Mistakes That Worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones

Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions And How They Came To Be
by Charlotte Foltz Jones

Illustrated by John O'Brien

Dozens of the objects we use almost every day had surprisingly haphazard beginnings. Scotchgard was discovered when a scientist spilled part of an experiment on her shoe.

Potato chips were first cooked by a chef who was furious when a customer complained that his fried potatoes were not thin enough.

Coca-Cola, Silly Putty, X rays, and many other familiar things have fascinating stories behind them.

Forty of these unusual tales, along with hilarious cartoons and weird, funny facts, make up this fun-filled book.

“A splendid book that is as informative as it is entertaining a gem.”
- Booklist, Starred

“Perfect for browsing.”
- School Library Journal

An International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice

Charlotte Foltz Jones lives in Boulder, Colorado. She is the author of more than a hundred magazine articles. John O’Brien is a staff artist for The New Yorker and has illustrated many children's books. He lives in New Jersey.

They have worked together on two other titles, Accidents May Happen: Fifty Inventions Discovered by Mistake and Eat Your Words: A Fascinating Look at the Language of Food, also available.