What do you think?
Rate this book
Fungus is Among Us!
You can run, but you can't hide. They're in the air you breathe. They're in the food you eat. They're on your body. Fungi are EVERYWHERE! But wait . . . do you need to be afraid? From fun facts about fairy circles to the delicious secret behind pizza, this book is the perfect read for young scientists. It even contains a Q & A section with a real-life mycologist!
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2019
4 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 12, 2019
A really cool book about fungus, mold, spores, and mushrooms, etc all with a bit of humor. STEM fun!
September 30, 2020
This picture book is very cute, with dramatic text and vibrant, colorful illustrations. I enjoyed the story about a girl's panicked response to fungi, and her gradual realization that some fungi is good and helpful. Each page includes a short paragraph of scientific information down below the main text, and the backmatter includes an interview with a female mycologist.
This book will be fun for families and classroom settings, but I would advise adults to make sure that children understand that some mushrooms can be poisonous. Throughout this book, the main character overcomes an extreme, irrational fear of fungi, and that's great, but it is good to have a healthy fear of some indoor and outdoor growths. I wish that the author's note had included more information about this, especially for children who have limited exposure to nature and don't know how to identify what is or isn't safe in the wild.
Still, despite that, this is a cute book that is full of scientific information, and I enjoyed reading it. Adults and children can enjoy this together, and the story's intense, rhythmic text is great for a dramatic read-aloud. Since there are very few children's books about fungi, I'm glad that this one is so appealing and informative.
This book will be fun for families and classroom settings, but I would advise adults to make sure that children understand that some mushrooms can be poisonous. Throughout this book, the main character overcomes an extreme, irrational fear of fungi, and that's great, but it is good to have a healthy fear of some indoor and outdoor growths. I wish that the author's note had included more information about this, especially for children who have limited exposure to nature and don't know how to identify what is or isn't safe in the wild.
Still, despite that, this is a cute book that is full of scientific information, and I enjoyed reading it. Adults and children can enjoy this together, and the story's intense, rhythmic text is great for a dramatic read-aloud. Since there are very few children's books about fungi, I'm glad that this one is so appealing and informative.
November 25, 2022
Fungus is Among Us by Joe Keller and Erica Salcedo is an informative book written in verse highlighting different types of fungi and where to find them. The story follows a young girl and her journey to learn about what fungi look like and where to find them. The story begins outside with fungi on trees, on wood, and on the ground. All this fungus scares the main character, so she hides inside, but she doesn’t know that there is fungus inside as well. The reader then learns that there is fungus on our skin and in our food so it is a part of our lives, and we should not be worried about it. Readers will learn what fungus is, where they can find fungus, and what fungus looks like. This is a WOW book because it captured so much information about fungus. The author depicted many different types of the fungus through illustrations and personifies the fungus which made them seem less harmful and more delightful.
The author has clear illustrations that depict what different types of fungi look like, so children can identify the different fungi in their lives. By writing in verse and rhyming the author makes the topic of fungus lighthearted and fun so children are encouraged to read more. There is a bias among younger children that fungus is scary and bad. However, the author uses an authentic character who reflects younger children to show that there is nothing to fear.
The author has clear illustrations that depict what different types of fungi look like, so children can identify the different fungi in their lives. By writing in verse and rhyming the author makes the topic of fungus lighthearted and fun so children are encouraged to read more. There is a bias among younger children that fungus is scary and bad. However, the author uses an authentic character who reflects younger children to show that there is nothing to fear.
February 10, 2022
An engaging and informative rhyming non-fiction picture book about the many places fungi can be found in our world! I wish the book had shared a little more specifically about how amazing and beneficial fungi is in the large text (the book has large-font rhyming text which is supplemented by additional information in small text), but even still this is a great and accessible book about fungi. Main character has light brown skin and long black hair with some curls. An awesome "Meet a Mycologist" section can be found at the back of the book with a picture of and interview with Dr. Sara Branco, a mycologist at Montana State University.
Themes: Fungi, STEM, Earth
Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary
Themes: Fungi, STEM, Earth
Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary
November 5, 2019
It's everywhere! A great companion to Gravel's "Mushroom Fan Club". I so love that so many books are being published on things that might be seen as weird or gross but that show how cool they are.
June 10, 2025
Reyna’s take home book for her summer reading!
Very educational and the children loved the illustrations! Really didn’t know what to expect but kept their attention🤓🍄
Very educational and the children loved the illustrations! Really didn’t know what to expect but kept their attention🤓🍄
February 20, 2026
Fun story with a good balance of education. And I thought the Q&A with a mycologist at the end was great for inspiration.
May 12, 2022
This book is really cute. It’s a great way to make learning about fungi fun!
December 2, 2019
Who knew Fungus could be so fascinating! In Joy Keller’s Fungus is Among Us readers get to learn about the different types of fungi and their functions. Keller also includes an interview with Dr. Sara Branco, a mycologist, from the University of Montana State. This fun picture books keeps young readers engaged and entertained as a young girl sees all the fungus around and inside in her home. Told as a story with rhyme and rhythm, Keller also incorporates sections of facts throughout her book.
My 5 year old loved this book! We read it multiple times now he is searching for fungi around our house. This book would be great for students in Kindergarten through second grade. Some of the academic vocabulary can be challenging, such as microscopic or cyanobacteria. However, Keller provides plenty of explanation and context clues to explain these terms to young readers. The illustrations in the book are engaging and the story is funny. This is a perfect nonfiction text for a K-2 classroom library for students to read independently or as a read aloud. When teaching writing, this could also be used as a mentor text to teach interesting titles.
Fungus is Among Us is a WOW book that exposes students to an interesting topic they might not know much about. It also highlights a female scientist working in a field that might be unfamiliar to young students. I highly recommend Fungus is Among Us to learn about Earth’s clean up crew!
My 5 year old loved this book! We read it multiple times now he is searching for fungi around our house. This book would be great for students in Kindergarten through second grade. Some of the academic vocabulary can be challenging, such as microscopic or cyanobacteria. However, Keller provides plenty of explanation and context clues to explain these terms to young readers. The illustrations in the book are engaging and the story is funny. This is a perfect nonfiction text for a K-2 classroom library for students to read independently or as a read aloud. When teaching writing, this could also be used as a mentor text to teach interesting titles.
Fungus is Among Us is a WOW book that exposes students to an interesting topic they might not know much about. It also highlights a female scientist working in a field that might be unfamiliar to young students. I highly recommend Fungus is Among Us to learn about Earth’s clean up crew!
Read
October 28, 2019A young girl out for a hike is spooked by a strange looking mushroom and tries to escape. But no matter where she turns – her backyard, her favorite tree, the kitchen, the bathroom, the pizza Dad’s making for lunch, her very own skin – fungus lurks. It’s everywhere!
But once she recovers from the shock and horror, our protagonist discovers the importance of fungi to keep our world clean, growing, and well-fed.
This cohesive narrative works well on its own as an introduction to fungus for young readers and a refreshing change of pace from the usual plant and animal centric world of biology nonfiction. Unobtrusive captions also provide additional information – you could share all of them or just a few, depending on whether you are using this in small groups or a full class setting.
A Q&A with Dr. Sara Branco, a mycologist at Montana State University, complete with lovely photographs of various fungi, is a nice feature in the backmatter.
Also, don’t miss the striking endpapers with their assortment of adorable cartoon fungi!
But once she recovers from the shock and horror, our protagonist discovers the importance of fungi to keep our world clean, growing, and well-fed.
This cohesive narrative works well on its own as an introduction to fungus for young readers and a refreshing change of pace from the usual plant and animal centric world of biology nonfiction. Unobtrusive captions also provide additional information – you could share all of them or just a few, depending on whether you are using this in small groups or a full class setting.
A Q&A with Dr. Sara Branco, a mycologist at Montana State University, complete with lovely photographs of various fungi, is a nice feature in the backmatter.
Also, don’t miss the striking endpapers with their assortment of adorable cartoon fungi!
November 23, 2021
This story is about a little girl who learns about fungus and spores. She goes for a walk in the trails and finds a bunch of mushrooms. She learns that there are spores everywhere in the air and she is grossed out. She begins to look for fungus everywhere in her daily life, such as in pizza dough, in the shower, and in her fridge. There are little facts about fungus and mushrooms throughout the story that teach you more about the contents of the book. The little girl seems to be scared of the fungus because it's EVERYWHERE and she feels like it may sneak up on her and be anywhere. At the end of the book, she makes a comment about being glad that the mushrooms and fungus are there. I gave this book 5 stars because I think it is very informational and introduces children to the world of fungus and that they don't have to be scared. I like that there are mini facts throughout the book that pertain to the story and teach you even more about what you're reading. I would definitely recommend this book.
August 16, 2023
For more bookish thoughts, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle
A hilarious and educational book. Follow the main character as she tries to escape the fungi in her life only to discover that it is everywhere.
Told in rhythmic, rhyming text, the book goes through various types of fungi, from mushrooms to lichen to mold to yeast. Also discusses the various places fungus can be found including in your kitchen and on your skin. Shows the benefits of fungi and concludes that they aren't so scary after all.
Interspersed throughout are break-out sections with more in-depth facts about what fungus is, how humans us it, and the ways it fits into the ecosystem.
The rhymes are so fun and engaging. I loved the rhythm of the book. The illustrations are adorable. Works well as a read aloud.
At the end is a Q&A with mycologist, Dr. Sara Branco, where she talks about what mycologists do, what she studies, and the weirdest fungus she's seen. There is also a short bibliography.
Engaging, entertaining, and informative. What a wonderful read.
A hilarious and educational book. Follow the main character as she tries to escape the fungi in her life only to discover that it is everywhere.
Told in rhythmic, rhyming text, the book goes through various types of fungi, from mushrooms to lichen to mold to yeast. Also discusses the various places fungus can be found including in your kitchen and on your skin. Shows the benefits of fungi and concludes that they aren't so scary after all.
Interspersed throughout are break-out sections with more in-depth facts about what fungus is, how humans us it, and the ways it fits into the ecosystem.
The rhymes are so fun and engaging. I loved the rhythm of the book. The illustrations are adorable. Works well as a read aloud.
At the end is a Q&A with mycologist, Dr. Sara Branco, where she talks about what mycologists do, what she studies, and the weirdest fungus she's seen. There is also a short bibliography.
Engaging, entertaining, and informative. What a wonderful read.
January 20, 2020
A little girl gets increasingly more and more freaked out as she finds out that fungus is EVERYWHERE. But then she learns that maybe that isn't such a bad thing. The back of the book includes an interview with a mycologist about what that means, what she studies, and how she got into the field.
This is told primarily as an educational fiction story in rhyme, but there are paragraphs of informative text on each page about different kinds of fungus. I really like how this does such a great survey of all the different types of fungi. I could've used something like this when I taught Biology. The book explores the wide variety of fungi and how some are harmful but some are helpful, and even necessary. It doesn't get into what differentiates fungi from plants or single-celled creatures very much, but it does a great survey of the types of fungi. Highly recommended to littles curious about nature and any class K-12 studying fungi.
This is told primarily as an educational fiction story in rhyme, but there are paragraphs of informative text on each page about different kinds of fungus. I really like how this does such a great survey of all the different types of fungi. I could've used something like this when I taught Biology. The book explores the wide variety of fungi and how some are harmful but some are helpful, and even necessary. It doesn't get into what differentiates fungi from plants or single-celled creatures very much, but it does a great survey of the types of fungi. Highly recommended to littles curious about nature and any class K-12 studying fungi.
August 26, 2025
6yo: 10/10 (who loves the title)
8yo: 5/10
Pros:
- the framing worked well to bring the reader through different places fungi grow
- very read-aloud friendly - I love that the sentences end on each page that has additional sidebar info (clearly marked in different font/size)
- fun drawings (👀) with diverse mushrooms depicted
- clearly covers that fungus is not JUST mushrooms
- Q&A with a mycologist
Cons:
- the rhyme sometimes feels a bit forced
- Q&A photos didn’t always tie to the text, which prompted a lot of questions
- inconsistent labeling in illustrations (we wouldn’t have minded more)
File under:
- Women/Careers in STEM
8yo: 5/10
Pros:
- the framing worked well to bring the reader through different places fungi grow
- very read-aloud friendly - I love that the sentences end on each page that has additional sidebar info (clearly marked in different font/size)
- fun drawings (👀) with diverse mushrooms depicted
- clearly covers that fungus is not JUST mushrooms
- Q&A with a mycologist
Cons:
- the rhyme sometimes feels a bit forced
- Q&A photos didn’t always tie to the text, which prompted a lot of questions
- inconsistent labeling in illustrations (we wouldn’t have minded more)
File under:
- Women/Careers in STEM
November 3, 2019
An informative and detailed presentation offers a surface level introduction to the category of living things that are fungi. The parallel text (subtle sidebars, labeled parts, and and extensive back matter) make this a useful book for intentional study and also a fun choice to expand understanding to the typical animal-vegetable categorizing of life.
The character's fear throughout most of the pages, in image and in narrative, allows for some tension and excitement, but feels a bit unbalanced with the goal of developing curiosity and enthusiasm for investigating fungi.
The character's fear throughout most of the pages, in image and in narrative, allows for some tension and excitement, but feels a bit unbalanced with the goal of developing curiosity and enthusiasm for investigating fungi.
November 23, 2019
Learn about FUNGUS!
This is a lovely non fiction picture book on fungus. I like how accessible this subject is made for younger readers. Love the art work and color filled pictures of various types of fungi around us. The author does an amazing job of bringing a complex subject closer to readers and making it very interesting and fun. We need more books written like this! HIGHLY recommend reading this one!
This is a lovely non fiction picture book on fungus. I like how accessible this subject is made for younger readers. Love the art work and color filled pictures of various types of fungi around us. The author does an amazing job of bringing a complex subject closer to readers and making it very interesting and fun. We need more books written like this! HIGHLY recommend reading this one!
December 8, 2019
This was really interesting and fun to read. It was really interesting. I liked how there were facts on each page and even though I read them as I went a younger child could read the story first and then go back to the information later/with an adult.
I liked the question and answer section at the end too.
The illustrations were fun and I liked the layout and pace of the book.
This is definitely a book I'm going to recommend.
I liked the question and answer section at the end too.
The illustrations were fun and I liked the layout and pace of the book.
This is definitely a book I'm going to recommend.
January 25, 2022
I liked this book a lot, the rhymes, the cutie pie smiley faces, and even the informational text was interesting.. but, I kind of wish the information had all been put separately at the back of the book because I wasn't able to enjoy the rhyming parts of the book... my mind goes into happy sing song mode when I see rhymes, and into a more studious mode when I see informational text. The mix wasn't too nice.
June 14, 2019
Fungus all around us, you'll soon understand, have many different functions, and gives the Earth a hand! A young girl attempts to flee from the fungi she discovers in the forest, only to learn it's among everything in the world-- and it's not all bad! Lots of fun fungi facts assist this adventure. Whether you're looking for a laugh or to learn something new, you're bound to enjoy this book.
January 21, 2020
A girl explores outside and finds that there is fungus everywhere! She runs to the safety of indoors only to find that fungus is there, and that her dad is cooking with it. She comes to realize all the benefits of fungus in the end.
Packed with factual information as well as really fun illustrations and a silly/scary story. Awesome nonfiction!
Packed with factual information as well as really fun illustrations and a silly/scary story. Awesome nonfiction!
September 14, 2020
This is a hilarious and fascinating look at the world of fungus all around us! I'm in awe of these picture books that are able to take scientific concepts and introduce them to young audiences in such an engaging, easy to understand format. I was fascinated (and a little grossed out) by what I learned!
February 25, 2021
Any book that can make fungi this entertaining--even cute--earns very high marks from me. On top of that, the text is fun AND filled with interesting information about what fungus actually is and how it's all around us (and how that's not a bad thing!). The "Meet a Mycologist" feature at the end is also wonderful. Science CAN be fun!
March 7, 2023
I loved it. I even learned something new.
Want to see what works in this story from a writer's point-of-view? Check out my blog https://pbjellytalez.blogspot.com/. I break down picture books to help other writer's like me who are trying to write better books. Subscribe and leave a comment, or follow me for more updates on Twitter @PB&JellyPhish. I'll see you on the next page.
Want to see what works in this story from a writer's point-of-view? Check out my blog https://pbjellytalez.blogspot.com/. I break down picture books to help other writer's like me who are trying to write better books. Subscribe and leave a comment, or follow me for more updates on Twitter @PB&JellyPhish. I'll see you on the next page.
August 27, 2024
Of the three I read today, this is my favorite! The part of the text geared toward youngins rhymes and is very fun and engaging. It contains less detailed information than the other two books I read (Mushroom Rain & Fungi Grow), but if my kids were younger, Fungus Is Among Us! would be the one I'd want my kids to have.
November 6, 2019
This layered narrative offers informative, rhyming stanzas which are mildly horror-filmesque. Fact boxes on each spread dig deeper. The mushrooms with eyeballs in the art are hysterical. A perfect science tie-in for elementary classrooms.
Read
September 27, 2020Fungi are everywhere! You can find fungus in the woods, your backyard, your fridge, your shower, and even on you! Learn facts about fungi interspersed among rhyming text and humorous illustrations.
Fun read for budding young scientists. Pair with Elise Gravel's Mushroom Fan Club.
Fun read for budding young scientists. Pair with Elise Gravel's Mushroom Fan Club.
May 9, 2024
As a hobby mycologist, this book is such a delight to share with my children. The illustrations are great and the fictional story mixed with nonfiction facts about fungus, mold, lichens, and edible mushrooms. Would be a great read for families that enjoy hiking or foraging.
May 2, 2025
The illustrations are cute. The book is packed with information and I learned a lot of new things. It could be a little scary for a little one who is worried about things growing in places they would never expect, like the shower or their body.
May 23, 2025
This book was an absolute delight to read. Not only were the illustrations ADORABLE, but the story was fun and I was being educated on mushrooms without it feeling like it was being forced down my throat.
Love this book!
Love this book!
Want to read
July 1, 2019Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews