"Mushroom Books" Collection
During my summer vacation trip to Vancouver Island, Canada, I noticed something interesting. In convenience stores, shops on ferries, and souvenir stands at dockside food stalls, I kept seeing a picture book called "Mushrooms Know." This mushroom-themed picture book first caught my eye when I was browsing Munro's bookshop, a beautiful bookstore in Victoria, where it was listed as a "Bestseller."
It really surprised me how widely distributed a picture book could be on Vancouver Island, with a population of only over 800,000 people. When I opened it and read it closely, I found its blend of literature and popular science to be fluid, and its illustrations lively. It finds life lessons in the various characteristics of "mushrooms." Both the author and illustrator are locals from British Columbia, making it a true local creation. It's no wonder it became a bestseller among the many "mushroom books" in Canada. Speaking of mushroom books, as a "mushroom fan," I was truly amazed by the selection on the bookshelves in the "Maple Leaf Country." Mushrooms accounted for a large proportion of popular science, literature, and creative products. It's also no surprise, as it was a Canadian female scientist who confirmed the role of mycorrhizal networks in forests. At the risk of exceeding my luggage weight limit, I still packed a few mushroom picture books, including "Mushrooms Know" and a small, portable book designed as a mini outdoor adventure called "Hello Fungi: A Little Guide to Nature."
After my trip, I couldn't wait to open my "Museum Series" collection, "The Book of Fungi." I journeyed through the biology exhibit of fungi, then to the diversity exhibit, followed by the interaction exhibit, and finally, the display room of fungi and humans, just like revisiting a beautiful mushroom-themed museum. The "Museum Series" is truly classic. Rereading it after my trip gave me a deeper appreciation. The diversity of fungi shows us the rich and colorful original appearance of the world, just as "Mushrooms Know" says, "Mushrooms know that being unique is a reason to celebrate." And the communication and interaction between fungi and other plants through a vast underground network to obtain nutrients for survival is an inspiration for the meaning of life. No individual can live independently on this planet; we must connect with others: "Grow friendship, take care of your neighborhood and yourself." Only then can life be nourished and flourish endlessly.
The image of mushrooms is so diverse and interesting, and it's an element that many illustrators and designers love to use. Another striking "mushroom book" is "Fungal Inspiration" (the Nature Bundle series also includes two books on insects and plants). It collects a large number of mushroom illustrations. I recall that in earlier popular culture, mushrooms were often depicted as a single 🍄 red-capped, white-spotted image, which is actually the appearance of the highly poisonous Amanita muscaria. Thinking of romantic storylines where princesses gather poisonous mushrooms makes me chuckle. As our understanding of these fungi, which are neither animals nor plants, deepens, as shown in this exquisitely illustrated collection, "mushrooms" have finally shed their stereotypes, bringing a truly diverse "mushroom" visual feast to readers worldwide.
