FICTION

It's a Fungus Among Us: The Good, the Bad & the Downright Scary

by Carla BILLUPS & Dawn Cusick
80p. glossary. index. photos. Quarto/MoonDance. Apr. 2017. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781633221543. POP
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–6—A detailed, readable compilation of facts about fungi. The book is divided into three sections: "The Good," "The Bad," and "The Downright Scary." The authors emphasize the positive aspects of different kinds of fungi, although readers may be drawn to the more shocking facts located toward the end. Brief text is broken up by bolded topic headings. The photographs are fascinating and fun, and several science experiments are included. There's an incredible amount of material covered here, and it is unlikely that many libraries own comparable titles. Billups and Cusick make a compelling argument for the ways fungi might improve our world, describing everything from a fungus that eats plastic bottles to cell phone batteries made from mushrooms.
VERDICT Both a solid research tool and an enjoyable read, this is a worthwhile purchase for nonfiction collections.
Reviewed by Casey O'Leary, Mooresville Public Library, IN
From puffballs to truffles, the many varieties of fungi are celebrated in conversational and enthusiastic text ("Wow!") and bright, illuminating photos, organized in sections matching the book's subtitle. The many colors, shapes, and functions of the ubiquitous and prolific kingdom of fungi are laid out in two-page spreads, each of which expands on a mycological theme. Student-friendly experiments are interspersed. Glos., ind.
 , Jun 01, 2017

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