of their own, fungi can be found in every ecosystem. They carpet the forest floor, and different types of fungi decompose matter, feed plants, and even change animals' behaviour.
Their beautiful mushrooms come in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Fungal stories include the greening of the Earth, when fungi helped plants first grow on land, and the mass destruction of crops through fungal disease. From the villains of the upcoming bananageddon to plastic-eating eco-warriors, there are over 1.5 million known fungus species, and a huge, unknown number of unnamed "dark" types. Some are even found inside animals - helpful fungi break down food in animal guts, but others take over their hosts' bodies.
This book of fabulous fungi will intrigue and amaze young readers, and open their eyes to the fungi thriving all around them.
Their beautiful mushrooms come in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Fungal stories include the greening of the Earth, when fungi helped plants first grow on land, and the mass destruction of crops through fungal disease. From the villains of the upcoming bananageddon to plastic-eating eco-warriors, there are over 1.5 million known fungus species, and a huge, unknown number of unnamed "dark" types. Some are even found inside animals - helpful fungi break down food in animal guts, but others take over their hosts' bodies.
This book of fabulous fungi will intrigue and amaze young readers, and open their eyes to the fungi thriving all around them.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,071 books2,080 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 26, 2021
Picked this up in the library, very beautiful, lots of illustrations and packed with interesting facts. This did a good job of getting across the message that some mushrooms are great to eat but some can be deadly poisonous. Great message as it's not the best idea for children to go foraging for fungi. Really enjoyed the facts, fungi are amazing!
October 20, 2023
Yes indeed, author Lynne Boddy (and who is a mycology expert and professor of microbial ecology at the University of Cardiff, Wales) really does a wonderful textual job in D.K. Publishing's 2021 non fiction sixty-four paged picture book Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) extensively, informatively (but also not overly intensively and with neither too much superfluous detail nor confusing biological jargon therefore nicely suitable for an intended audience of eight to ten to eleven year olds albeit in my opinion Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) should equally be considered for teenagers and adults, for basically anyone wanting an informative, decently detailed but at the same time still nicely basic fungi themed reading experience) delightfully and engagingly demonstrating what fungi are, that they can be both harmful and helpful, how mushrooms generally work in conjunction with trees, that there are funguses which rot and disintegrate wood, break down down pollution, consume plastics, return essential nutrients into the soil and are thus necessary for healthy ecosystems, although there are of course also fungal infections that can and do kill, that antibiotics are fungal in nature, that bread and beer rely on yeast (and that mushrooms, yeasts, molds, aquatic fungi and sac fungi inhabit their own kingdom on the tree of life, are not quite plants and not quite animals but are actually more closely related to kingdom animalia than to kingdom plantae even if in particular mushrooms are often featured in books on botany and do kind of physically tend to resemble plants at least externally, on the surface).
And while I have quite massively enjoyed every single page of Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) (and have actually also learned quite a bit regarding fungi with which I was in fact and surprisingly for me quite unfamiliar, including finding out that the largest living thing on earth discovered thus far is a huge mostly underground network of honey fungus in a forest in Oregon which weighs almost one million pounds, covers nearly four miles, is over two-thousand years old and where the mushrooms, where the fruiting bodies are the only things visible above the ground, that most of the fungus is in fact completely subterranean), for me personally, what in fact and actually makes Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) rise above and beyond many geared towards children books on fungi and especially so regarding mushrooms is that Lynne Boddy very clearly and specifically states and points out that foraging for mushrooms in the wild is in fact not something to really consider, is much too potentially dangerous to recommend, and that Boddy also shows in Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) that some very toxic, that some lethal if ingested mushroom species such as for example death caps can look so confusingly similar to edible mushrooms that it is indeed much better and much safer to not forage for, to not go mushroom collecting at all.
Furthermore with Wenjia Tang’s accompanying artwork for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around0 being aesthetically gorgeous and lush, displaying pictures of many different types of fungi (and more) that are realistic, colourful and full of visual details that both wonderfully and gloriously mirror and at times even expand a bit on Lynne Boddy's printed words (but thankfully without being overwhelming, without Tang's illustrations distracting from what is textually being presented in Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around)), yes, the combination of text and images for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) is absolutely and delightfully successful, provides a both verbally and visually rewarding and engagingly educational reading/viewing experience, and with the only reason for a four and not a five star rating for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around being that the acknowledgement page is for me not really the same as a bibliography and is also not presented in a very user and thus research friendly manner.
And while I have quite massively enjoyed every single page of Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) (and have actually also learned quite a bit regarding fungi with which I was in fact and surprisingly for me quite unfamiliar, including finding out that the largest living thing on earth discovered thus far is a huge mostly underground network of honey fungus in a forest in Oregon which weighs almost one million pounds, covers nearly four miles, is over two-thousand years old and where the mushrooms, where the fruiting bodies are the only things visible above the ground, that most of the fungus is in fact completely subterranean), for me personally, what in fact and actually makes Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) rise above and beyond many geared towards children books on fungi and especially so regarding mushrooms is that Lynne Boddy very clearly and specifically states and points out that foraging for mushrooms in the wild is in fact not something to really consider, is much too potentially dangerous to recommend, and that Boddy also shows in Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) that some very toxic, that some lethal if ingested mushroom species such as for example death caps can look so confusingly similar to edible mushrooms that it is indeed much better and much safer to not forage for, to not go mushroom collecting at all.
Furthermore with Wenjia Tang’s accompanying artwork for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around0 being aesthetically gorgeous and lush, displaying pictures of many different types of fungi (and more) that are realistic, colourful and full of visual details that both wonderfully and gloriously mirror and at times even expand a bit on Lynne Boddy's printed words (but thankfully without being overwhelming, without Tang's illustrations distracting from what is textually being presented in Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around)), yes, the combination of text and images for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around) is absolutely and delightfully successful, provides a both verbally and visually rewarding and engagingly educational reading/viewing experience, and with the only reason for a four and not a five star rating for Humongous Fungus (Underground and All Around being that the acknowledgement page is for me not really the same as a bibliography and is also not presented in a very user and thus research friendly manner.
December 17, 2025
all jokes aside this will definitely be in my top 10 books of 2025
July 6, 2022
Broad but shallow information is shared without works cited or a list of recommended works for further research.
The illustrations are gorgeous.
The illustrations are gorgeous.
November 23, 2022
Adored this! A way for kids to learn about mushrooms that will keep them engaged and entertained. The fun, colorful illustrations work together with the information presented in a way that's straightforward and easy to understand. It talks about the pros and cons of fungus while also stressing to leave the ones they see alone. Very well done, in my opinion.
February 21, 2024
Gorgeous portrayals of fungi!
May 5, 2022
This book is so well illustrated and organized . The text is really informative - definitely Div 2 level though, higher vocabulary
October 10, 2021
The vast fungus kingdom has an estimated four million species — ten times more than plants and 600 times more than mammals.
This book explores the amazing and diverse world of fungi, mushrooms, mould on land and in the water.
They’re every plant and animal’s teammate, when there’s a job to be done such as a “food swap” between fungus and plant, or simply some help with survival.
There’re also the “bad guys”, or rather they face the same survival battle for the fittest in nature with the most creative weapons.
You know those mushroom rings 🍄🍄🍄 in folklore that say they’re formed by fairies dancing in a circle? They exist! (The rings at least 😆)
There’re mighty killers that could wipe out an entire crop, but there’s also eco-friendly fungi like the one discovered in 2017 to be able to break down plastic.
And of course our food, medicine, actually every corner of our world you can think of — they’re there. Sadly, they’re just as susceptible to changes in global temperature and we need to know this because they are the very foundation of life on earth.
Lots to know and think about, not just for our young readers but anybody wanting a good look at the humongous job that fungus do in our lives.
📚: Times Distribution
This book explores the amazing and diverse world of fungi, mushrooms, mould on land and in the water.
They’re every plant and animal’s teammate, when there’s a job to be done such as a “food swap” between fungus and plant, or simply some help with survival.
There’re also the “bad guys”, or rather they face the same survival battle for the fittest in nature with the most creative weapons.
You know those mushroom rings 🍄🍄🍄 in folklore that say they’re formed by fairies dancing in a circle? They exist! (The rings at least 😆)
There’re mighty killers that could wipe out an entire crop, but there’s also eco-friendly fungi like the one discovered in 2017 to be able to break down plastic.
And of course our food, medicine, actually every corner of our world you can think of — they’re there. Sadly, they’re just as susceptible to changes in global temperature and we need to know this because they are the very foundation of life on earth.
Lots to know and think about, not just for our young readers but anybody wanting a good look at the humongous job that fungus do in our lives.
📚: Times Distribution
April 22, 2021
This book is more informational than anything. It covers a lot of information regarding the different types of fungus in this world. Inhabiting a whole kingdom of their own, fungi can be found in ever ecosystem. From the villains of the possible extinction of bananas to plastic-eating eco-warriors, there are more than 1.5 million fungus species, and a huge, unknown number of unnamed “dark” types. They affect other creatures, too, for example by helping break down food, or controlling their minds against their will.
There are not many literacy elements to comment on in this book as it is more informational.
I did enjoy reading this book, although I am not super interested in informational texts as much as other books so I would probably not continue to read more of these. It is a great book for children who are interested in learning about fungi, or even using it as part of a lesson in the classroom. It gives children a perspective about all the different fungi in this world that we do not know about and how it affects out world.
There are not many literacy elements to comment on in this book as it is more informational.
I did enjoy reading this book, although I am not super interested in informational texts as much as other books so I would probably not continue to read more of these. It is a great book for children who are interested in learning about fungi, or even using it as part of a lesson in the classroom. It gives children a perspective about all the different fungi in this world that we do not know about and how it affects out world.
December 22, 2021
GREAT illustrations, tons of fungus facts. It was a little too scattered for me; humongous fungus is only one small section of the book, despite the title. If it had specialized in large fungus or something—which is what I thought it would do based on the cover—it probably would have been easier to focus while I was reading it, but man, it's all over the place. Would probably work for kids who love to read those "1001 amazing facts about animals" books or whatever, but I had to pick one or two facts to try to remember and let the others go.
P.S. the largest living organism mentioned in the book is in OREGON, not Oregan. Oregan is not a place. I know because I stopped reading to do a little research so I could figure out if there was a place called Oregan that I didn't know about. Very odd typo, so odd that I wasn't sure it was a typo.
If you like mushrooms at all, I'd recommend checking out this book just for the artwork, tbh. It does have a lot of good info to share, but you have to be okay with a little chaos if you're using it for learning purposes.
P.S. the largest living organism mentioned in the book is in OREGON, not Oregan. Oregan is not a place. I know because I stopped reading to do a little research so I could figure out if there was a place called Oregan that I didn't know about. Very odd typo, so odd that I wasn't sure it was a typo.
If you like mushrooms at all, I'd recommend checking out this book just for the artwork, tbh. It does have a lot of good info to share, but you have to be okay with a little chaos if you're using it for learning purposes.
October 11, 2022
This is an extensive 64-page nonfiction book for children that wonderfully celebrates the fungus kingdom. This book engages children in a nonfiction topic in a thoughtful way -- the layouts on each page pair illustrations with text to tell a story about different topics around the broader subject matter. Information is easy to follow and presented in a logical but also playful way.
The book is nicely organized with a Table of Contents, Glossary, and Index. I think this would be interesting for any child generally enthusiastic about nature but also works well as a specific topic study in educational contexts.
This book works as a wonderful introduction to the fungus world for children ages 7-9. It is not intended as a field guide, so note that children should not go out and forage on their own after reading this.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via DK Publishing. Opinions are my own.
The book is nicely organized with a Table of Contents, Glossary, and Index. I think this would be interesting for any child generally enthusiastic about nature but also works well as a specific topic study in educational contexts.
This book works as a wonderful introduction to the fungus world for children ages 7-9. It is not intended as a field guide, so note that children should not go out and forage on their own after reading this.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via DK Publishing. Opinions are my own.
January 24, 2024
In recent years, the importance of boosting immunity has become a hot topic, and when we hear the word "Fungus," we get the impression that it's a creepy something that should be avoided, but in reality, there are trillions of fungi all around us.
There are approximately 4 million species in the vast kingdom of fungi. (10 times more than plants, 600 times more than mammals)
"Fungus" is irregular in color and shape, making it mysterious and scary, but cheese and yogurt are actually fermented foods that provide effective nutrition for the body.
Important Line:
The Earth’s early landscapes were bare and rocky. The only plants were in water.
Fungi helped plants move onto land, and to grow upwards into the trees you see today.
500 million years ago tiny plants, such as mosses and liverworts, began to move onto land.
But they had no roots to take in nutrients and water, so they teamed up with fungi…
Without fungi, the ecosystems that thrive on land would not work.
There are approximately 4 million species in the vast kingdom of fungi. (10 times more than plants, 600 times more than mammals)
"Fungus" is irregular in color and shape, making it mysterious and scary, but cheese and yogurt are actually fermented foods that provide effective nutrition for the body.
Important Line:
The Earth’s early landscapes were bare and rocky. The only plants were in water.
Fungi helped plants move onto land, and to grow upwards into the trees you see today.
500 million years ago tiny plants, such as mosses and liverworts, began to move onto land.
But they had no roots to take in nutrients and water, so they teamed up with fungi…
Without fungi, the ecosystems that thrive on land would not work.
November 11, 2023
I rarely make note of DK informational books in these reviews or others, not becasue they aren't terrific, but because they are so reliably outstanding in design, content, and delivery of informational text. While they are intentionally instructive, they are also appealing across many ages, and the presentation of text is laid out effectively enough that anyone of any age can take away new learning.
This particular title is especially noteworthy because mushrooms, fungi, and molds of various kinds are just that- widely varied, and yet ubiquitous. I urge you to take a few moments to get your hands on this book and peruse it, even if not word for word. you re bound to find countless facts and new information that will make you want to text or talk to someone about it!
This particular title is especially noteworthy because mushrooms, fungi, and molds of various kinds are just that- widely varied, and yet ubiquitous. I urge you to take a few moments to get your hands on this book and peruse it, even if not word for word. you re bound to find countless facts and new information that will make you want to text or talk to someone about it!
March 26, 2021
Informational Nonfiction
1st grade reading level
This is a weird and crazy book that engages young readers in a fun, creative way, and that introduces them to a non-fiction scientific topic with interest that they would otherwise likely never explore. This book is a fun book all about fungus, such as mushrooms, and the many purposes for these species. I love that the book takes a topic that would not usually interest students much and turns it into something of curiosity and creativity as they learn through the book. It is a great book for young readers getting into non-fiction literature.
1st grade reading level
This is a weird and crazy book that engages young readers in a fun, creative way, and that introduces them to a non-fiction scientific topic with interest that they would otherwise likely never explore. This book is a fun book all about fungus, such as mushrooms, and the many purposes for these species. I love that the book takes a topic that would not usually interest students much and turns it into something of curiosity and creativity as they learn through the book. It is a great book for young readers getting into non-fiction literature.
July 10, 2023
Loved this little illustrated book about fungi which explores (delves into) the magical world (enchanting realm) of the forest floors and the most common organism found in them, fungi. Fungi is present almost everywhere. Sometimes they are good for us, and sometimes they are not. However (Nonetheless), we cannot overlook (underestimate) the indispensable role they play in our ecosystem. With its mesmerizing illustrations and intriguing facts, the book is sure to captivate the young minds of children and leave a lasting impression.
July 25, 2024
This was a fantastic book on the subject. It covered such a broad spectrum of possible topics, from their role as decomposers to their danger as infectious particles and their use as mind altering substances ,everything was touched upon. The illustrations and photographs were of astounding variety and quality, even for a corking kindersley book, where you go into it expecting a lot. I’d read the recent popular adult bestseller, entangled lives, but still learned a lot from this “kid’s book.”
May 11, 2022
Everything you wanted to know about fungus, but were afraid to ask? Table of contents lends to the ease of browsing; great layout of text, photos incorporated into the engaging illustrations. Jam packed with info, but not in a busy or frantic way. Glossary and index, no sources (except for photo credits) but DK thanks experts for their contributions at the end.
March 31, 2022
This book was so cool. I didn't get this one to read to the babies, I got it for myself, but it is a fascinating and detailed intro to mushrooms for older kiddos or even adults. Love the artwork, too! When my babies are older, I'm definitely getting this one for them.
October 29, 2022
This charming illustrated book is a crash course in mycology. It briefly covers a broad range of mushroom biology, ecological gy and human use and would be great introduction to the world of mushrooms.
March 25, 2024
Fun book, got a lot of information and it's a nice place to get quick facts, wouldn't say it's super educational, but was a quick way to see what more I have to learn about fungi.
The illustrations are beautiful and the book is well formated but I got very easily lost in the very spread out text.
The illustrations are beautiful and the book is well formated but I got very easily lost in the very spread out text.
March 11, 2025
A great book to make us learn about various things related to the kingdom of fungi. Starting from the shape, type, where we can find, to how we can preserve fungi so that they remain sustainable on earth.
July 15, 2025
This colorful book is packed with lots of information. It has two page sections on different topics like how do spores travel, which ones are poisonous, which ones can be with other plants, and which ones feed off plants, animals, etc. There is a glossary at the back of the book too.
April 22, 2022
Stunning artwork! One of the most beautiful books I've ever seen. The information is pretty basic — a great starter for ~7-12 year-olds.
May 13, 2022
Great, comprehensive look at all types of fungi. Not really a story and more of a browsable book than a straight read. Full of facts.
December 22, 2022
Dang! Who knew fungi were in so many places and were so important!
January 19, 2023
This book is fabulous. So informative and fab pics.
Read
March 2, 2023This is a story about fungi, it has stories about fungus, diseases, epidemics, and so much more. I will use this with science after learning about ecosystems and moving on to fungus.
August 23, 2023
Story 4
Illustrations 5
Illustrations 5
Read
November 27, 2023This book is about the fungus in our ecosystem. All of the places it can be found is talked about in the book and I think it is a fun book to incorporate science.
February 6, 2024
SOOOO PRETTY!! 🍄✨🥹💛
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews