Fantastic Failures: True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First

Even the world’s most successful people have failed along the way. Discover how famous innovators, creators, athletes, and changemakers turned setbacks into opportunities to learn, grow, and keep going in this inspiring guide to resilience, perseverance, and the power of trying again.

What if failure isn’t the opposite of success—but an important part of learning, growing, and discovering what you’re capable of?

Kids face plenty of pressure to get things right, whether they’re navigating school, friendships, activities, or their own expectations. As a teacher, Luke Reynolds saw firsthand how difficult mistakes and setbacks could feel for his students. In Fantastic Failures, he offers young readers a reassuring message: getting something wrong doesn’t define you. What matters is what you learn, how you adapt, and whether you’re willing to try again.

Through engaging true stories, readers meet remarkable people who encountered rejection, disappointment, mistakes, and failure on their way to making an impact. From J. K. Rowling, Albert Einstein, Rosa Parks, and Sonia Sotomayor to Vincent van Gogh, Julia Child, Steven Spielberg, and Betsey Johnson, each profile reveals that even people remembered for extraordinary accomplishments faced moments when things didn’t go according to plan.

Along the way, Reynolds also explores surprising discoveries and inventions that came about through accidents, mistakes, and unexpected results, showing how curiosity and an open mind can turn something that went “wrong” into an opportunity to discover something new.

Funny, encouraging, and filled with fascinating true stories, Fantastic Failures helps young readers rethink what it means to fail. By showing that setbacks are a natural part of learning and achievement, this inspiring collection encourages kids to build resilience, embrace a growth mindset, learn from mistakes, and find the courage to keep going—even when success doesn’t happen the first time.

Luke Reynolds taught in public schools for many years before becoming an assistant professor of education at Endicott College. He is the author of the Fantastic Failures books, Surviving Middle School, The Looney Experiment, Braver Than I Thought, and the picture books If My Love Were a Fire Truck and Bedtime Blastoff!. He and his wife, Jennifer, have four sons, and they live in Massachusetts, where they endeavor to be outside and exploring as much as possible.