Fungi such as mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are living microorganisms. Part of the eukaryotic kingdom, they aren’t plants, bacteria, or animals. However, like animals they acquire food through absorption rather than photosynthesis. These important decomposers can be found worldwide but are often overlooked because they are so small. They play an important role in medicine, foods, and pest control.
Read the middle grade nonfiction book for youth, then learn more at the websites:
FUNGARIUM curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya is the latest in the WELCOME TO THE MUSEUM SERIES. Readers are invited into the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London, England to learn about these essential living organisms. The book is divided into four galleries exploring biology, diversity, interactions, and human connections. Each topic is presented in a two-page spread containing text along with detailed images.
Other books in the series include Planetarium, Dinosaurium, Botanicum, Historium, and Animalium. Each oversized book allows children to explore the world’s most amazing museum exhibitions.
THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S FUNGI from the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens is a story map sharing information about the world’s fungi and their importance to life on Earth. To read the report, go to https://stateoftheworldsfungi.org/
The BRITISH LICHEN SOCIETY website contains resources for identification of lichens along with lots of activity ideas. To learn more, go to https://www.britishlichensociety.org.uk/
The FIFTH KINGDOM is an online mycology textbook containing lots of fascinating photographs and diagrams. To read the e-book, go to http://mycolog.com/fifthtoc.html
FUNGI: DEATH BECOMES THEM from CrashCourse is a short, engaging video helping students learn the basics of fungi and their vital function in the global food web. To view the video, go to https://bit.ly/2OqoPbK
ARC courtesy of Big Picture Press an imprint of Candlewick Press.
