"The Wonder of Mushrooms" by Maya Jewell Zeller

Get to know the kingdom of Fungi like never before with this unique book that blends the science of mycology with lyrical prose and watercolor paintings.

We are excited to bring Maya Jewell Zeller back to Auntie's for her upcoming release, The Wonder of Mushrooms!

Friday, October 10th at 7PM at Auntie's Bookstore
(402 W Main Ave)

This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP via https://auntiesbooks.com/event/2025-10-10/wonder-mushrooms-maya-jewell-zeller


About the book

Take an extraordinary expedition into the diverse and enchanting realm of fungi. The Wonder of Mushrooms is where science meets poetry, where ancient wisdom converges with modern discovery. Maya Jewell Zeller and Jenny deFouw Geuder guide you into the hidden world beneath our feet. With a blend of scientific insight and artistic appreciation, the authors portray the crucial role of mushrooms in our ecosystem and celebrate their profound cultural significance.

Learn about mushrooms' history and lore. Appreciate their myriad colors, shapes, and forms, as well as their vital role as nature's decomposers. Discover astonishing facts, such as how some bioluminescent species glow like fallen stars and where the extraordinary Humongous Fungus spans 2,385 acres. Perhaps most importantly, find out how fungi might prove to be humanity's unexpected saviors, offering solutions for everything from environmental pollution to sustainable architecture. Maya's lyrical prose pairs with Jenny's bright watercolors, creating an unparalleled ode to these foraging favorites that feels like both a scientific textbook and a beautiful gift book.

Whether you're an artist, naturalist, or someone who's simply curious about the natural world, this book presents a profound journey into the kingdom of Fungi, where beauty and science intertwine in unexpected ways.

Book Features:

Lyrical prose that blends science with literary references and poetry
Professional watercolors that help make complex scientific concepts accessible
Wide range of topics, including anatomy, biology, and ecology
Educational tribute that promotes wonder and curiosity

About the author

Maya Jewell Zeller is a multi-genre author of several books and collaborations, most recently The Wonder of Mushrooms (AdventureKEEN, fall 2025); out takes/ glove box, selected by Eduardo Corral as winner of the 2022 New American Poetry Prize; and the co-authored textbook (with Kathryn Nuernberger) Advanced Poetry: A Writer’s Guide and Anthology (Bloomsbury, 2024). Maya’s prose appears widely, and her essay, “Scavenger Panorama,” was honored by Vivian Gornick as a Notable in Best American Essays 2023. Maya is Professor of English for Central Washington University, and Affiliate Faculty of Poetry and Nature Writing for Western Colorado University’s low-residency MFA program. Maya lives in the Inland Northwest with her children. Her memoir, Raised by Ferns, will be out in early 2026 from Porphyry Press.

You may also like the following events from Auntie's Bookstore:

• Next Tuesday, 7th October, 06:00 pm, Science & Nature Book Club in Spokane
• This month, 14th October, 11:00 am, Morning Book Club in Spokane
• This month, 25th October, 11:00 am, Book Signing: "Pennies" by Lora Senf in Spokane

Also check out other Arts events in Spokane, Literary Art events in Spokane, Fine Arts events in Spokane.