Today's read caught my attention for a few reasons. First, it's nonfiction and science directed; one of my favorite types of reads! Second, it's in a choose-your-own-story format, and I don't think I've ever seen a nonfiction like that. So, I'm definitely curious to see how this works. Lastly, I, personally, enjoy mushroom hunting.
When I moved to Germany many, many years ago, my husband showed me an edible mushroom in the surrounding forests: Braunkappe (well, that's the German term. English is Bay Bolete). A few years later, we moved to northern Germany and had a neighbor, who was a mushroom enthusiast and taught us about several more types. Then, we moved to southern Germany, noticed there were tons of mushrooms in the forests and took some classes to discover even more edible varieties. And now, back in the U.S., we've learned from neighbors about several types which grow on our own property. We have morels, giant puffballs, chicken of the woods, three types of chanterelles (my favorites), and boletes. Probably more, but those are the ones we're sure of. After all, never-ever-ever eat a mushroom unless you are 150% sure that you identified it correctly.
That said, I think it's obvious why I'm ready to dive into this one and see what it holds.
SEARCH FOR A MYSTERIOUS MUSHROOM
Pick Your Path
by Amy Seto Forrester &
Andy Chou Muster
Chronicle Books
Children's Nonfiction
100 pages
ages 6 to 9
COMING MAY 5th!!!
A new and exciting addition to the Science Explorers series, offering a fresh pick-your-path STEM adventure for emerging readers!
Get ready to join an expedition to remote tropical forests in search of a mysterious mushroom called Amparoina spinosissima. This rare, spiny wonder is not easy to find, but you can help! Choose a location and all the tools and equipment you’ll need for your search. Be careful—not every path leads where you expect, but you’ll see and learn amazing things whichever you pick.
Emerging readers will be enticed by the colorful comic–paneled images and action-packed text as they choose the path their expedition will follow and visit new habitats across the globe.
A GROWING The first book in the series, Search for a Giant Squid, was named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Public Library, a Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award winner, and more. In its starred review, Booklist hailed it as “immensely engaging” and said, “This reader packs an informational punch.”
SPARKS INTEREST IN This introduction to the work of a mycologist—a scientist who studies fungi—lets readers dip their toes into the career of this specialized research scientist as well as the other team members it takes to lead a successful expedition.
ENTERTAINS WHILE IT EDUCATES: Each possible path leads to a different outcome, so readers learn new facts about scientific expeditions and ecosystems as they explore rainforests in search of an elusive tiny fungi.
COMIC BOOK The bright, graphic-paneled imagery will entice kids drawn to comic books, while also making the abundance of information accessible even for the most reluctant reader.
INCLUSIVE Research shows children need to "see it to be it." The images in the book showcase a broader range of inclusivity than many STEM titles allowing all relaxers to envision themselves undertaking a career science.
Perfect readers with an interest in STEM, forests, and fungi! Excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and homeschool educators to explore science, travel, and career topics Fans of other pick-your-path type books, National Geographic kids' books, and the Magic Tree House and Who Would Win book series. Birthday, holiday, or summer break gift for boys and girls who love adventure books and stories about the mysteries of the natural world
Get ready to join an expedition to remote tropical forests in search of a mysterious mushroom called Amparoina spinosissima. This rare, spiny wonder is not easy to find, but you can help! Choose a location and all the tools and equipment you’ll need for your search. Be careful—not every path leads where you expect, but you’ll see and learn amazing things whichever you pick.
Emerging readers will be enticed by the colorful comic–paneled images and action-packed text as they choose the path their expedition will follow and visit new habitats across the globe.
A GROWING The first book in the series, Search for a Giant Squid, was named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Public Library, a Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award winner, and more. In its starred review, Booklist hailed it as “immensely engaging” and said, “This reader packs an informational punch.”
SPARKS INTEREST IN This introduction to the work of a mycologist—a scientist who studies fungi—lets readers dip their toes into the career of this specialized research scientist as well as the other team members it takes to lead a successful expedition.
ENTERTAINS WHILE IT EDUCATES: Each possible path leads to a different outcome, so readers learn new facts about scientific expeditions and ecosystems as they explore rainforests in search of an elusive tiny fungi.
COMIC BOOK The bright, graphic-paneled imagery will entice kids drawn to comic books, while also making the abundance of information accessible even for the most reluctant reader.
INCLUSIVE Research shows children need to "see it to be it." The images in the book showcase a broader range of inclusivity than many STEM titles allowing all relaxers to envision themselves undertaking a career science.
Perfect readers with an interest in STEM, forests, and fungi! Excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and homeschool educators to explore science, travel, and career topics Fans of other pick-your-path type books, National Geographic kids' books, and the Magic Tree House and Who Would Win book series. Birthday, holiday, or summer break gift for boys and girls who love adventure books and stories about the mysteries of the natural world
MY TIDBITS
Fun adventure meets biology goodness in a book, which keeps readers in the pages and teaches all sorts of facts they haven't seen before.
This book begins with a cast of characters, five different types of scientists/assistants who can or will accompany the reader on their journey. This already starts the knowledge goodness as the area of specialty of each one is presented with a very short explanation. The first pages of the 'story' give all sorts of general fungi facts. From spores to body types to substrate and more, readers get a general understanding of fungi. This is delivered in concise sentences, which are easy-to-read and broken down into boxes with illustrations to keep everything very clear and understandable. While the reading part is on the simpler side, the information is very fitting for the age group, offers even Latin terms, and leaves the reader with a good, fungi foundation. Then, the adventure begins.
The reader is told to find a certain mushroom and given the basic, known information about this rare species. They are to choose their assistant after considering their attributes and go on a story from there. Each page leads to a new choice or happening, which guides the reader on a short quest (just like the Choose your own adventures). These lead the reader to discover little known animals, creatures, fungi, plants, and more. They also lead to tense situations as red warnings appear to showcase danger and a flip to a new page to discover what happens. These moments are tense with volcanos, collapsing bridges, and more. But instead of doom and gloom, the results bring readers back with surprising or failed results...and tell the reader to go back to a certain page and start again. Each tale is fun, each tale packs surprises, and more importantly, each tale brings more biology goodness.
This book does a fantastic job at introducing readers to animals, habitats, fungi, and more while never feeling like a science book. Instead, it's an exciting expedition with every turn of the page. And most of the facts aren't ones readers have run across before...even adults won't recognize most of the presented fungi, animals, and plants. At the end of the book, there is a glossary of terms and list of each animal, fungi, and plant mentioned in the book.
It's a very enjoyable way to discover the world of rare fungi and so much more.
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