The Worms of Kukumlima

by Daniel Pinkwater

Ronald accompanies his grandfather, the salami snap magnate, and the world famous explorer Sir Charles Pelicanstein, on an expedition to Africa to search for the intelligent worms of Kukumlina.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Childrens, Africa

152 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1981

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just remembered this one, what a trip.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Daniel Pinkwater's work. So quirky, different and downright hilarious. His thinking is ALWAYS outside of the box. I wish he was my uncle. Is that strange?

One thing I love about his books is that I always learn random facts from them. For instance: did you know that the hyrax, while commonly mistaken for a rodent, is more closely related to an elephant?

Daniel Pinkwater is awesome.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book as a child. I spent hours upon hours daydreaming about being Ronald Donald Almondotter, having bizarre and hilarious adventures in the heart of Africa. Rereading it as an adult, I found it had more holes than a pound of swiss cheese, but as a kid it was pure magic.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book at least a dozen times and I will read it a dozen more. Hands down one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. READ THIS BOOK and smile at Mr. Pinkwater's gorgeous imagination :)

[Krissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but ended abruptly.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the greatest books by the greatest living writer.
Odd, quirky, bizarre, fun, eclectic...yep, it's a Pinkwater book. It's odd because this is one of his books that actually has a plot. No summary or review will do this book justice. If you're one of the oddballs that love Pinkwater then you've probably already read this book 20 times and you don't need to read my review. If you're one of the common people, the sheep, the majority that have no idea what I'm talking about...it's ok, there's plenty of other books for you to read, I'm sure James Patterson has a new bestseller for you.

[Not A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me through the recommendations of the two smartest women i have ever met. They are both wonderful genius' who both read this book some time when they were around 11, or 13, or something-like-that years old; and they both credit it with so much of their success in life. This is a book I have to recommend to anyone around those ages, and to anyone who knows anyone around those ages. Because making life more interesting is important, and showing people how to make it more interesting whenever they need to is also important. So make your fellow human beings lives better; read and share The Worms of Kukumlima.

[Patricia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Pinkwater's imagination is so wild that you never know what you are going to encounter when you begin one of his books. The Worms of Kukumlima is no exception. Even as an adult, I found some truly laugh out loud moments. No spoilers here, but my personal favourites were the names of the companies owned by the grandfather in the story.

I would highly recommend his books to young readers. They are great for read alouds, too, especially if you encounter some references that may be dated due to the era the books were written. Yes, kids, there was life before mobile phones and personal computers.

[Ellice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is classic Daniel Pinkwater--a crazy plot; eccentric, weird, and often clueless characters; and sentient giant earthworms. I have fond memories of this book from my childhood, and I wasn't at all disappointed re-reading it as an adult. If this book is not in print, it should be, and if it still isn't, you should find a second-hand copy and hand it to a child near you right now.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Daniel Pinkwater book. Hurray!

2/25/11 - Read it again, loved it just as much as the first time.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story by the master, Daniel Pinkwater. This African exploration for the worms of Kukumlima is a great adventure story with a different twist. The characters are very funny and strange and the story is a fun one. I enjoyed visiting this world. I read it in the book 4 Fantastic Novels. This is a collection of novels by Pinkwater.

[Moonbeam Albin-Frey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite book since I was 7 years old. My father and I still enjoy reading it together 30 years later! I have read most of Mr. Pinkwater's other books and this is by far the funniest and most absurd. This should be a book on every comedy-lover's bookshelf.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another boy with an odd older relative, this time one who invented the salami closure. Their eccentric group ends up taking on giant earthworms in an African crater with miniature elephants. Crazy? It's Pinkwater.

[Judah E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinkwater does Pinkwater

Ahh, another wild and zany Pinkwater adventure with wacky characters, funny surnames and more than a touch of the fantastical. An excellent addition to the Pinkwater collection.

[Jo Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with other Pinkwater books, it was a curious read. Very quirky but quite enjoyable.

[Neil Troost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great , less well known

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book to my daughter. She thought it was kind of slow in the beginning, but picks up and becomes more interesting by the end. I would agree with that. It has a very imaginative--and silly-- plot and is often amusing. Not my favorite children's book, but worth a read.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I am adding this book but I remember reading it and loving it. Very inventive and probably the best of Pinkwater for my money.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even more great big goofy fun from Danile Pinkwater. Chess playing worms, rusting cargo planes, and elephant mice oh my!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The people's names in this book were funny. Great book!