Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas

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, show more 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. show less

Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe is an engaging biography that introduces upper elementary students to the life of Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics. Through beautiful illustrations and accessible text, the book explains how Mendel discovered the principles of heredity by experimenting with pea plants, making complex scientific concepts understandable for young readers. Ideal for grades 3–5, this book can be used in science lessons to explore genetics and the scientific method, paired with hands-on activities like observing plant growth or exploring inherited traits. It also serves as an inspiring story of curiosity and perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge.

(3rd-4th grade)
This book tells the story of Gregor Mendel, who discovered how genetics is passed down. This book would be great to read before a science lesson on genetics. Being able to pique a child's interest in how traits work will help them to learn the material faster and be more engaged with the topic.

Not only was Mendel the first geneticist, but he was the best earliest contributor to the development of the formal scientific method.

He was the son of hard-working fathers, and before he became a monk & scholar he did have to work hard and go hungry to be able to go to school.
The book is appealing because it's written in straightforward language, with pictures that are both attractive and informative, and it's thorough. ?�An author's note goes into even more depth than the text.

It's got the clearest explanation I've ever seen of how dominant and recessive genes influence not just the next generation, but the future ones down the line. ?áIt also talks about how unfortunate it is that his work wasn't appreciated at the time, and that show more therefore Darwin didn't benefit from it. ?áPerhaps if ppl had been more receptive to the import of this research in the 1860s, the foundations of genetics & evolution would have been laid more firmly, and we wouldn't still be fighting the creationists. show less

I really enjoyed the book, “GREGOR MENDEL- the Friar who Grew Peas.” This book takes the reader on a brief journey through Gregor Mendel’s life and the accomplishment of becoming the first geneticist. It was very informative and easy to follow. The author puts an abundance of scientific terms into easy to follow sentences and explains them in chronological order.
The illustrations in this book are an extension to the words on the page. The pictures allow the reader to visualize the words written. I think selecting Mendel’s pea plant, leaves, and vines as the end pages reinforces what the story is about.
I know this book is rated for young readers, but I think I could definitely show this book to a high school science class. I show more think it would reinforce a lesson on genetics and traits putting the information into a simple form for the students to understand. show less

As a teaching assistant in Biology, I was overjoyed to see a children's book that focuses on such an integral founder of the modern genetic movement. The bright primary colors, rich yet simple drawings, and deliberate but scientifc wording presented an overall fantastic way of presenting the history of genetics to children. Knowledge on recessive and dominant traits and inheritance is not easy for undergraduate students to attain, and I think this book will be one I use to help teach even these older 'children' this topic!

A must for science and biology classes, the graphs and scientific information can be used to reinforce or introduce concepts.Can also be used as a history book. The hand drawn and colored illustrations are attention getting and the story shows children the power of curious imagination and experimentation.