Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/22/2023
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Location
Toadstool Bookshop

Categories

On Sunday, January 22nd at 11 am, Toadstool Bookshop Keene will be hosting Melany Kahn as she presents her debut picture book Mason Goes Mushrooming. There will be fun mushroom-based activities for the kids to interact with at this event!

In Mason Goes Mushrooming future foragers are invited to accompany a third-generation mushroom hunter, Mason (now 20 years old), and his four-legged pal, Buddy, on their woodland treasure hunts in search of edible mushrooms. The book’s premise is simple: four seasons, four woodland adventures, four wild mushrooms, and four delicious recipes. Mason teaches us it’s never too early to learn, and never too late to start foraging. Author (and Mason’s mom) Melany Kahn quells common fears and puts the “us” in mushrooms by weaving simple education and science through a playful, fungi-finding adventure. An easy identification guide is included at the end for new foragers. The kid-friendly recipes are easy and bring out the mouthwatering flavor notes of the mushrooms. While this is a book for kids, adults love it, too!

* Melany will bring a selection of wild and cultivated mushrooms for an ID session and describe features. The session is interactive, kids will be able to touch, smell, observe the details of the fungi, and then use them as still-life models for their own illustrations and artwork.

* She can also include a cooking demonstration and tastings.

* Melany brings her own art supplies to present a clay art session where children shape and paint their own mushroom to take home.

* A Read Aloud – Melany offers an animated reading complete with commentary which lasts about 8 minutes followed by an interactive Q&A with the parents and children which lasts about 20 minutes.

For over 25 years, Melany Kahn has lived in West Chesterfield with her family. For 20 of those years, Melany has shared her passion for the outdoors while teaching New Hampshire children to forage for wild edible mushrooms. Mushroom foraging is growing in popularity worldwide and learning to forage safely is a perfect way to spend time outdoors and share nature with family and friends. Learning 1-2 wild edible mushrooms will offer families the opportunity to forage together and create a gourmet feast a few times a year.

Her kid-curriculum includes the culinary aspects of wild mushrooms through recipes, cooking demonstrations, and tastings. Many mushroom scoffers have been converted! After watching the documentary film.