We Spy Fungi

This handsomely illustrated selection combines the wonder of natural science with the engaging appeal of seek-and-find books. From Arizona's Sonoran Desert to Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest to Malasia's Gunung Gading National Park, snapshots of ecosystems from around the world are depicted in colorful, realistic double-page spreads. In each scene, a short, smoothly written passage offers clues about an unusual fungus or plant for readers to locate. The same scene appears in the following spread, but this time, the background is dulled while the featured specimen, as well as other important flora and fauna, stand out in full color. Likewise, brief sentences reveal the ecosystem's location and information on the highlighted plant or fungus, plus the interconnectedness among the other identified life forms. For instance, in a Douglas fir forest in Oregon's Cascade Range, the Pacific golden chanterelle takes the spotlight. Children learn how this mushroom's tiny hairlike strands connect to Douglas fir roots, allowing the mushrooms and trees to exchange nutrients and water. A browsable offering that will tempt nature lovers and reluctant readers. -- Angela Leeper, Booklist