"Because of a bet, Billy is in the uncomfortable position of having to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. A hilarious story that will revolt a...
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Nov 27, 2011
Jessica
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I enjoyed this humorous tale of young fifth grade boys who will go to extreme lengths to prove they are not a "wuss," and to win a bet that is proposed by a group of close friends. In this story, a fifth grader named Billy bets that he can eat 15 worms, one per day, for fifteen days, if his friend, Alan agrees to pay him fifty dollars. Billy's friend Tom is hoping that Billy is successful and supports him the whole time, while Alan has a sidekick, Joe, who wants nothing more than to he
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Feb 22, 2011
Charles
rated it: 
Let’s talk about the book that changed the way I eat, Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 How to Eat Fried Worms. Forget munching on mud pies, everyone, let’s nibble some nutritious night crawlers!
Mr. Rockwell’s story is about a boy named Billy who has agreed to a bet to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. Not an easy task, unless you’re a bird or fish. But the stakes make it worthwhile to Billy. Fifty bucks is on the line and Billy wants to buy a mini-bike. If he wins the bet, the bike is his. So More...
Mr. Rockwell’s story is about a boy named Billy who has agreed to a bet to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. Not an easy task, unless you’re a bird or fish. But the stakes make it worthwhile to Billy. Fifty bucks is on the line and Billy wants to buy a mini-bike. If he wins the bet, the bike is his. So More...
Dec 22, 2010
Shaun
rated it:
Ingredients: 50 whole dollar bills, 15 ripe earthworms, 4 young boys, 1 disgusting dare
Combine all ingredients into a small book, carefully mix with witty dialogue, stir in unforgettable characters, add a dash of nausea, a pinch of mischief and generously sprinkle with humorous chapters. Let stand for fifteen days, remove from bookshelf and enjoy in large helpings.
How to Eat Fried Worms is a recipe for fun, laughter and possibly an upset stomach. However, it is sure to p More...
Combine all ingredients into a small book, carefully mix with witty dialogue, stir in unforgettable characters, add a dash of nausea, a pinch of mischief and generously sprinkle with humorous chapters. Let stand for fifteen days, remove from bookshelf and enjoy in large helpings.
How to Eat Fried Worms is a recipe for fun, laughter and possibly an upset stomach. However, it is sure to p More...
Nov 24, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
I read this to the second graders. I think it was more enjoyable to them because they remember our awesome Principal actually eating fried worms last spring when the kids met their reading contest goal. That was quite a memorable event.
It was also a good experience for many of the kids to realize just how much Hollywood can change a story. I have liked this book since I was a child, but did not care for the movie at all.
The book does not have the theme of bullying and in More...
It was also a good experience for many of the kids to realize just how much Hollywood can change a story. I have liked this book since I was a child, but did not care for the movie at all.
The book does not have the theme of bullying and in More...
Jul 17, 2011
Dave
rated it: 
This is a true American classic, a great children's book from the 1970's. I first read it when I was a fourth grader back in 1976. The premise is a bet to eat 15 worms in 15 days. I was initially repulsed at the idea of eating worms but inspired by the idea of winning the fifty dollar bet to buy a mini-bike. In fact, later that summer I did yard work to earn the money for my first "mini-bike" a 1974 Honda CT 70.
Eating worms was just too gross.
This book has a history of being More...
Eating worms was just too gross.
This book has a history of being More...
Jul 26, 2009
DeAnne
rated it:
My six-year old LOVED this book...as boys do seem fascinated by icky things. Despite the fact that I've had to make various worm inspired dishes because of this book, (not with real worms, mind you) I think that this book has some valuable lessons, as well as an interesting peek at the social dynamic of boys.
Precis: When four friends, Billy, Tom, Alan, and Joe meet one day to discuss why Tom failed to join the others in a trespassing incident, they learn that he was kept indoors fo More...
Precis: When four friends, Billy, Tom, Alan, and Joe meet one day to discuss why Tom failed to join the others in a trespassing incident, they learn that he was kept indoors fo More...
Nov 28, 2011
LLash
rated it:
TRANSITIONAL SELECTION
"How to Eat Friend Worms" by Thomas Rockwell is a gross book to read, in my opinion. However, putting myself in the mind of a younger reader, I could see why kids find this book so enjoyable to read and humorous. This book is about a boy who is dared to eat 15 worms in 15 days. . . for 50 dollars! Billy, the boy who is dared by Alan, decides to pursue this bet and eat all 15 worms. Throughout the book, there comes some struggles, but indeed Billy doe More...
"How to Eat Friend Worms" by Thomas Rockwell is a gross book to read, in my opinion. However, putting myself in the mind of a younger reader, I could see why kids find this book so enjoyable to read and humorous. This book is about a boy who is dared to eat 15 worms in 15 days. . . for 50 dollars! Billy, the boy who is dared by Alan, decides to pursue this bet and eat all 15 worms. Throughout the book, there comes some struggles, but indeed Billy doe More...
Apr 14, 2009
Mannie
rated it:
Being a new Kid in school can have its ups and downs.For Billy it was Downs. How to eat fried worms by Thomas B. Billy the new kid, with in the fist five days of school he has already earned a new name " worm boy" and has made a bet with the school bully Joe on eating 15 worms in 15 days for fifty dollars. Now i know this sounds disgusting but many people would do just about anything for money. Billy goes on with the bet. Slowly billy gains the crowds attention by actually eating the w
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Nov 28, 2011
Matt
rated it:
Transitional Book
In this funny story for kids, a kid named Billy is dared to eat 15 worms in 15 days. his prize is two of his friends giving him $50 so he can buy a mini bike. If he cannot finish the dare, he must give his two friends $50 each. Throughout his 15 days, his two friends try everything they can to keep Billy from finishing the worms. They glue two together to make it harder, they send a fake note acting like his doctor telling him to stop eating them, and they even lock hi More...
In this funny story for kids, a kid named Billy is dared to eat 15 worms in 15 days. his prize is two of his friends giving him $50 so he can buy a mini bike. If he cannot finish the dare, he must give his two friends $50 each. Throughout his 15 days, his two friends try everything they can to keep Billy from finishing the worms. They glue two together to make it harder, they send a fake note acting like his doctor telling him to stop eating them, and they even lock hi More...
Oct 03, 2011
Robert
rated it:
I recall reading this as a student. It would have been a new book at that time. The thing that struck me was the length of the chapters. Some were just a paragraph in length. For some reason that fascinated me.
I have read this with some of my reading groups over the years. More recently I have shunned it, however. Despite the 3.5 reading level, I find this a difficult read with students. I think the amount of dialogue used is confusing for readers. I also recall that the last More...
I have read this with some of my reading groups over the years. More recently I have shunned it, however. Despite the 3.5 reading level, I find this a difficult read with students. I think the amount of dialogue used is confusing for readers. I also recall that the last More...
Jan 18, 2011
Annalisa
rated it:
This is a great book for boys. It was particularly enjoyed in our home since my son and one of the main characters is named "Billy". My daughters were thoroughly grossed out and my son loved all of the antics of the boys.
Amazon.com Review:
How to Eat Fried Worms has happily repulsed children since its original publication in 1973. Now youngsters can experience this classic story in a whole new yucky way, by listening to it on audiocassette. Narrator Jay O. Sanders gives More...
Amazon.com Review:
How to Eat Fried Worms has happily repulsed children since its original publication in 1973. Now youngsters can experience this classic story in a whole new yucky way, by listening to it on audiocassette. Narrator Jay O. Sanders gives More...
Jul 05, 2010
Kirei
rated it:
This is a great book. It all starts with a bet over whether Billy can eat fifteen worms in fifteen days--one worm a day. It turns into a mini Lord of the Flies with his opponents (Alan and Joe) doing whatever they can to win. Lots of twists and turns here!
Also lots to chew on--would you cheat to win a bet? How far would you go to win a bet? Should the parents get involved or stay out of it? What would YOU do for fifty dollars? (Since this was written in 1973, I imagine it would b More...
Also lots to chew on--would you cheat to win a bet? How far would you go to win a bet? Should the parents get involved or stay out of it? What would YOU do for fifty dollars? (Since this was written in 1973, I imagine it would b More...
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May 10, 2009
crayolaab
rated it:
After a discussion at work about this book I realized I didn't remember anything about it, although I am sure I read it several times as a child. It only took about 20 minutes to read, and it was just as fun as I remember. I know I had forgotten all of the details about the ways to prepare the worms and the specific terms of the bet, and I had also forgotten some of the ways that the boys tried to sabotage Billy so they wouldn't lose the bet.
One thing I really liked about the boo More...
One thing I really liked about the boo More...
Jan 02, 2009
one time, when i was in elementary school, i saw a kid eat a fried worm.
we had just read the book, in some little class they had us gathered in, and once it was done they sent us outside so we could jaunt around and form groups that would ridicule one another, with squealed taunts and frequent displays of running away.
there was a paved area, just outside the doors that sheltered the wooden cubbies that held our coats and boots. it had been a wet night. some unlucky anneli More...
we had just read the book, in some little class they had us gathered in, and once it was done they sent us outside so we could jaunt around and form groups that would ridicule one another, with squealed taunts and frequent displays of running away.
there was a paved area, just outside the doors that sheltered the wooden cubbies that held our coats and boots. it had been a wet night. some unlucky anneli More...
Jul 27, 2011
Emily
rated it:
Overall Rating: What little boy could find fault with a book about winning a bet by eating worms? How to Eat Fried Worms is full of all kinds of hilarious (and super gross!) antics with boys being boys! Billy thinks he can eat those 15 worms in 15 days and win $50! Will he be able to do it? The boys become very imaginative in so many ways! They team up—two on two—one side coming up with magnificent ways to prepare the worms so they’re more edible: boiled or fried and topped with ketchup, m
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Jul 24, 2011
Denise
rated it:
In this book, there were four boys named John, Billy, Joe and Alan. One day, Billy started to bet that he could eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. So all of the agreed that if Billy eats all of the worms in fifteen days, Alan will give his friend Billy fifty dollars. On the first day, Billy acted really crazy. After the first day, Billy was starting to like the worm. On the very last day of eating the worms, Alan tricked Billy that the fifteenth worm were just beans, so Billy chased Alan all ar
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Jun 11, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Just started this a few nights ago with Rebekah as a read aloud.
We finished reading How To Eat Fried Worms last week. Rebekah and I both thought it was very funny. I had completely forgotten how this story played out and was glad to have the opportunity to read it again.
I loved to "see" how the boys in the story processed information. It was as if I could actually see the wheels in their minds spinning. So many times I thought to myself, "Oh yeah, I c More...
We finished reading How To Eat Fried Worms last week. Rebekah and I both thought it was very funny. I had completely forgotten how this story played out and was glad to have the opportunity to read it again.
I loved to "see" how the boys in the story processed information. It was as if I could actually see the wheels in their minds spinning. So many times I thought to myself, "Oh yeah, I c More...
May 23, 2007
jacky
rated it: 
This book was alright. It had a good story about bullying and sticking by your friends, from what I remember. But the eating the worms was gross. So, its good for kids who like to read about gross things. :)
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May 27, 2009
Christa (is on top of the world!)
rated it: 
This book didn't intrest me in the least. Seriously, a book about a boy who is dared to eat worms and accepts seems like too much of a common thing that young boys would do. Not to mention that, since it is a kids book why would a kid want to read about another kid who eats worms when they could probably wacth someone else, who they actually know, eat them? I know it sounds like I was a bully when I was younger, but I've just allways looked at it as a kid who willingly does something dumb just t
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Feb 24, 2011
Devyn
rated it:
A story about a group of boys and a bet. Billy tells his friends that eating 15 worms isn't that big of a deal, and they call him out on it. He has to eat 15 worms in 15 days and if he wins the bet, his buddy Alan will give him 50 dollars. Only problem is Alan keeps trying to cheat and Billy thinks he is getting sick.
This was an entertaining book. Took me about 45 minutes to read. It was a quick read and I didn't get too attached to the characters. I enjoyed it, but it is something I would More...
This was an entertaining book. Took me about 45 minutes to read. It was a quick read and I didn't get too attached to the characters. I enjoyed it, but it is something I would More...
May 25, 2007
Melissa
rated it:
I picked up a used copy of this book at Goodwill a few years back and re-read it. Definitely not as good as it was when I was in single digits. :)
Can't wait to hand it off to the nephews.
Can't wait to hand it off to the nephews.
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Apr 15, 2009
Jeannie
rated it:
Yuck! I read this as a child. Kids are really intrigued by the concept. Maybe good for discussions about to take or not-to-take a dare, what we value, etc.
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Nov 28, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
This was my transitional book.
One thing that I really liked about this book, is that students of both genders would enjoy it. The boys would be able to relate to it personally (because boys are always daring each other things like that) and the girls would either also be able to relate to it, or be somewhat grossed out by it that they wouldn't be able to put it down. This book is funny, and students would be able to relate to it, but it would also provide an opportunity to discuss some More...
One thing that I really liked about this book, is that students of both genders would enjoy it. The boys would be able to relate to it personally (because boys are always daring each other things like that) and the girls would either also be able to relate to it, or be somewhat grossed out by it that they wouldn't be able to put it down. This book is funny, and students would be able to relate to it, but it would also provide an opportunity to discuss some More...
Apr 16, 2010
Tina
rated it:
This book is about a dare. Alan bets Billy $50 to eat 15 fried worms. Billy really wants the money so he can buy a minibike. He starts eating the worms and it looks like the dare will be easier than he initially thought. The only problem is that Alan has some tricks up his sleeves to prevent Billy from winning. Will Billy win the bet? How do fried worms really taste? There is a movie of this book that was made in 2006. This book is a great choice for boys because it borders on disgusting
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Feb 13, 2010
Mitchel
rated it:
I loved this book. I read this one in elementary school and again when the movie was released. This is a hilarious book and reveals a lot about the social conventions of being a young man, the “dare” and or proving ones self to his peers is almost a right of passage. My son watched the preview for this movie before it was released and asked if we would be able to go watch it in the theatre. I told him we would, but he had to agree to read the book first, and he did. We read the book together and
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May 09, 2009
Janet
rated it:
I always thought this was a Beverly Cleary book. Don’t ask me why. This is all my coworker's fault. To make a long story short we were discussing SPAM (the food, not the junk e-mail) and somehow we digressed to this book. She was scandalized that I’d never read it and I had to keep the peace somehow, so here I am. The parents in this book were awfully permissive, especially when Billy’s mom actually cooked the worms for him! I realize this is a kids’ book, and therefore doesn’t necessarily have
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Feb 17, 2010
Jillian
rated it:
I read this book to my 3rd graders. They loved it. It was short and action packed with gross-out worm-eating goodness!
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Sep 09, 2009
Cassie
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When four friends are together, what do you think happens when one of them annouces that they could eat anything?! the dares start coming out and Billy is faced with accepting a dare to eat 15 worms in 15 days for $50. He can use any condiment he wishes and cook them any way he wants, but he has to eat them all, or he loses. As the days tick by, his friends get increasingly nervous Billy will actually do it, so they pull out the psychological warefare. This leads to a fun, albeit icky, read.
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