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Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas
The only picture book available about the father of genetics and his pea plants!
How do mothers and fathers―whether they are apple trees, sheep, or humans―pass down traits to their children? This question fascinated Gregor Mendel throughout his life. Regarded as the world’s first geneticist, Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover one of the fundamental aspects of genetic animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process, following the same rules.
Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great growing multiple generations of peas. From observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas, Mendel crafted his theory of heredity―years before scientists had any notion of genes.
Children will be inspired by Gregor’s neverending search for knowledge, and his famous experiments are easy to understand as an introduction to genetics. F&P Q
How do mothers and fathers―whether they are apple trees, sheep, or humans―pass down traits to their children? This question fascinated Gregor Mendel throughout his life. Regarded as the world’s first geneticist, Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover one of the fundamental aspects of genetic animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process, following the same rules.
Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great growing multiple generations of peas. From observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas, Mendel crafted his theory of heredity―years before scientists had any notion of genes.
Children will be inspired by Gregor’s neverending search for knowledge, and his famous experiments are easy to understand as an introduction to genetics. F&P Q
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Bardoe
10 books9 followersCheryl Bardoe is the author of several acclaimed books for young readers, including China: A History; Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain; and Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. She lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 16, 2023
I do a bit guiltily feel that I have been rather curmudgeonly of late with regard to my reviews (and my star rankings), but Cheryl Bardoe's Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is what I humbly would label a simply perfect picture book biography and introduction for older children (from about the age of nine onwards) to both the father of modern genetics (to Gregor Mendel) and to the entire concept of genetics as a science.
Easy enough to understand without too many problems of comprehension and retention (although never simplistic or lacking in essential facts and details), but nevertheless both historically and scientifically sound, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas details the struggles Gregor Mendel faced to even obtain an education (and that the small grammar school in his Czech village was simply not enough for him). And I do so much appreciate that the author, that Cheryl Bardoe also presents and points out the sacrifices made by his own family to that end, that while Gregor Mendel's father, although he had originally and naturally desired his son to follow in his footsteps and become a farmer like himself, soon realised that he was destined for something else, and that his family scraped together every cent they could for Gregor's lessons (as well as his room and board), until 1838, when a tragic accident befell the father and he could no longer till his fields, thus causing Gregor to have to earn his own funds for room, board and lessons, until he finally became a friar, for as a friar, at the Abbey of St. Thomas, in Brno, Gregor Mendel could study, could learn, whilst also engaging in his friarly duties of teaching, preaching, caring for the sick etc. (And the fact that Mendel's abbey had a library of over 30000 books and that he and his fellow monks and friars were encouraged to study mathematics, botany, science , philosophy, geology and such, this all demonstrates rather clearly in my opinion that before the emergence and acceptance of the concept universal and generally free primary education and in some lucky countries even free or at least cost effective post secondary education, becoming a monk or a friar for young Catholic men or a nun for young Catholic women was often one of the only ways to achieve this, to achieve goals and desires for higher education, being able to study and learn without constant financial hardships).
Now Gregor Mendel was also seemingly fortunate in the fact that his forward thinking and progressive abbot obviously both recognised his intellectual abilities and clearly also wanted him to advance to a higher knowledge and level of education than what even the Abbey of St. Thomas and its library could provide, as he sent Gregor to the University of Vienna to further his scientific studies and pursuits; and when Gregor Mendel returned, he was then asked to teach science at nearby local schools, a profession which he relished and appreciated, although he also and perhaps even more than his desire to teach, to impart knowledge, wanted to discover the answers to at that time one of the most debated and most controversial scientific consideration and query (namely how characteristics and traits are passed down from parents to their children, both with regard to plants and animals, all animals).
And therefore, the second part of Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas mostly focuses on Gregor Mendel's scientific experiments, details how with his scientifically, with precision and analysis growing of peas, Gregor Mendel was able to come up with what is now universally and globally known as Mendel's Law, namely that EVERY time plants, animals (and yes, also human beings) reproduce, they pass along their traits (their genes) to their offspring (and not haphazardly and randomly either). Now I have to admit that I do find the author's detailed explanations and analyses of Gregor Mendel's genetic research a trifle difficult to understand at times (but considering how impossible I found this when we covered it in grade eleven science, Cheryl Bardoe has in fact done a marvellous job making this, making genetics at least generally comprehensible and approachable, and thus, and even though Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is of course a picture book, it would also and could also easily be used for high school and even college science/biology courses, as a simple and straight-forward introduction to genetics as a concept).
And finally, while it is definitely kind of sad and frustrating that Gregor Mendel never achieved fame or even all that much recognition for his achievements and discoveries during his lifetime, that the world did not really pay attention when he presented or rather when he attempted to present his findings, his time did indeed come (albeit after his death, but let's face it, that kind of a scenario has unfortunately often been the case for many pioneers of science). For Gregor Mendel is now known universally as having been the first actively practicing deliberate geneticist and Mendel's Laws are still considered the standard of genetics and genetically based research. Gregor Mendel might not have lived to see this, but yes and indeed, his dreams of discovery and scientific recognition have most definitely come true.
Now as to Jos A. Smith's accompanying illustrations, they are not only a delightful and expressive mirror of Cheryl Bardoe's informative and engaging narrative, a compliment and complement to her printed words, especially for the second part of Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas, they provide an added dimension, with the illustrations of Mendel's genetic experiments, with the colourful depictions of how Mendel's pea experiments worked, how genetics work, making the at times a bit wordy and involved science lingo much easier to fathom and comprehend (especially for those of us who are also pictorial learners). Combined with a massively informative author's note (that features many supplemental details, such as the fact that Gregor Mendel's own sister gave her brother her own dowry in order to keep him at school, and that sadly, due to Mendel's fame and recognition having only come after his death, most of his notebooks and personal papers have unfortunately been lost or destroyed), as well as a select bibliography, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is not only a wonderful, enlightening, engaging picture book biography of Gregor Mendel the person, but also a perfect and relatively simple introduction to genetics, to his discoveries and his scientific intellectual legacy. Five stars and most highly recommended!
Easy enough to understand without too many problems of comprehension and retention (although never simplistic or lacking in essential facts and details), but nevertheless both historically and scientifically sound, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas details the struggles Gregor Mendel faced to even obtain an education (and that the small grammar school in his Czech village was simply not enough for him). And I do so much appreciate that the author, that Cheryl Bardoe also presents and points out the sacrifices made by his own family to that end, that while Gregor Mendel's father, although he had originally and naturally desired his son to follow in his footsteps and become a farmer like himself, soon realised that he was destined for something else, and that his family scraped together every cent they could for Gregor's lessons (as well as his room and board), until 1838, when a tragic accident befell the father and he could no longer till his fields, thus causing Gregor to have to earn his own funds for room, board and lessons, until he finally became a friar, for as a friar, at the Abbey of St. Thomas, in Brno, Gregor Mendel could study, could learn, whilst also engaging in his friarly duties of teaching, preaching, caring for the sick etc. (And the fact that Mendel's abbey had a library of over 30000 books and that he and his fellow monks and friars were encouraged to study mathematics, botany, science , philosophy, geology and such, this all demonstrates rather clearly in my opinion that before the emergence and acceptance of the concept universal and generally free primary education and in some lucky countries even free or at least cost effective post secondary education, becoming a monk or a friar for young Catholic men or a nun for young Catholic women was often one of the only ways to achieve this, to achieve goals and desires for higher education, being able to study and learn without constant financial hardships).
Now Gregor Mendel was also seemingly fortunate in the fact that his forward thinking and progressive abbot obviously both recognised his intellectual abilities and clearly also wanted him to advance to a higher knowledge and level of education than what even the Abbey of St. Thomas and its library could provide, as he sent Gregor to the University of Vienna to further his scientific studies and pursuits; and when Gregor Mendel returned, he was then asked to teach science at nearby local schools, a profession which he relished and appreciated, although he also and perhaps even more than his desire to teach, to impart knowledge, wanted to discover the answers to at that time one of the most debated and most controversial scientific consideration and query (namely how characteristics and traits are passed down from parents to their children, both with regard to plants and animals, all animals).
And therefore, the second part of Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas mostly focuses on Gregor Mendel's scientific experiments, details how with his scientifically, with precision and analysis growing of peas, Gregor Mendel was able to come up with what is now universally and globally known as Mendel's Law, namely that EVERY time plants, animals (and yes, also human beings) reproduce, they pass along their traits (their genes) to their offspring (and not haphazardly and randomly either). Now I have to admit that I do find the author's detailed explanations and analyses of Gregor Mendel's genetic research a trifle difficult to understand at times (but considering how impossible I found this when we covered it in grade eleven science, Cheryl Bardoe has in fact done a marvellous job making this, making genetics at least generally comprehensible and approachable, and thus, and even though Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is of course a picture book, it would also and could also easily be used for high school and even college science/biology courses, as a simple and straight-forward introduction to genetics as a concept).
And finally, while it is definitely kind of sad and frustrating that Gregor Mendel never achieved fame or even all that much recognition for his achievements and discoveries during his lifetime, that the world did not really pay attention when he presented or rather when he attempted to present his findings, his time did indeed come (albeit after his death, but let's face it, that kind of a scenario has unfortunately often been the case for many pioneers of science). For Gregor Mendel is now known universally as having been the first actively practicing deliberate geneticist and Mendel's Laws are still considered the standard of genetics and genetically based research. Gregor Mendel might not have lived to see this, but yes and indeed, his dreams of discovery and scientific recognition have most definitely come true.
Now as to Jos A. Smith's accompanying illustrations, they are not only a delightful and expressive mirror of Cheryl Bardoe's informative and engaging narrative, a compliment and complement to her printed words, especially for the second part of Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas, they provide an added dimension, with the illustrations of Mendel's genetic experiments, with the colourful depictions of how Mendel's pea experiments worked, how genetics work, making the at times a bit wordy and involved science lingo much easier to fathom and comprehend (especially for those of us who are also pictorial learners). Combined with a massively informative author's note (that features many supplemental details, such as the fact that Gregor Mendel's own sister gave her brother her own dowry in order to keep him at school, and that sadly, due to Mendel's fame and recognition having only come after his death, most of his notebooks and personal papers have unfortunately been lost or destroyed), as well as a select bibliography, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is not only a wonderful, enlightening, engaging picture book biography of Gregor Mendel the person, but also a perfect and relatively simple introduction to genetics, to his discoveries and his scientific intellectual legacy. Five stars and most highly recommended!
March 5, 2010
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kathryn.
I just loved this beautifully illustrated and fine science/biography/nature picture book for children.
From the cover showing the kindly looking Gregor Mendel pollinating his peas, all the way through, these illustrations are lovely, engaging, and informative.
I’ve always been interested in genetics (and if I could have tolerated working with fruit flies I might have studied the subject more in depth.) I did know about Gregor Mendel’s work, but I didn’t know much about his life, and nothing about his very early life. Reading about him is inspiring.
What I really love about this book is how reading about this man’s life and work, it shows in a friendly way and so clearly the scientific method. It demystifies science and makes scientific experiments seem doable and appealing. It’s a perfect book to introduce the study of genetics, and also science and nature in general.
I feel very sad that Gregor Mendel did not get the recognition he deserved in his own lifetime.
I love so many of these picture books that are designed for school age children. This is an outstanding one.
I just loved this beautifully illustrated and fine science/biography/nature picture book for children.
From the cover showing the kindly looking Gregor Mendel pollinating his peas, all the way through, these illustrations are lovely, engaging, and informative.
I’ve always been interested in genetics (and if I could have tolerated working with fruit flies I might have studied the subject more in depth.) I did know about Gregor Mendel’s work, but I didn’t know much about his life, and nothing about his very early life. Reading about him is inspiring.
What I really love about this book is how reading about this man’s life and work, it shows in a friendly way and so clearly the scientific method. It demystifies science and makes scientific experiments seem doable and appealing. It’s a perfect book to introduce the study of genetics, and also science and nature in general.
I feel very sad that Gregor Mendel did not get the recognition he deserved in his own lifetime.
I love so many of these picture books that are designed for school age children. This is an outstanding one.
March 2, 2010
This is one of the reasons I love picture books! I checked this out on a quick whim based on the cover, thinking it was about some cute old friar dude who grew vegetables. Come to realize, Gregor Mendel is the "father of genetics" coming up with the theory of heredity. But I don't remember hearing about him--his theories, yes, but not him as a person, as a scientist. Of course, no one took him seriously in mid-1800s Europe, though years after his death scientists working on a similar theory would uncover his research and realize his genius. Interesting, too, that he was a contemporary of Darwin and, if Mendel's work had been taken seriously at the time, how the two insights might have flourished together.
This is definitely a picture book that older kids will probably get more out of--there were a few times I had to reread a passage (it's been awhile since I studied any of that chromosome stuff, haha!) but I think it's all presented in a very interesting way and the illustrations add a lot. I was fascinated by Mendel's prayer, reprinted at the end of the book, regarding his hopes and vision for what his discovery would give to the world. Especially given that scientific application of genetic theories are a controversial topic today, especially in the religious community!
This is definitely a picture book that older kids will probably get more out of--there were a few times I had to reread a passage (it's been awhile since I studied any of that chromosome stuff, haha!) but I think it's all presented in a very interesting way and the illustrations add a lot. I was fascinated by Mendel's prayer, reprinted at the end of the book, regarding his hopes and vision for what his discovery would give to the world. Especially given that scientific application of genetic theories are a controversial topic today, especially in the religious community!
March 1, 2019
An engaging picture-book biography of Gregor Mendel, the nineteenth century scholar and monk whose experiments breeding peas laid the groundwork for the modern science of genetics, Cheryl Bardoe's debut children's title (and her only one, to date) is a triumph! Following Mendel's life from his humble origins, as the son of ethnically German farmers in what is now the Czech Republic, through his early days as a student, his life as a monk and teacher, at the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas, in Brno, and his ground-breaking study of heredity, which demonstrated the existence of dominant and recessive traits, and led to the promulgation of Mendel's Laws, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is as enjoyable as it is educational.
Bardoe, who is the Senior Project Manager at The Field Museum in Chicago, has a clear understanding of, and sympathy for, her subject, something that is immediately apparent in her narrative, which makes a rather complicated topic (the conclusions to be drawn from Mendel's experiment) comprehensible for young readers. Jos A. Smith's accompanying watercolor illustrations are simply lovely, making the book an aesthetic pleasure as well! All in all, this children's biography of an important figure in scientific history is a success, and I highly recommend it to all young readers with an interest in science, or to any teacher trying to explain the concept of heredity to children.
Bardoe, who is the Senior Project Manager at The Field Museum in Chicago, has a clear understanding of, and sympathy for, her subject, something that is immediately apparent in her narrative, which makes a rather complicated topic (the conclusions to be drawn from Mendel's experiment) comprehensible for young readers. Jos A. Smith's accompanying watercolor illustrations are simply lovely, making the book an aesthetic pleasure as well! All in all, this children's biography of an important figure in scientific history is a success, and I highly recommend it to all young readers with an interest in science, or to any teacher trying to explain the concept of heredity to children.
December 4, 2022
This picture book biography is excellent! It introduces school-age kids to Mendel's life, times, and scientific experimentation, and explains his work in a way that is easy to follow even for people who aren't science-minded. The illustrations and text feel warm and welcoming, and they give a sense of how devoted and faithful Mendel was in small things that built up to world-changing discoveries.
Although the scientific community did not properly appreciate Mendel's work until after his death, the book ends with a short poem he wrote, in which he imagines rising up from his grave in the final resurrection and seeing the good that his work brought to the world. That is a lovely ending, and I appreciate the author highlighting Mendel's faith throughout the book instead of presenting him as a secular figure.
Although the scientific community did not properly appreciate Mendel's work until after his death, the book ends with a short poem he wrote, in which he imagines rising up from his grave in the final resurrection and seeing the good that his work brought to the world. That is a lovely ending, and I appreciate the author highlighting Mendel's faith throughout the book instead of presenting him as a secular figure.
April 2, 2025
Extremely interesting and informative book about the man who discovered heredity and traits. Great book for older children (I'd say 4th grade and up) as some of the littles might find the topic a bit dense. Still, well-written, lovingly illustrated and just a pleasure to read.
July 27, 2024
4 stars. This is one of my favourite nonfiction picture books because it explains everything so simply and clearly. I enjoy reading Mendel’s biography and learning about genes—though it’s always annoyed me that the graphic is not fully sufficient and is even somewhat confusing since it doesn’t show both sets of genes. The illustrations are lovely, though.
May 23, 2018
An excellent intro to plant genetics that doesn't explicitly bring God into the mix.
January 27, 2015
I thought this book was very interesting. I loved the pictures that the illustrator drew, they were so colorful that I could look at one picture close to five minutes. Here is my summary if you would like to read it. Gregor Mendal was born 1822 in Czech Republic, the people he knew discovered that breeding two different kinds of sheep together,the baby sheep would have thicker wool. Gregor loved and wanted more knowledge. He went to a school when he was twelve and loved the school. Gregor's family was poor but Gregor didn't care about food for his belly, he cared about food for his mind. In 1838 his father broke his back,he could no longer plow or till his fields.The lad now 16 could fend for himself, so teaching school he paid for four more years of school. Soon Gregor became a friar at the Abbey St. Thomas church. He studied in a library of 30,000 books! In Gregor's day no one knew why children could have his father's blue eyes or their mother's brown hair. Soon Gregor found out the different D.N.A. of things like flowers. One time he looked in a flower and it looked like it had a pea pod in it,later he discovered the D.N.A. of different kinds of peas. Today we use the same plan as he did. I love reading books!
March 22, 2016
Inside Cover:
How do mothers and fathers -- whether they are apple trees, sheep, or humans -- pass down traits to their children? This question fascinated Gregor Mendel throughout his life.
Regarded as the world's first geneticist, Gregor Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover one of the fundamental aspects of genetic science: Animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process, following the same rules.
Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great experiment: growing multiple generations of peas. From observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas, Mendel crafted his theory of heredity -- years before scientists had any notion of genes.
Children will be inspired by Gregor's never-ending search for knowledge, and his famous experiments are easy to understand as an introduction to genetics.
A contemporary of Charles Darwin's, Mendel never suffered the angst of feeling he had to throw out God to pursue his science. Being fully formed in his faith, he knew he could rest assured that God was big enough to encompass good science, not be crushed by it.
How do mothers and fathers -- whether they are apple trees, sheep, or humans -- pass down traits to their children? This question fascinated Gregor Mendel throughout his life.
Regarded as the world's first geneticist, Gregor Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover one of the fundamental aspects of genetic science: Animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process, following the same rules.
Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great experiment: growing multiple generations of peas. From observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas, Mendel crafted his theory of heredity -- years before scientists had any notion of genes.
Children will be inspired by Gregor's never-ending search for knowledge, and his famous experiments are easy to understand as an introduction to genetics.
A contemporary of Charles Darwin's, Mendel never suffered the angst of feeling he had to throw out God to pursue his science. Being fully formed in his faith, he knew he could rest assured that God was big enough to encompass good science, not be crushed by it.
November 13, 2010
This is a beautifully illustrated story about the childhood and early life of Gregor Mendel. Story also contains a very detailed description of Mendel's discoveries of genetics while observing the growth patterns of peas.
Written for upper elementary or middle school students, this story will entertain and educate.
Written for upper elementary or middle school students, this story will entertain and educate.
February 16, 2021
Wonderful book with easy to understand examples of heredity/genetics. This is a must own for our library...krb 7/12/17 (Also part of CM year 4)
Jacob read this book again to supplement his Biology reading AO Y8...krb 2/16/21
Jacob read this book again to supplement his Biology reading AO Y8...krb 2/16/21
November 16, 2020
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is a children's picture book written by Cheryl Bardoe and illustrated by Jos A. Smith. It chronicles the life and work of the father of modern genetic study receives a quiet exploration in this children biographical picture book.
Gregor Johann Mendel was a scientist, Augustinian friar and abbot of St. Thomas' Abbey in Brno, Margraviate of Moravia. Mendel was born in a German-speaking family in the Silesian part of the Austrian Empire and gained posthumous recognition as the founder of the modern science of genetics.
Bardoe's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The narrative moves back and forth from hard science, collegially explaining such complex concepts as genetic traits and dominant and recessive genes, to the vicissitudes of scholarship, sympathetically revealing how Mendel's genius was overlooked during his life. Backmatter includes an author's note and bibliogrpahy. Smith's gentle illustrations fit their deliberate subject perfectly; the diagrams of the hybrid peas themselves are a marvel of clarity.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It describes Mendel's childhood in the country, his hunger for learning so great he went without food to pay for his lessons and eventually joined the Abbey of St. Thomas, a community of intellectuals, in order to make the pursuit of knowledge his life's work. His groundbreaking experiments with peas justifiably occupy the bulk of the account, the descriptions of the dogged work of preparation and control painting a portrait of patience and scientific single-mindedness.
All in all, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is a lovely tribute to the father of modern genetics – Gregor Mendel.
Gregor Johann Mendel was a scientist, Augustinian friar and abbot of St. Thomas' Abbey in Brno, Margraviate of Moravia. Mendel was born in a German-speaking family in the Silesian part of the Austrian Empire and gained posthumous recognition as the founder of the modern science of genetics.
Bardoe's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The narrative moves back and forth from hard science, collegially explaining such complex concepts as genetic traits and dominant and recessive genes, to the vicissitudes of scholarship, sympathetically revealing how Mendel's genius was overlooked during his life. Backmatter includes an author's note and bibliogrpahy. Smith's gentle illustrations fit their deliberate subject perfectly; the diagrams of the hybrid peas themselves are a marvel of clarity.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It describes Mendel's childhood in the country, his hunger for learning so great he went without food to pay for his lessons and eventually joined the Abbey of St. Thomas, a community of intellectuals, in order to make the pursuit of knowledge his life's work. His groundbreaking experiments with peas justifiably occupy the bulk of the account, the descriptions of the dogged work of preparation and control painting a portrait of patience and scientific single-mindedness.
All in all, Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is a lovely tribute to the father of modern genetics – Gregor Mendel.
November 8, 2017
If I were still teaching, I would add this to my collection of picture books for older students. It is a good introduction to the scientific method, as well as a very interesting introduction to how science was done years ago. An enjoyable and interesting read.
January 15, 2021
Read this for the first time since we harvested our first home-grown peas. A little technical though so maybe won’t read it again for a couple of years.
August 30, 2025
Too many picture-book biographies are too simplistic. This one is wonderful, with just the right amount of biography and of science lesson. Appealing illustrations, also. And the subject is, too; he's a true STEM hero!
And in case the reader doesn't gather from the text, the author's note makes it plain: Mendel was the first to use the scientific method (instead of just observation), and his use of mathematics was innovative, too. Now every scientist has to (and wants to) do experiments whenever possible, and has to be much more familiar with 'statistics and probability' than most college graduates.
I will look for more by the author.
And in case the reader doesn't gather from the text, the author's note makes it plain: Mendel was the first to use the scientific method (instead of just observation), and his use of mathematics was innovative, too. Now every scientist has to (and wants to) do experiments whenever possible, and has to be much more familiar with 'statistics and probability' than most college graduates.
I will look for more by the author.
September 29, 2017
Beautiful book, and quite educational. I have always loved Mendel's story, and this book tells it wonderfully.
December 18, 2012
Yes, the book contains beautiful pictures, and yes, it's really cool that this book is about genetics and Gregor Mendel's pioneering efforts in this field. It's awesome that this is presented in a package for kids. But, I think that the text got pretty wordy and the explanations got a little complicated once we started getting into Mendel's experiments and discoveries. In other words, I don't know that this text would be very accessible to many kids under 5th or 6th grade. Parents and teachers should read this book and judge for themselves if their kids would get value out of this book--it is great, it's just a question of the audience to which it's being read. I believe that my niece will like this book because she's curious and scientifically inclined. But she won't like this book as much now as she might next year. I'll try it on her in 4th grade and see what she thinks then.
August 1, 2014
I picked this up at the library, hoping I'd be able to use it as a read-aloud to my classes. It starts out great, but when it gets into describing the outcomes of the pea plant crosses, it just gets too wordy and I think it would not hold their attention. I may be able to break it down and get them to pause and think about the benefits of choosing pea plants and the results of the various crosses while skipping some of the text. For students who don't already understand flower anatomy, there should be a break to explain that in further detail as well.
September 8, 2017
Great story to teach children about genetics. The illustrations are perfect.
October 5, 2018
Beautifully illustrated, suitable for kids and adults alike.
March 11, 2018
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas is an illustrated biography discussing the life and his journey to gain knowledge. Growing up, Gregor Mendel was always himself why? Why do things work the way they do? What influences these changes? He was born in 1822 in a country now called the Czech Republic. He grew up in a town with 479 people where his father worked as a hard working farmer longing for a son to follow in his footsteps. When in actuality, he was focused on uncovering nature’s secrets to share with the world. He begged for more knowledge than his school was providing, so his family used everything they had to send him to a place where he would be able to feed his mind on knowledge. He was slowly running out of resources to fund his education, as a result he became a friar at the Abbey of St. Thomas. After a funded trip to the University of Vienna where he studied how traits were passed down, he returned and was asked to begin teaching the science he learned. He is known for his experiment with pea plants, in which he was able to conclude that every pea plant contains two building blocks necessary for any one trait, these being genes. For every trait, the father and mother plants each give one gene to their child. In 1865, he published his findings to the Brno Natural History Society. However, he unfortunately did not receive the recognition he deserved during his lifetime, it was not until 1900 when other scientists from three different countries came across his findings. He is known as being the first geneticist and his discoveries are known as Mendel’s Laws. This book includes a large amount of informational text, each page full of very specific information that is straight to the point, with intricate illustrations representing the concepts discussed. The only critique in regards to this book is in reference to the content and illustrations. For a student, the number of words on the pages are lengthy, and very factual. Which may not hold a student’s attention fully, in addition, the illustrations are simple in reference to the large concepts being expressed. For a student, illustrations that catch their eye should be broadcasted to ensure they are continually engaged. Overall, this text would be for a student with a larger vocabulary and reading comprehension level due to the information displayed.
June 28, 2023
The life story and success of Gregor Mendel, the Friar who grew peas to discover plant and animal traits. His research highlights how traits are passed down generation to generation.
Criteria
Timeline: no
Author's Note:yes
Primary Source/Summary of Source: -lots of factoids throughout the book, small amount of sources listed in back
Text Level- good for MS (high)
Quotes: no
Topics: biography, picture book, narrative style
*YES- high interest
RS-YES
Criteria
Timeline: no
Author's Note:yes
Primary Source/Summary of Source: -lots of factoids throughout the book, small amount of sources listed in back
Text Level- good for MS (high)
Quotes: no
Topics: biography, picture book, narrative style
*YES- high interest
RS-YES
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October 21, 2023Gregor Mendel live starts in small village in the Czech Republic. Though out his life he is interested in the traits parents pass down to their children. He uses his love for gardening to come up with his theory of heredity.
● ● What type of biography or autobiography is the selected text? How do you know/? This book falls into the partial biography, even though a lot of information about his life is given only major facts were given.
Keywords-hybrids,patterns,pairing.
● ● What type of biography or autobiography is the selected text? How do you know/? This book falls into the partial biography, even though a lot of information about his life is given only major facts were given.
Keywords-hybrids,patterns,pairing.
November 26, 2023
2007, Orbis Pictus, non-fiction, biography, etc.
“Gregor Mendel” is about the life and discoveries made my this famous scientist. It mainly focused on his discoveries about dominant and recessive genes and how they are passed along from generation to generation. I thought this book was really interesting and explained this complicated process really well. The pictures were beautifully done and the content was made really digestible for younger audiences.
“Gregor Mendel” is about the life and discoveries made my this famous scientist. It mainly focused on his discoveries about dominant and recessive genes and how they are passed along from generation to generation. I thought this book was really interesting and explained this complicated process really well. The pictures were beautifully done and the content was made really digestible for younger audiences.
October 28, 2017
Genre: Biographical nonfiction
Reading Level: Primary Grades (4-6)
I felt this was a great book about how the discovered genes. It was a good read because I did not truly know how much work and how genes were discovered. I would for sure use this book to teach. Also I liked how it showed what dedication Gregor had to figuring it out.
Reading Level: Primary Grades (4-6)
I felt this was a great book about how the discovered genes. It was a good read because I did not truly know how much work and how genes were discovered. I would for sure use this book to teach. Also I liked how it showed what dedication Gregor had to figuring it out.
August 17, 2018
Gregor Mendel is regarded as the world's first geneticist. Through his studies of the pea plants in his garden, he discovered that all living things inherit and in turn pass down traits to their offspring in the same manner. Scientists today build upon the discoveries made by this unknown friar. An excellent book to introduce your child to the fundamentals of genetic science.
May 7, 2021
My almost tenth grader enjoyed this more than my youngest son, who was interested, but then got a bit bored. My other son and I enjoyed learning about the early discovery of genetic traits, and how dominant and recessive traits appeared in Mendel's experiments with peas. The scientific process of discovery was amazing to us.
September 24, 2025
2015
Orbis pictus honor award
Non fiction
This book is a biography about a man who grew pew plants.this book showed how and what he did during his life that led in to him becoming “addicted to nature.”
I thought the book was a fun way to have a biography expressed. The artwork was easy to follow and colorful.
Orbis pictus honor award
Non fiction
This book is a biography about a man who grew pew plants.this book showed how and what he did during his life that led in to him becoming “addicted to nature.”
I thought the book was a fun way to have a biography expressed. The artwork was easy to follow and colorful.
October 8, 2018
The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous and compliment the story of Gregor Mendel's work perfectly. The differences in the peas is shown to clearly explain what the friar was studying, a great addition to those new with the concepts of genetics.
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