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!
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Droll cartoons illustrate the stories behind the invention of such everyday items as Silly Putty, trouser cuffs, popsicles and penicillin. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-- For those readers who feel as though they've yet to accomplish anything in life, these discoveries will come as a great relief. None of the inventions described in these pages were planned; in fact, some of the inventors had no idea they'd stumbled on something useful until years later, when their works became popular. Jones covers both patented inventions (Silly Putty, Popsicles, Coca Cola) and generic ones (bricks, donut holes, cheese). She also throws in some place names whose monikers were coined accidentally. The loony watercolor sketches and all the extras here--fun facts, recipes, and anecdotes--are perfect for browsing. This book covers material similar to that in Wulffson's The Invention of Ordinary Things (Lothrop, 1981) and Steven Caney's Invention Book (Workman, 1985), but both are without the specific slant of "mistaken discovery." The only detriment to this otherwise versatile book is the cartoon stereotypes of the Eskimo, Native American, and Chinese man. --Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My mom always told me that you can't make anything if you can't make mistakes. This book proves the point aptly, highlighting several mistakes that turned into common and often-loved inventions (chocolate chip cookies, Coca-Cola, the Slinky). This is an enlightening book to share with kids, encouraging them to realize that taking risks, learning to improvise and experiment is often the best way to learn, even if you don't end up creating something new and wonderful.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Kat
Format:Paperback
This book is great! It deserves more than 5 stars. I have read this book more than once, and I plan to read it again. The stories behind the inventions are amazing! I learned so many new facts. Did you know that Levi's jeans were invented by accident? If you want to learn more, read this amazing book!
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The stories in this book are amazing. Many everyday things were really discovered accidentally. Our family, from a 75 year old grandmother to an eight year old, learned many new things. Our favorite "mistakes" are tea, the Slinky and the ice cream cone. A great addition to your home library.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
geat book for budding inventors!
Excellent book to get kids to think creatively. Written in a fun style with lots of interesting tidbits especially for a 4-5th grader.
Published 1 month ago by Roberta G. Zapp
5.0 out of 5 stars
fun!
its a great way for the 6 yr old son that things comes from the most unexpected places. I recommend it for curious monkeys like mine
Published 1 month ago by lorena
5.0 out of 5 stars
OOPs, those mistakes!
Fun reading for my grandchildren and myself. My media specialist recommended this book - now I know why. Fun facts for everyone.
Published 1 month ago by DBL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite classic!
Great classical book! Superb service. This humorous approach is beloved by students who are interested in creativity and
innovation. Read more
innovation. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pamela Jensen,PJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for science projects!
I had to do a science project about inventions and their origins. I was amazed how many simple inventions were stumbled upon by accident. Read more
Published 4 months ago
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
My nephew liked this book. He's ten and is an inventor in the making. He's also a very good reader for his age and the book was written in suitable language for a 10-12 year old.
Published 4 months ago by Kholt
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT BOOK!! I DON'T LIKE READING AND I LOVED THIS BOOK!! :D
This book is cool, fun, and educational. It tells about mistakes people made and they ended in a cool invention! I would definitely recommend this book to ages 8+!!!
Published 10 months ago by Jesse Kelley
5.0 out of 5 stars
great for kids and the grownups
So fun to read! My kids beg for this book! they are 5 and 6 and this book inspires them and encourages them at later times when their own ideas don't work out. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jonathan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book for the curious
My 9 year old son read this book & enjoyed it, he got a lot of information about the discovery of penicillin, the leaning tower of Pisa & so much more, he kept talking to us about... Read more
Published on May 25, 2010 by Kalan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for young people
I purchased this for my elementary school aged children and they loved it. Fun stories about discovery and invention. Read more
Published on January 22, 2010 by Mitchell Ito
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