11 Experiments That Failed

Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Paperback
$8.99 US
On sale Jun 16, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9798217125005

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A hilarious how-to of "science" experiments, dreamed up by a wildly imaginative kid.

Is it possible to eat snowballs doused in ketchup--and nothing else--all winter? Can a washing machine wash dishes? By reading the step-by-step instructions, kids can discover the answers to such all-important questions along with the book's curious narrator. Here are 12 "hypotheses," as well as lists of "what you need," "what to do," and "what happened" that are sure to make young readers laugh out loud as they learn how to conduct science experiments (really!). Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter--the ingenious pair that brought you 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore--have outdone themselves in this brilliant and outrageously funny book.
  • WINNER | 2011
    Kid's Indie Next List "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"
  • NOMINEE
    Bank Street Child Study Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2014
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
© Emily Tobey
Jenny Offill is the author of the novels Last Things (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the L.A. Times First Book Award), and Dept. of Speculation, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Pen Faulkner Award and the International Dublin Award. She lives in upstate New York and teaches at Syracuse University and in the low residency program at Queens University. View titles by Jenny Offill
Nancy Carpenter has won the Christopher Award for her picture book illustrations. A graduate of Parsons, she lives in Brooklyn, NY. View titles by Nancy Carpenter

About

A hilarious how-to of "science" experiments, dreamed up by a wildly imaginative kid.

Is it possible to eat snowballs doused in ketchup--and nothing else--all winter? Can a washing machine wash dishes? By reading the step-by-step instructions, kids can discover the answers to such all-important questions along with the book's curious narrator. Here are 12 "hypotheses," as well as lists of "what you need," "what to do," and "what happened" that are sure to make young readers laugh out loud as they learn how to conduct science experiments (really!). Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter--the ingenious pair that brought you 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore--have outdone themselves in this brilliant and outrageously funny book.

Awards

  • WINNER | 2011
    Kid's Indie Next List "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"
  • NOMINEE
    Bank Street Child Study Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2014
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award

Author

© Emily Tobey
Jenny Offill is the author of the novels Last Things (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the L.A. Times First Book Award), and Dept. of Speculation, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Pen Faulkner Award and the International Dublin Award. She lives in upstate New York and teaches at Syracuse University and in the low residency program at Queens University. View titles by Jenny Offill
Nancy Carpenter has won the Christopher Award for her picture book illustrations. A graduate of Parsons, she lives in Brooklyn, NY. View titles by Nancy Carpenter

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