| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Mushroom Fan Club |
| Best for Encouragement | The Little Mushroom |
| Best Hybrid | Mushrooms Facts & Coloring Book: Explore World of Nature for Curious Kids |
| Best for Kids 9 and Up | The Third Mushroom |
| Best Logbook | Mushroom Identification Book For Kids |
| Best for Coloring | Mushroom Coloring Book for Kids |
| Best for Beginners | Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi |
Mushrooms come in all sorts of interesting shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. They can appear almost otherworldly with all of their intricate patterns. If you’re a mushroom-lover or your child has shown interest in mushrooms, it’s crucial they learn all about these fascinating non-plant, non-animal species! Some mushrooms are edible while others are poisonous. Teaching children about mushrooms can be a fun and engaging way to introduce them to the wonders of the natural world while also cultivating important life skills. Children’s books about mushrooms provide you the opportunity to relay important concepts to kiddos in a fun and engaging way.
We comprised some of the best mushroom books in the list below. Some are for science-minded kiddos while others are for kids who really appreciate a good storyline and a positive message. Some books are mostly fact-based while others play with fictional stories to deliver important messages. It’s always nice to break up reading time with an enjoyable activity, so we include coloring books too. If you have a forager in your family, pick up the mushroom identification option along with a logbook!
Check Amazon- 56 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 6 and older.
- Made it to the best of 2018 lists from Quail & Quire and the Globe and Mail
- Kids learn about the strikingly beautiful coral mushroom
- Customers rate this book 4.9 out of five stars
Check Amazon- An encouraging story of hope, filled with whimsical details and valuable life lessons
- Beautifully illustrated and makes a wonderful addition to children’s bookshelves
- Customers rate this book 4.2 out of five stars
Check Amazon- Includes facts about mushrooms including their origin, properties, and even some legends
- Over 20 fun coloring pages
- Customers rate this book five out of five stars
Check Amazon- Heartwarming and funny story
- Great for kids nine years old and up
- Customers rate it 4.8 out of five stars
Check Amazon- Great for a kid interested in going out and foraging
- Useful for keeping track of different mushrooms found in the wild
- Customers rate this logbook 4.5 out of five stars
Check Amazon- Perfect for kids between four and 12 years old
- Quirky illustrations that help children zone out and meditate
- Perfect size for carrying around
Check Amazon- 360 pages.
- Identifies over 450 fungus species.
- Specifies edible versus non-edible mushrooms.
Top Picks: The Best Children’s Books About Mushrooms Today
#1 Best Overall: The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel
The best overall children’s book about mushrooms is The Mushroom Fan Club. This title is available in Kindle versions as well as a hardcover format. This book made it to the Best of 2018 lists from Quail & Quire and the Globe and Mail. The research behind this book is factually accurate yet it appeals to young readers because the author anthropomorphizes the fungi. They have fun grins and cartoon eyes to keep young readers’ attention. Elise Gravel’s whimsical approach to this book is simply delightful.
The Mushroom Fan Club covers one of Gravel’s favorite activities, which is mushroom hunting. She masterfully combines her love of exploring nature with her talent for anthropomorphizing quite literally everything. Children are taken on a wonderful tour of the forest floor to examine a couple of her favorite alien specimens in a more intimate fashion. Kids learn about the strikingly beautiful coral mushroom, which looks like it’s something straight out of the ocean, and the unusual Lactarius indigo, which looks like it may have come from outer space. She brings each mushroom species to life so children remain enthralled with this fascinating fungi kingdom.
Pros and Cons of The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is available for Kindle and as a hardcover. | |
| It was included on many Best of 2018 book lists. | |
| This book is fun and whimsical, but all the facts are scientific and accurate. | |
| The fungi in the story are anthropomorphized, making them fun and engaging for children. | |
| The illustrations are fun and whimsical. | |
| The author shares her own passions in the story and teaches children about mushroom hunting. |
- 56 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 6 and older.
- Made it to the best of 2018 lists from Quail & Quire and the Globe and Mail
- Kids learn about the strikingly beautiful coral mushroom
- Customers rate this book 4.9 out of five stars
2. Best for Encouragement: The Little Mushroom by Alexandra Arola
It’s always wonderful when a children’s book incorporates an important lesson for little ones like Alexandra Arola’s The Little Mushroom. In this book, a brand new little mushroom is buzzing with excitement on his very first day in the forest, especially when he spots some enchanted woodland creatures near the lake.
As our little mushroom friend eagerly waits for each animal to introduce itself, he soon realizes that making new friends is harder than it looks. The Little Mushroom is a story about hope, determination, and self-acceptance, and it is sure to inspire readers of all ages. With its whimsical details, gentle charm, and adorable illustrations, this heartwarming book makes a wonderful addition to children’s bookshelves.
Pros and Cons of The Little Mushroom by Alexandra Arola
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a cute story with many important life lessons for children. | |
| The main character (an anthropomorphized mushroom) learns that making friends is harder than he thought, but also learns about hope, determination, and self-acceptance as well. | |
| This book is inspiring for readers of all ages. | |
| The illustrations are whimsical and cute. | |
| It has a heartwarming story. |
- An encouraging story of hope, filled with whimsical details and valuable life lessons
- Beautifully illustrated and makes a wonderful addition to children’s bookshelves
- Customers rate this book 4.2 out of five stars
3. Best Hybrid: Mushrooms Facts & Coloring Book by Lurro
Mushrooms Facts & Coloring Book is a hybrid that incorporates facts about mushrooms with a fantastic coloring book that children can have fun with. This book lists botany facts about fungi, foraging, and the identification of mushrooms. It teaches children over 40 mushroom facts, including the fact that there are approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms!
If your kiddo is interested in nature and mushrooms, this is a great book to incorporate into their library. The book includes facts about mushrooms including their origin, properties, and even some legends connected to them. To keep your child engaged, it also includes several mushroom-themed coloring pages. Your child gets to learn in a really fun and enjoyable way.
There is enough information in this book to educate and entertain without overwhelming young readers. The coloring pages are printed on high-quality solid white paper and are easy to color. Children can use colored pens, colored pencils, or crayons, and the beautiful designs are appropriate for different ages.
Pros and Cons of Mushrooms Facts & Coloring Book by Lurro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is both educational and interactive, with mushroom facts and coloring pages. | |
| There are over 40 facts about mushrooms included in this book. | |
| The book includes facts about the origins and properties of some types of mushrooms, as well as some legends connected to them. | |
| There is enough information in this book to educate and entertain without overwhelming young readers. | |
| The coloring pages are printed on high-quality solid white paper. | |
| Children can use colored pens, colored pencils, or crayons to color this book. | |
| The beautiful designs are appropriate for different ages. |
- Includes facts about mushrooms including their origin, properties, and even some legends
- Over 20 fun coloring pages
- Customers rate this book five out of five stars
4. Best for Kids 9 and Up: The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
The Third Mushroom is available in Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback formats. It’s a heartwarming and funny story. It follows Ellie and her grandfather, Melvin. Melvin is a world-renowned scientist, but he’s stuck in the body of a 14-year-old boy.
The story follows Ellie and Melvin as they come together for the county science fair with an experimental formula for eternal youth. The story touches on important themes like aging, friendship, death, and the grieving process. However, it does so in a way that is accessible to young readers. It’s the second book of The Fourteenth Goldfish series, so you may want to pick the first book as well!
This is an engaging book for middle schoolers that is both funny and deeply heartwarming. It is full of positive messages about curiosity and friendship. However, you should be prepared to have some meaningful conversations with your kiddos about some of the thought-provoking themes that the book touches upon, like the loss of a pet and feeling alone. In addition, this story isn’t directly about mushrooms (although it does involve an epic “mushroom war”). However, it does deal with scientific ideas and it is such a great read we had to include it in our list.
Pros and Cons of The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is available in Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback formats. | Parents should be prepared to have some meaningful conversations with kids about some of the thought-provoking themes in this book, like the loss of a pet and feeling alone. |
| It follows the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather. | This is the second book in a series, so it’s best to read the first before reading this one. |
| The story touches on important themes like aging, friendship, death, and the grieving process. | This story isn’t directly about mushrooms but it does deal with scientific ideas. |
| Although the book addresses deep themes, it does so in a way that is accessible to young readers. | |
| This is an engaging book for middle schoolers that is both funny and deeply heartwarming. | |
| It is full of positive messages about curiosity and friendship. |
- Heartwarming and funny story
- Great for kids nine years old and up
- Customers rate it 4.8 out of five stars
5. Best Logbook: Mushroom Identification Book for Kids by Ever Mushroom Publisher
If your kid is serious about mushroom identification, then they absolutely need a logbook like the Mushroom Identification Book for Kids. This is a great tracking notebook for little mushroom lovers. Within this book, your child finds plenty of space to write notes, share ideas, and identify the different mushrooms they come across.
The front and back covers of this book picture real-life mushrooms. This book is in paperback format and has a total of 100 pages that are 6 by 9 inches big. The book is a great size for your child to carry with them as they hunt for mushrooms.
Pros and Cons of Mushroom Identification Book for Kids by Ever Mushroom Publisher
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a great tracking logbook for children interested in mushrooms. | |
| There is plenty of space in this book for your child to write notes, share ideas, and identify mushrooms they come across. | |
| The front and back covers of this book picture real-life mushrooms. | |
| This book is in paperback format and has a total of 100 pages that are 6 by 9 inches big. | |
| The book is a great size for your child to carry with them as they hunt for mushrooms. |
- Great for a kid interested in going out and foraging
- Useful for keeping track of different mushrooms found in the wild
- Customers rate this logbook 4.5 out of five stars
6. Best for Coloring: Mushroom Coloring Book for Kids by Dash Publications
Mushroom Coloring Book for Kids is perfect for kids between four and 12 years old. The fungi illustrations are quirky, and the act of coloring is a wonderfully meditative experience for children. If you have a hyperactive child or you need to give your child an activity while in a waiting room, this is a great choice. It helps children explore the curious world of mycology while they relax and color.
The pages of this coloring book are 8.5 by 11 inches, which makes it a perfect size to carry around anywhere (just like a notebook). The pages are single-sided with high-resolution printing and the designs are very easy to color. They don’t get too complex the way some adult coloring books do. Your child can work with different mediums like crayons, watercolors, gel pens, or colored pencils.
Pros and Cons of Mushroom Coloring Book for Kids by Dash Publications
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a great coloring book for children between four and 12 years old. | |
| The fungi illustrations are fun and quirky. | |
| This coloring book can be great for when your child has to wait. | |
| Coloring is also a calming, meditative activity for children. | |
| The pages of this coloring book are 8.5 by 11 inches, which makes it a perfect size to carry around anywhere (just like a notebook). | |
| The pages are single-sided with high-resolution printing and the designs are very easy to color. | |
| The designs are not too complex. | |
| Your child can work with different mediums like crayons, watercolors, gel pens, or colored pencils. |
- Perfect for kids between four and 12 years old
- Quirky illustrations that help children zone out and meditate
- Perfect size for carrying around
7. Best for Beginners: Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi by DK
If your child is ready to learn all about different kinds of mushrooms, then they need Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi. This book is available in hardcover format. It teaches children all about the endlessly fascinating world of wild mushrooms and other fungi. This is a very fun and rewarding hobby for many and if your child has shown interest, they can certainly begin discovering all the different species in their area.
Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi is a guide that contains gorgeous illustrations to help your kiddo on their next foraging adventure. It includes over 450 species of fungi from all over the world and clear photographs of each different kind of mushroom along with identification charts. Kids learn about the different anatomical sections and features of fungi and then they can go ahead and categorize and identify their own foraging finds through some really easy-to-use (yet extensive) visual ID guides.
This book is perfect for beginners who are interested in identifying mushrooms and if you happen to have an advanced enthusiast on your hand, it is still surprisingly useful. However, the mushrooms are not organized alphabetically, which some customers found frustrating. In addition, while there is a lot of information in this book (360 pages worth!), it is very broad and generalized, so if you are looking for more detailed information, you’ll need to find another book.
Pros and Cons of Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi by DK
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is available in hardcover format. | The mushrooms are not organized alphabetically, which some customers found frustrating. |
| It contains gorgeous illustrations, clear photographs, and identification charts for over 450 species of fungi around the world. | The information in this book is very broad and generalized. |
| It also teaches about the different anatomical sections and physical characteristics of mushrooms. | |
| The book has extensive but easy-to-use visual ID guides. | |
| This is a great book for beginners. |
- 360 pages.
- Identifies over 450 fungus species.
- Specifies edible versus non-edible mushrooms.
Criteria: What to Look for in Children’s Books About Mushrooms
There are many different types of children’s books about mushrooms. When you are looking to choose the best children’s book about mushrooms, there are many important things to think about:
- Type of book
- Reading level
- Content
- Activity vs. information
Type of Book
Some of the main differences you notice when you start searching for these types of books for kids is that some of them are board books meant for babies and toddlers while others come in hardback, Kindle, and paperback formats. There are also activity books and coloring books that are more interactive.
Reading Level
As your child progresses with reading, their reading level starts advancing. Books that may have been interesting to them a year or two ago suddenly become a bit too simple and boring. That’s a good sign as children develop because then you can purchase a more age-appropriate book about mushrooms for them.
Content
Aside from the reading level, you can consider the content. If you’re wanting your child to learn accurate facts about mushrooms, you’ll need to make sure that the book you choose is well-researched. There are also books that incorporate factual information while also including a fictional character like a mushroom with a face! You can also explore fictional stories that incorporate mushrooms and are more geared toward teaching your child an important life lesson.
Activity vs. Information
Many children’s books about mushrooms contain straightforward facts, while others are more interactive. There are some books that incorporate activities like coloring while giving your child different facts about mushrooms. This type of book is especially helpful for children who struggle with staying focused on a single task because they can switch back and forth between learning facts and then participating in an activity like coloring a cute mushroom page.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Mushroom Fan Club |
| Best for Encouragement | The Little Mushroom |
| Best Hybrid | Mushrooms Facts & Coloring Book: Explore World of Nature for Curious Kids |
| Best for Kids 9 and Up | The Third Mushroom |
| Best Logbook | Mushroom Identification Book For Kids |
| Best for Coloring | Mushroom Coloring Book for Kids |
| Best for Beginners | Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi |
The 7 Best Children’s Books About Mushrooms for Facts, Encouragement, and Foraging! FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the benefits of mushrooms?
This is a very broad question and requires a classification of mushrooms to really understand the benefits of some types of mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain essential B vitamins that help with cell growth. Keep in mind, however, that some mushrooms are poisonous to humans and pets and should not ever be consumed!
How do I teach my child about mushrooms?
Learning about mushrooms is an important and exciting thing for everyone. The best way to introduce this subject to your children is through reliable, well-researched books about mushrooms. It might also be fun to go mushroom foraging after you’ve studied mushroom identification together!
Is a mushroom a plant?
Mushrooms are not plants. A mushroom is part of different types of fungi.
What is a mushroom?
Mushrooms are the reproductive parts that some types of fungi produce. Basically, mushrooms are kind of like the fruits that plants produce, but instead of seeds, they have millions of super tiny spores hiding under their cap.
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