This was a great way to present the many different types of mushrooms, their uses in the environment and how they create a symbiotic network with the natural world. I really enjoyed the illustrations and found the book very informative.

As a lover of mushrooms and fungi in general, I felt that this was a great way to introduce the somewhat odd nature of fungi for children. I appreciate the simplification of information (reproductive lifecycle, etc.) and honestly felt like there was an impressive breadth of information included in this book, including most of what excites me about the topic. It was an overall well-rounded introduction!

"World of Mushrooms" by Pauline Payen is an enchanting, visually captivating journey into the fascinating universe of fungi. From the very first page, the book immerses readers in the rich, diverse world of mushrooms, exploring their various species, habitats and roles in the ecosystem with a depth of knowledge that is both accessible and awe-inspiring.

Author's writing is not only informative but also incredibly engaging. She blends scientific insights with poetic descriptions, allowing readers to connect with mushrooms on a deeper level. The illustrations are absolutely stunning — vibrant, detailed, and beautifully rendered, they bring the world of mushrooms to life in a way that complements the narrative perfectly.

What sets "World of Mushrooms" apart is its ability to appeal to both casual nature enthusiasts and more dedicated mycologists. The book is a perfect balance of factual accuracy and artistic expression, making it a treasure for anyone with a curiosity about the natural world. Payen also provides practical tips on mushroom identification, which is a wonderful resource for those interested in foraging.

Overall, this is a masterpiece that will captivate anyone with an appreciation for nature's wonders. Whether you're a seasoned mushroom enthusiast or someone simply curious about the mysterious world of fungi, this book is an absolute must short-read.

As a big fan of mushrooms, I really enjoyed this nonfiction picture book. The illustrations are beautiful, with lively, detailed images of mushrooms and their environment that make the content both fun and informative. It’s packed with cool facts about how mushrooms grow, their role in nature, and how humans use them, all explained in a way that’s easy to understand. The text and illustrations work really well together, making it a great and engaging read for young readers while teaching them all about the fascinating world of mushrooms.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pauline Payen, and Storey Publishing for an eARC.

Very informative and surprisingly technical for a children's book. Everything was well illustrated and explained. And this book covers a broad spectrum of information about mushrooms—everything from their grown and composition to all the ways that mushrooms are used, both by nature and by humans.

Mushrooms are...not my thing. I don't like to eat them, I wouldn't want to forage for them, and they kind of weird me out in general. So it is high praise to say that reading this book was delightful, and may have even warmed me up to mushrooms a little bit.

This nonfiction picture book packs a lot of information into a fairly concise, and very beautifully illustrated package. The lively, busy art style is well-suited to the detailed spreads depicting plants, animals, and mushrooms both above and belowground; many pages have text chunked around the page near relevant areas of the illustration, DK Eyewitness style. The depictions of mushrooms in this art style are cute and pleasant to look at, yet detailed enough to include many realistic characteristics useful for identification.

This is a lovely title which will engage young readers and teach them many fascinating things about mushrooms--I knew some already, like how they can connect to tree root systems underground and aid in communication and resource sharing, but I learned much more than I did previously.

Using a distinct, high-contrast illustration style, this children's book included easy-to-understand writing that gives an introduction to mushrooms for kids ages 4 to 100. It included information that even I didn't know before reading the book, like the fact that lichen is considered a fungi, and that usually the majority of mushroom parts are actually underground (called the mycelia.)
I also found it really interesting that the book explained how mushrooms and trees can help each other in their ecosystems. I also appreciated that the book included information on how to safely forage for mushrooms and examples of common mushrooms (poisonous and not!) at the end.

Gorgeous book with lots of interesting facts about mushrooms.
Split between general information and then named examples towards the end of the book, I felt this balanced the amount of information given just right to inform but not overwhelm. The illustrations are beautiful and it’s a lovely book to add to your nature shelves.

Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it. Thank you for this advance reading copy!

A mushroom book that is mainly aimed at children but which can be enjoyed by anyone.
The structure is interesting and never formulaic - some pages contain full page illustrations and information, others show a mushroom species and informs us specifically on that type.
The colour schemes were lovely and fresh.

Very informative and wonderfully illustrated. The tips on Foraging and basic guide for recognizing the different kinds of mushrooms are great.

A thoughtful, well illustrated and informative book about mushrooms! Perfect for children or middle grades who are interested in mushrooms or botany in general.

This children’s book was an absolute delight!

It was informative and fun, presented important information on mushrooms, which ones are toxic, and which non toxic ones have toxic lookalikes.

The illustrations were lovely, and captured the plants perfectly.

I loved the first few pages that went into the science behind how mushrooms grow, I even learned a few things!

As an author writing a book that includes a lot of toxic mushrooms within it, I will be referring back to this book as I write to make sure I get my descriptions perfect.

Overall, It is a very cute, very quick read, and presents the information in very simple terms so that people of all ages can explore the world of mushrooms!

Super educational, with illustrations beautiful enough to frame.
My only complaint is how easily you can lose the text on the busier pages, but kids usually take so long looking at the pages (if they're really interested) that I don't think it'd be a huge issue for them.

{Thank you bunches to Pauline Payen, Zelda Pressigout, Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}