"Students will enjoy reading about how something that was once thought as a disaster turned out to a monumental improvement. This would be an excellent resource to share with students as they begin experimenting to show that accidents can prove very valuable. Recommended"--School Library Connection The microwave oven, Super Glue, X-rays, fireworks, and potato chips--all of these clever creations were the result of an awesome accident. Discover the fantastic stories of the creative geniuses who transformed their mistakes, miscalculations, and mix-ups into these and many other outstanding inventions that improved our world--and saved lives. Introduction Accidents are an essential step in every learning curve, every piece of research, every act of creation. Through trial and error, we often find the right solution and the human race evolves. There is no need to be afraid of making mistakes. Error is the great teacher and is always ready to show us the way to success. Sometimes, a mistake or an accident ends up saving millions of lives, like the discovery of penicillin. At other times, a false step leads to an unexpected creation that make our lives easier and happier, like safety matches or even the delicious French desert Tarte Tatin. AWESOME ACCIDENTS is a tribute to human trial and error. It is an illustrated history of the crazy mistakes that gave us wonderful discoveries. Don't be afraid of getting things wrong; mistakes guide us and show us the way to success.