Module 2: How to Eat Fried Worms

Book summary: Taking place over the course of a few weeks, How to eat fried worms is the delightful tale of four friends, fifty dollars, and a ridiculous bet. It starts out harmlessly enough, with a conversation about what the boys would or would not eat for dinner, when Alan asks his friends if they would eat worms. With the competitive spirit on full display, Billy agrees to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days for fifty dollars (which Alan agrees to take out of his savings account, if Billy is successful). Sabotage, hijinks, and hilarity ensue as Billy courageously attempts this unprecedented task.

APA Reference of book: Rockwell, T. (1973). How to eat fried worms. New York, NY: Franklin Watts.

Impressions: While I see the appeal of young boys engaging in ridiculous one-upmanship, I was not that impressed with this book. The characters tended to blend together and the illustrations could have done more to capture the essence of the fried worm meals and the boys as individuals. While I did enjoy the chapter titles, the short chapters prevented me from really delving into the story. This may be a book that readers must re-read a few times before truly appreciating the storyline and antics of young boys, so I might revisit this book at a later time.

Professional Review: “Even fried with ketchup, mustard and horseradish sauce or baked as "Alsatian Smothered Worm" with onions and sour cream by Billy's supportive Mother, fifteen nightcrawlers are still a lot of worms to eat. Having made a fifty dollar bet, Billy persists in his one-a-day regimen much to the disgust of his friend Alan, who knows his father won't let him use his money this way in any case and tries all sorts of schemes to sabotage and psych Billy into quitting. The person who comes off best here is Billy's mother, who after a quick call to the doctor accepts the plan with perfect equanimity, but Rockwell's sensibilities (if that's the word) are so uncannily close to those of the average ten year-old boy that one begins to admire Billy as a really sharp operator.”

Reference

[Review of the book How to eat fried worms, by T. Rockwell]. (1973 September 1). Kirkus. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/thomas-rockwell/how-to-eat-fried-worms/.

Library Uses: If I were to read this title as a book club selection, I would create the “Dirt and Worms” treat as a snack for the kids to enjoy. I would also encourage them to bring family recipes so everyone can swap. In a school library setting, I would have students create their own worm dish, complete with ingredients list and illustration.