5 Fungi Books for Curious Kids
Fungi have a way of slowing you down. One appears at the edge of a path and suddenly there are questions – how did it get there? What’s underneath? Is it a plant? (Nope.) Why does the forest smell different after rain?
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The books I have popped down, are a brilliant starting points for that kind of curiosity. Each one offers something slightly different, gentle storytelling, bold facts, or deeper science – all helping children notice the hidden world beneath our feet.
Hello Fungi is a friendly introduction to the world of mushrooms. It explains what fungi are, how they grow, and the important role they play in forests — all in simple language that young children can understand.
The illustrations are bold and clear, great for spotting the same shapes and colours outside. It invites little explorers to look under logs, notice tiny details, and ask questions about what’s living around them.
A solid pick for ages 4–8 who enjoy nature facts with a playful feel. Perfect to pair with a woodland walk.
Can Mushrooms Save the World? explores the real science behind fungi, how they decompose, clean up pollution, support trees and may even offer future solutions for medicine and materials. It takes big environmental ideas and makes them accessible, using simple explanations and real examples.
It’s engaging without being overwhelming, ideal for sparking conversations about ecosystems and why fungi matter far beyond the forest floor.
A great choice for curious kids aged 7–12 who love science and want to understand how nature sustains life on Earth. Perfect for pairing with outdoor discoveries or a nature project.
Tales of the Mushroom Folk is a single seasonal story about a small mushroom community living in the forest. It introduces simple ideas about how mushrooms grow, what they look like and where they can be found, with charming vintage-style illustrations that young children love to study.
It’s gentle, imaginative nature learning, ideal for ages 3–7 who enjoy cosy stories that lead to real-world exploring. Perfect to read before a woodland walk.
Humongous Fungus introduces children to the incredible scale and variety of fungi — from tiny mushrooms to giant underground networks. It explains how fungi eat, grow and help ecosystems, with bold illustrations and fun facts that keep kids engaged.
It’s an easy, accessible science read for ages 5–9, great for sparking curiosity about the hidden life beneath our feet and encouraging outdoor investigation. Perfect for nature lovers who enjoy discovering “wow” facts.
Fungarium is a large, museum-style reference book that showcases fungi in a detailed and visually striking way. It covers classification, life cycles, habitats, and the ecological importance of fungi, with artwork that feels like stepping into an exhibition.
It’s more science-focused than a storybook, ideal for ages 8+ who enjoy digging deeper into nature topics. Great as a reference for projects, nature study and anyone fascinated by the hidden systems that keep our planet alive.
You don’t need a full lesson plan to learn about fungi. A story, a walk, a few good questions – that’s more than enough. These books open the door, but the real learning happens the moment your child crouches down to notice a mushroom for themselves.
Keep it curious. Keep it slow. Nature will handle the rest.
If you do want something a little more formal you can get my Fungi Discovery Quest to bring in lots of learning opportunities.
