Gadget Disasters

Reach for this book when your child is feeling defeated by a mistake or frustrated that their project did not turn out perfectly. It is the perfect antidote to the 'perfectionism trap,' using real world examples of engineering failures to show that even the smartest experts mess up. This high interest nonfiction book explores famous tech blunders, from glitchy software to hardware that simply did not work, focusing on the design flaws and manufacturing errors behind them. By highlighting the 'pivot' after the failure, it emphasizes resilience and curiosity over shame. It is written in an accessible, engaging style for elementary and middle schoolers who love building and technology. Parents will find it a valuable tool for normalizing failure and encouraging a growth mindset in children who are often their own harshest critics.