How did Fungalphabet become a reality?

"When my daughter was born, I couldn't wait to share my passion for foraging and mushroom hunting with her. As a devoted and self proclaimed “amateur mycologist”, I often find myself exploring the depths of my local woodlands in my spare time. The idea of passing on this magical experience to my own child filled me with a sense of joy like never before. I wanted to introduce my daughter to the world of fungi through a book, as well as “in the field”. I wanted something bright, colorful, and, most importantly, factual. I had no interest in a fictional story, she had plenty of those. To my surprise, I found that there was a lack of options available in the market. The few mushroom-related books for children that were available, were not really tailored to babies and toddlers either. I decided to begin a personal mission to create the book I had envisioned for her. I took it upon myself to craft the characters one by one, bringing them to life in a way that i felt she would like. As I was working on the book, a challenge arose when I reached the letter X while making a list of possible species. I pondered over finding a common mushroom name that began with X, but no book within my collection or website i had searched through could help me. Turning to fellow foragers for help online, I explained my creative venture and asked if anyone could assist me in finding a solution. With remarkable ingenuity, someone in the group came up with a clever wordplay solution that rectified the issue beautifully. Originally, my intention was to print a single copy of the book solely for my daughter's enjoyment. However, the response from the foraging community was beyond what I could have imagined. People showed immense interest in my project, expressing their admiration and enthusiasm. This unexpected show of support motivated me to consider sharing my creation beyond the confines of my family. So, I made the decision to put my work out into the world, in the hope that it might awaken curiosity and appreciation for the natural wonders around us in at-least one other mind. The process of crafting this book has been an extraordinary experience for me, a labor of love for my daughter and now my second child. I can't wait to see the smiles on the faces of other children as they delve into the magical world of fungi through my creation. It's my sincere wish that this book kindles a lifelong love for nature and foraging in the hearts of young readers, just as i have created within my own family."