Geert-Jan Roebers is a biologist and writer with an interest in nature conservation. He is the author of numerous books in Dutch, including Nature’s Treasure Trove, the Dutch canon of nature for children, which features 112 objects each child should be able to recognize in their own neighborhood.Wendy Panders studied graphic design at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. She works as an illustrator and graphic designer for magazines and papers and has illustrated many children’s books. Her illustrations for Rap with Little Red (Gottmer, 2011) earned her an Honorary Mention from the Golden Paintbrush Jury, the prize for the best illustrated children’s book of the Netherlands.

• 1 FANCY HATS, PUFFING BALLS, STINKING HORNSFirst impressionsStrange shapes, funny namesFantastic factsWhat this book is actually about2 STRINGY ORGANISMSThe world under the mushroomGrowing and eatingWhen fungi meetPopping up like mushroomsThe Super Fungus grid3 THE KINGDOM OF FUNGICreating orderA fungal historyAll the fungi at a glance4 FROM RUBBISH COLLECTOR TO RAINMAKERDead matterVegan to goCarnivoresFungus as preySoil and rainwater5 AN INTIMATE ALLIANCELiving with plantsLiving with animals6 FUNGI AND PEOPLEDiseases and toxinsHelping or harming?On your plateMedicines and factoriesWeapons and drugsResearchers and protectors7 DO IT YOURSELFSearch and findCollect and examineGrow your ownSmart feastingThe ultimate testGlossaryIndex

“Come for the STEM, stay for the giggles. Whichever way you enter Mushrooms and Company, you’ll willingly circle the information drain….Smart, approachable, and timeless.”—Daddy Mojo"The text uses a humorous touch to keep the information entertaining as well as accurate ... Occasional full-page photographs feature mushroom varieties ... Perfect for budding naturalists and a helpful addition to science collections."—School Library Journal“Packed from cover to cover with a 'kid friendly' approach to science [and] expertly illustrated … will prove to be a welcome addition to family, elementary school, middle school, and community library Mycological (Mushroom) science collections.”—Midwest Book Review"Interspersed with occasional close-up photos ... drawn mushrooms and schematic views of molds and yeasts in action present a diversity of shapes and forms as colorful as the multitude of fungi facts and functions … Lively, informative."—Kirkus Reviews