There are many more kinds of fungi and molds than just the mushrooms you find on pizza or the mold you discover if food goes bad. They're important parts of ecosystems around the world, but they can also cause diseases. Readers explore their harmful effects through objective text that aims to inform rather than intimidate. Sidebars add fun facts, and full-color photographs illustrate this important part of life science. Visual learners are aided by graphic organizers that break down essential information, and critical thinking questions encourage readers to develop their own opinions and to back them up with relevant facts.