I am delighted to welcome one of our very own Mixed-up Files and STEM Tuesday members for her new release!
A huge welcome to Karen Latchana Kenney!
Karen Latchana Kenney is an Indian-Irish children’s author, born near the equator in Guyana, and raised far north in Minnesota. She writes both fiction and nonfiction stories about immigrant and biracial experiences, scientific wonders and discoveries, momentous historical events, and civil rights struggles.
Her books have received several starred reviews and have been named a 2025 Minnesota Book Awards Finalist, 2025 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Finalist, 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and a Book of Note from the TriState Review Committee. She lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with her family, where they explore all the wild places they can find.
Her newest book is a star-studded look at… FUNGI!
(The book received THREE stars from major reviewers. Congrats, Karen!!)
Kirkus (starred review): An extraordinarily well-researched, well-presented, and visually appealing book on a fascinating subject.
Booklist (starred review) : Highly recommended to seasoned “fungi-philes” and those unfamiliar with the threading marvels.— Sharon Rawlins
School Library Journal (starred review): VERDICT A thoroughly researched, visually appealing, and reader-friendly title that brings the hidden world of fungi to life—highly recommended for all collections. –Jenna LaBollita
Thanks so much for joining us here today to talk about your awesome new STEM book for kids, Karen!
JS: What drew you to writing about fungi?
KK: It was a really strange mushroom I found in my garden—one I’d never seen before. One day there was a giant puffball growing on its own, all of a sudden it was there. So, I started investigating and learning more about this mushroom that puffs clouds of spores into the air and I wanted to know more and more. I watched some incredible documentaries too, like Fantastic Fungi, and then I knew I wanted to write a book about these fascinating organisms.
JS: How did you figure out the organization of this topic?
KK: There was so much to tell that it was hard to whittle down the topics, but I really wanted to showcase all of the amazing qualities of different kinds of fungi. I thought it was important to start off with a biological background and then move into different aspects of how they look, what they can do for people, and then what they can do within nature. Two chapters, “The Beauties” and “The Oddities,” were especially fun to write. They highlight all the beautiful and unusual forms fungi can take, including the terrifying Bleeding Tooth fungus that oozes a red liquid to the brilliant green Parrot Waxcap covered in slime.
JS: It seems like this is something many people don’t know, but how important are fungi to our world?
KK: They are incredibly important. I don’t think we even know yet how important and pervasive they are yet. They nourish the soil, connect plants, provide food for all kinds of creatures, and decompose all kinds of materials. Without fungi, leaf litter and plant debris would pile up to make a thick layer covering our planet. Scientists are discovering different ways they can restore our planet as well—from breaking down plastics to cleaning toxic sites and water, and much more.
JS: Can you give us three intriguing fun facts that you learned while writing this book?
KK:
- A bioluminescent fungus was used to illuminate the controls in America’s first combat submarine, called the Turtle, during the Revolutionary War.
- That fungi are genetically and biologically more like people and other animals than they are like plants.
- The concept of “wet computing” or wetware, which uses biological components along with hardware to create living, adaptable computers. A researcher I interviewed in England, Dr. Adam Adamatzky, is experimenting with fungi to create these kind of computing devices.
JS: What would you like readers to get out of this book?
KK: A sense of wonder about these organisms they may never have really thought about before, and a respect for the complexity and beauty of the natural world.
JS: How would you like teachers/librarians to use this book?
KK: I think this book would be perfect for science research or kids interested in ecology or biology.
JS: Can you give any tips to writers who want to break into nonfiction children’s books?
KK: Read the top nonfiction books out there and study how writers craft trade nonfiction. It’s filled with fictional elements that add so much interest. Having a great, high-interest angle is important. Also talk to experts in the area you are writing about. I often get the best research tips from the experts I interview.
JS: What are you working on now?
KK: I’m working on a really exciting, top-secret STEM picture book right now!
That sounds fabulous, Karen. We can’t wait to read that one. Thanks for sharing about your new STEM book. Everyone go check out Karen’s website HERE for more of her fabulous books!
Want a chance to WIN a Copy of Karen’s New Book? She is doing a giveaway at Goodreads. Click HERE to enter!
Nancy Castaldo: I was fortunate to conduct on-site research on Isle Royale alongside wildlife photographer Morgan Heim. It was an incredible experience to spend time with the scientists I’d admired since college. The predator-prey study there is the longest-running of its kind in the world. We met with researchers and park scientists, often traveling by boat and then hiking into the island’s interior to observe their work firsthand. From water chemistry to tracking wolves and moose, we saw just how much goes into understanding this complex ecosystem. Isle Royale is more than just a beautiful place to visit—it’s a living laboratory, and the work done there has implications for ecosystems everywhere.
Nancy Castaldo: That’s true. For people like me, wildlife is a big part of why we love national parks. Animals bring the landscape to life—without them, so much of the magic would be missing. On Isle Royale, the wolf and moose populations are a major draw. Visitors are captivated by its wildness and the hauntingly beautiful calls of loons and wolves. The presence of these animals is essential to the health—and appeal—of the park.
