Mushroom Rain

K-Gr 3–This showstopper of a picture book will wake kids up to the wonders of the botanical underpinnings and incredible aspects of the science of mushrooms. Lyrical text describes the infinite variety of mushrooms that spring up after a rain and then explains how the mushrooms live on even when they appear to have disappeared. A vast network of threads can spread underground for miles and thousands of years, waiting for the next rain in order to fruit again. Raindrops themselves form around mushroom spores that have flown up into the sky in a mycological cycle of life. Stunning illustrations glow, often against dark backgrounds, and demonstrate a dazzling mastery of color and texture. Back matter in the form of a scrapbook goes into greater detail, including a diagram of mushroom parts and an activity for making spore prints.