Mistakes That Worked

40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be

Illustrated by John O'Brien
$6.99 US
RH Childrens Books | Delacorte Press
On sale Oct 11, 2016 | 978-0-399-55203-8
Age 8-12 years
Reading Level: Lexile 1040L | Fountas & Pinnell T
Sales rights: World

Popsicles, potato chips, Silly Putty, Velcro, and many other familiar things have fascinating stories behind them. In fact, dozens of products and everyday items had surprisingly haphazard beginnings. Mistakes That Worked offers forty of these unusual tales, along with hilarious cartoons and weird and amazing facts. Readers will be surprised and inspired!

  • WINNER | 1996
    Kentucky Bluegrass Master List
"A splendid book that is as informative as it is entertaining. Jones has great fun with facts, dredging up plenty in a lively, anecdotal account that recollects the oddball origins of a variety of foods, clothing, toys, and devices....A gem of a book."--Booklist, starred review

About

Popsicles, potato chips, Silly Putty, Velcro, and many other familiar things have fascinating stories behind them. In fact, dozens of products and everyday items had surprisingly haphazard beginnings. Mistakes That Worked offers forty of these unusual tales, along with hilarious cartoons and weird and amazing facts. Readers will be surprised and inspired!

Awards

  • WINNER | 1996
    Kentucky Bluegrass Master List

Praise

"A splendid book that is as informative as it is entertaining. Jones has great fun with facts, dredging up plenty in a lively, anecdotal account that recollects the oddball origins of a variety of foods, clothing, toys, and devices....A gem of a book."--Booklist, starred review