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How to Eat Fried Worms (by Thomas Rockwell)

common sense media says

Kids are sure to devour this gross-out book.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book's title isn't just a gimmick; it's actually a story about eating real, live worms (or, in some cases, worms that have been cooked and killed). Kids will laugh, but adults are likely to get grossed out. There is a fistfight, and two of the boys cheat to win the bet. And since the book was released in 1973, some gender roles seem outdated.

Positive messages: Beneath the gross humor there really isn't anything going on here.
Positive role models: Males and females have very traditional roles within the family. For
example, the fathers are called in to hand out punishments after a
fight, and Joe says picking flowers is his sister's job. Alan and Joe
cheat in order to win their bet, but they lose out in the end.
Violence: Nothing too bad. The boys engage in a fistfight, for example. One boy throws a rock at another, hitting him in the eye.
Sex: A brief, vague mention of teens in the backseat of their car.
Language: Some minor stuff like "crap."
Consumerism: The parents promise to take the kids to Friendly's for ice cream.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One dad drinks a beer.

More on How to Eat Fried Worms

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about why gross-out books are so popular. 
  • Why do you like them -- and is there any kind of situation that would be so gross you wouldn't want to read about it? 
  • Parents might also want to ask kids what the message here is. 
  • Think past the gross stuff: Do the characters end up learning anything? Finally, families who see the movie might want to compare and contrast it with the book. What's different?
  • Which version do you prefer?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Billy Forrester's always up for a dare, but this time he's in for a real challenge. His friends, Alan and Joe, bet Billy fifty dollars that he can't eat 15 worms in 15 days. Billy survives the first one, chokes down the second, and practically relishes the third.

When Joe and Alan realize that Billy's going to stick to his goal -- and even enjoy doing it -- they try everything they can to keep Billy from reaching his goal. Billy, with the help of his family and his friend Tom, tries to stay one step ahead of their tricks. They even create new recipes -- from Southern Fried Worm to Whizbang Worm Delight -- to help Billy reach his goal.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
There's one thing to be said for HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS: It gets kids to read. Its disgusting premise, a bet about eating worms, is so in tune with middle-grade humor that even kids who say they hate books will read it and recommend it to their friends. In the end, this may not be literature, but the humor will genuinely appeal to kids reluctant to leave behind the silly humor of early reader series like The Adventures of Captain Underpants.

Its short chapters and numerous pictures help young readers ease the transition to longer chapter books. But the book, which has now spawned a movie, will have less appeal for adults. Grown-ups are likely to get tired of the repetition -- there are only so many ways to cook a worm, after all -- and might feel slightly sick along the way.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Thomas Rockwell
Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully
Publication date: August 24, 2006
Number of pages: 116
Paperback price: $4.99

This review was written by Norah Caroline Piehl
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

neisha
teen, 16 years old
 
Awesome!
THIS BOOK IS A “DELIGHTFUL” BOOK IT IS BEYOND THE BEYOND. THE MAIN IDEA ABOUT THE BOOK IS A BOYNAMED BILLY THAT TRIED TO BE A SHOW OFF TWARDS HIS FRIENDS AND THE NEXT DAY THE SCHOOL BULLY HEARD ABOUT IT AND HE BETED BILLY TO EAT FIFTHTEEN WORMS IN FIFTHTEEN DAYS AND THE REST YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT TO HEAR THE REST! THIS BOOK IS FOR THE AGES 9 AND UP!

Im bossy
teen, 17 years old
 
Christinas boss
This book is for 10 and up this is for boys who like worms and its not really for girls unless your a tom boy and u like worms the charters are all boys and girls would get grossed out by them

Marquez rocks
teen, 16 years old
 
This books rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that 4th and up should read it and parents. It is interesting to read I hope that you read this book. I think boys would mostly like like to eat fried worms. If girls want to read it they can and I hope whoever read it I hope yall will like it,please read it!!!

chicjessi
kid, 12 years old
 
The book is really funny. Good Book

mominma
adult
 
Fun and fast-paced story
Read it aloud to my 6-year old daughter and 8-year old son. They loved it!

Kara Gildone
parent of 11 and 13 year old
 
This book is fun, fun, funny!
Book Review for How To Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell Reviewed by: Alec Gildone May 27, 2009 How to Eat Fried Worms is a good book and is fun to read. There is a funny part in the book where Tom, Billy, Allen and Joe have a rock war and they were calling each other silly names. My favorite part of the book is when Billy’s friends challenge him to eat fried worms to win a mini bike. It’s my favorite because I like mini bikes and want to get one but my mom won’t let me because she is mean. I think the characters in this book are real people that are just like me and my friends. They bet each other and have wars. The ending was really cool, but I don’t want to give it away. I recommend kids read this book because it is funny and it’s easy for third graders to read, like me.

germs eats me
teen, 14 years old
 
love it
I read How to Eat Fried Worms, and I think that boys would love to read it. Girls, they might throw up because boys eat worms in this book. I think kids first and third grade would love it.

 
The title says it all.
Can a bet drive you far enough to eat FRIED WORMS?! Well in this case yes! Read all about it

CSM Screen ...
teen, 15 years old
 
It was so exciting that I needed a new heart!
How to Eat Fried Worms is an amazing thriller! They had me shocked by their attitudes. I think the book is for adventurously 4th grade kids and up. They would love this book, but the girls wouldn't that much. They might get grossed out by the worms. The worms were as squishy and slimy as slugs. The boys in the book argued and fought. It was amazing! The highlight of the story is about this boy that made a bet with a bully that he couldn't eat 15 worms in 15 days one a day. This book is amazing, thrilling, and fun!

CSM Screen ...
teen, 16 years old
 
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
This book was about a boy whp made a bet with some friends that he had to eat 15 worms in 15 days.I think it would be best for boys to read this bok because most girls hate worms!!!I also prefer that the boys and some girls at the ages of 8-10 should read this book.

davidtan
teen, 13 years old
 
It is very good!
Teach children not to cheat

mebe
kid, 13 years old
 
okyrok

Kten
educator and parent of 9 and 12 year old
 
Great for the boys in your life.
Definitely a book about the troubles that boys can get into. I like that the parents stayed out and let the boys figure it out by themselves.Reading how the boys tried to get out of this mess that they created was entertaining and imaginative.

somkiat
adult
 
How to eat fried worms
One day,there were three boys that bet billy to eat fifteen worms. If billy can do it, he will get $50 to buy a minibike from his friends.

KalinaStar24
kid, 12 years old
 
Appropriate book with no educational value
How To Eat Fried Worms is a book full of plot;however it lacks excitement. This book is appropriate for younger kids, but some may be grossed out. Also, there aren't really educational messages, but the book is completely appropriate. I would use my time to read other things.

SixAkers
parent of 10 year old
 
Parental guidance depending on your kids character
Actually just happen to glance over my son's shoulder and see a word the boys use in a fight that I was surprised was there. Talked to him about not using degrading words and bad words, and being careful not to repeat things that me may have read. He said "I know mom, I understand that!" nothing else. He is 9 and digested the book in about a day!

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