All About Worms » BookWorms

Worms that Eat Leather

Evan — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:40:23 +0000

In a series of short, descriptive sentences, a reader recently wrote us asking if any worms eat leather. The reader was in a secondhand store and came across a leather dog leash that looked as though it had been eaten by small worms. There were tunnels in the leash, possibly caused by some worm or worm-like creature, which made it look a “bit like furniture that was attacked by woodworm.” Overall, the leash lacked the structure of leather, however this is to be conceived, which made the leash look like a “uniform grey mass.”

Unfortunately, we know of no specific species of worm that eats exclusively (or even largely) leather, which makes this question a bit tricky. Since we don’t know of any worms that thrive on leather in particular, the extra details about the leash’s appearance, as descriptive as they are, don’t help us much in identifying this worm. However, we do know that there are a number of worms that feed on bizarre materials.

We should begin by saying that it is certainly possible that worms are responsible for the disintegrating dog leash described by our reader. Worms are known to consume all sorts of crazy stuff, as anyone who composts using worms can attest to. When left in a compost bin, a large range of materials will eventually start to fall apart thanks the unyielding appetite of worms, and there is no reason to suppose that this doesn’t apply to leather (after all, leather was once part of an animal, and worms certainly feed on animals). However, commercial leather products are treated with certain chemicals that could harm worms, meaning that new leather would likely not be consumed by worms. Thus, it’s possible that worms would eat leather, but only if the leather is really old; the chemicals used to treat leather would be really faint in old leather, so they would likely not harm worms if they tried to eat it.

One type of worm that eats strange materials are bookworms, a blanket term that refers to the larvae of different types of beetles, such as the cigarette beetle, the drugstore beetle, and the Mexican book beetle. Bookworms are extremely small (about .1 to .2 inches long) and get their name because they eat books, particularly old books that are bound with paste and glue. (This is why modern books use alum, or the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum, in the paste of their bindings – it discourages the larvae.) Bookworms eat all the parts of older books, including the leather covers. In fact, the larvae of the cigarette beetle are known to eat leather in general (among many other things), not just leather attached to books.

In conclusion, we don’t know what type of worm is responsible for the dog leash our reader saw, but we do know, one, that there is nothing in principle that would prevent worms from eating leather and, two, there are in fact types of worms that eat leather, like the larvae of cigarette beetles, which isn’t really a worm at all, but the larval stage of a beetle, but we digress.

How to Eat Fried Worms Summary

Michelle — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:22:03 +0000

How to Eat Fried Worms is a classic children’s story that was originally published in 1973. The book has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide and it’s author, Thomas Rockwell has received numerous awards including The Mark Twain Award, The California Young Reader Medal, and The Sequoyah Book Award for How to Eat Fried Worms.

The Story
How to Eat Fried Worms is about a 10-year old boy named Billy and the group of friends that challenged him to eat 15 worms in 15 days. The bet, worth $50, will win Billy enough money to buy a shiny new minibike. Billy’s friends aren’t heartless, so don’t worry! Billy’s buds decide to cook up the worms in a variety of appealing ways to lessen the ‘yuck’ factor for Billy. The kids fry the worms in butter and cornmeal, cover them in mustard and ketchup, and they even create a real live ice cream worm cake to appeal to Billy’s sweet tooth. The following is an excerpt from “How to Eat Fried Worms.”

“Trout, Salmon, flounder, perch,
I’ll ride my minibike into church.
Dace, tuna, haddock, trout,
Wait’ll you hear the minister shout.”

How to Eat Fried Worms — the Movie (2006)

How to Eat Fried Worms is the feature film adaptation of author Thomas Rockwell’s book. Directed by Bob Dolman, How to Eat Fried Worms the movie remains true to the book, for the most part. A fifth grade boy named Billy, played by Like Benward, accepts a dare from a bully on his first day at a new school. The dare? To eat ten worms in one day! Billy must eat 10 worms by 7 p.m. on Saturday or his reputation at his new school will be forever tarnished. This means his fate at the new school is on the line.

The town bully Joe Guire, played by Adam Hicks, and his gang are the ones to cook up the worm cuisine. They fry up a worm in pig fat, and call it the La Big Porker and they come up with more creations and names such as “The Barfmallow,” “The Burning Fireball,” “The Greasy Brown Toad Bloater Special,” “Radioactive Slime Delight” and “The Green Slusher.”

Throughout the film Billy, his friendships, and his family will be tested. They too have to try to adjust to a new town, a new job., etc.

How to Eat Fried Worms won the Young Artist Award in 2007 for the Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film and it was also nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Family Feature Film (Comedy or Musical) and Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress (Hallie Kate Eisenberg).

How to Eat Fried Worms Cast

Luke Benward … Billy

Hallie Kate Eisenberg … Erika

Adam Hicks … Joe

Austin Rogers … Adam

Alexander Gould … Twitch

Ryan Malgarini … Benjy

Philip Bolden … Bradley (as Philip Daniel Bolden)

Clint Howard … Uncle Ed

Ty Panitz … Woody

James Rebhorn … Boiler Head

Thomas Cavanagh … Dad

Kimberly Williams-Paisley … Mom

Andrew Gillingham … Techno Mouth

Blake Garrett … Plug

Alexander Agate … Donny

Andrea Martin … Mrs. Bommley

David Bewley … Rob Simon

Karen Wacker … Rob Simon’s Wife

Simone White … Woody’s Teacher

Nick Krause … Nigel

Jo Ann Farabee … Bait Shop Lady

Karen Wacker … Rob Simon’s Wife

Lamaze Musical Inchworm

Michelle — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:38:28 +0000

It’s soft, it’s colorful, and its safe for babies. The Lamaze Musical Inchworm isn’t a real worm, of course, but a 24-inch “superworm” that helps stimulate your baby’s vision and develop and stimulate an infant’s auditory skills. The Lamaze Musical Inchworm makes sounds such as jingle, rattle, crinkle, and squeak to keep babies engaged and it features colors such as bright yellow, green, purple, red, and white to keep babies focused and calm.

The Lamaze Musical Worm product features include:

-Color variations such as the yellow faced multicolored Inchworm or orange faced multi-colored Inchworm
-Plush soft body makes it perfect for napping and playing
-Recommended for babies from birth on
-Soft velour body
-Stimulating crinkles, squeaks, jingles, and rattles
-Unique textures to chew and touch
-When hugged, plays the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands”

The Lamaze Musical Inchworm was created by Learning Curve. According to the Learning Curve website, the company:

Offers developmental toys that engage children, and provide parents with peace of mind, knowing their children are being inspired and enlightened by safe and quality playthings. And our care, safety, feeding and soothing products provide you with solutions to day-to-day needs at mealtime, bedtime, at home and on-the-go..

We offer a wide range of age-specific brands to choose from, including: The First Years®, Lamaze®, John Deere Kids™, Thomas & Friends™ and Bob the Builder, to name a few. And all toys are thoroughly researched to nurture young minds in a wholesome, non-violent environment. Learning Curve products are designed under the direction of educators, child development authorities, parents like you and children like yours..

Our goal is simple, yet of utmost importance: Learning Curve is strongly committed to providing classic, high-quality toys that encourage your child’s imagination, pique their never-ending curiosity, appeal to their strong sense of adventure and enrich their playtime experience.

Learning Curve also sells other musical Lamaze toys such as a sea carousel, elephant tunes, elephantunes, octotunes, and a chime garden. Lamaze Musical Inchworm, and all Lamaze toys feature a 90 day limited warranty. Theses toys can be purchased for $17.99 online through the official Learning Curve website at
www.learningcurve.com or at stores such as Kohl’s, Target, and Babies R Us. A number of independent toy stores also carry Learning Curve products, so visit the Learning Curve website to locate an independent retail shop in your area.

Online Retailers

AlbeeBaby.com
Amazon.com
Babies R Us.com
Buy Buy Baby.com
Diapers.com
Drugstore.com
DueMaternity.com
FreeBears.com
Genius Babies.com
Goores for Babies to Teens.com
Happy Hen Toys.com
Kohl’s.com
LearningCurve Shop.com
My Hobby Place and Toys.com
My Toy Box.com
One Step Ahead.com
Sensational Beginnings.com
Target.com
Thanks Mama.com
Toys & Co.com

Learning Curve Corporate Contact

Learning Curve is owned by RC2 Corporation, which has offices in Dyersville, Iowa; Canton, Massachusetts, and Logan, Utah. The company headquarters is located in Oak Brook, Illinois. International offices are located in Victoria, Australia; Dongguan, China; Koln Germany; Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, and Exeter, United Kingdom.

RC2 Corporation
1111 W. 22nd Street
Suite 320
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630.573.7200
Fax: 630.573.7575
Toll-free Customer Service: 800-704-8697
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a m – 5:00 p m CST

Worms That Eat Books

Michelle — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:47:33 +0000

Bookworm is a term that is often used to describe a person that spends too much time reading or studying. The term is rarely used to describe a worm that eats books. This is actually the real definition of bookworm. Also spelled “book worm,” bookworm is the term given to the beetle larvae that feed on the paste and glue that make up the binding on books. Because bookworms are attracted to the paste and glue that is used to bind books, modern books use alum (the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum) in the paste to discourage the larvae. Bookworms eat the paper of books as well.

Bookworms are roughly 0.1 to 0.2 inches in length and there are several different types including the larvae of cigarette beetle, the drugstore beetle, the Mexican book beetle, and the white-marked spider beetle. The larvae of cigarette beetle are cinnamon-colored and it has a taste for rare manuscripts. It also eats drugs, leather, spices, dried vegetable matter, herbarium collections, cornhusk dolls, chocolate, breakfast foods, and other types of books. The larvae of the drugstore beetle feasts on the spine and glue of books, and it also tunnels through the pages of the book and emerges through the cover and the spine.

The dark brown, chunky larvae of the Mexican book beetle are covered with fine, silky hairs. It can be found curled up in a c-shape in its tunnels. These bookworms feed on every part older volumes, even the leather. The larvae of the white-marked spider beetle and the brown spider beetle chew through bindings, and the paper of books.

It is very difficult to eliminate bookworms without damaging precious rare manuscripts, prize novels, and other books. However, if you are very careful and patient, you might be able to treat single books at a time. Treatments have to be repeated every few weeks to kill the eggs. You can treat a single book by putting the book in an airtight box surrounded with cotton wool soaked in ether. Again, treatments must be repeated every few weeks to kill the eggs. If you come across other books that may contain bookworms, the books should be isolated immediately and treated.

To prevent bookworm infestations, you can use substances such as camphor or naphthalene in the bookcase or place pieces of linen soaked with essence of turpentine, camphor, or an infusion of tobacco behind the books, especially in the place where there is a high concentration of insects. When the smell dies, repeat the process. You may also scatter some fine pepper on the shelf. The smell of the pepper penetrating into the shelf may have the same effect as the soaked linen pieces.

The bookworm isn’t the only type of insect that feasts on paper. Other insects that feed on starchy material or wood will also eat the paper of books. Cockroaches, the tiny larvae of moths, booklice, silverfish, and termites also eat the paper, glue and the paste of books. The beetle larvae known as bookworms belong to the family Bostrichidae, of the order Coleoptera. The moth larvae known as bookworms belong to the family Oecophoridae, of the order Lepidoptera. Booklice make up the family Liposcelidae, of the order Psocoptera.

Thanksgiving Day Desserts: Banana Worm Bread

Michelle — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:00:23 +0000

Ok, so authentic banana worm bread is actually made with real worms. But don’t worry. We don’t expect you to eat worms on Thanksgiving so we’ll give you the wormless version of this delicious dessert. If you decide to take a walk on the wild side, just add 1/4 cup of dry-roasted army worms to the recipe below. Um, yummy?

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Next, gather the following items and ingredients:

• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (1/4 of this is a substitute for the missing worms)
• 2 eggs
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups flour
• large mixing bowl
• greased loaf pan

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once the mixture has a smooth consistency, pour it into a the greased loaf pan. Bake for around one hour.

Other Worm Recipes (without the worms)

One of the most popular candies for kids today is the gummy worm. Gummy worms are made from edible gelatin and loads of sugar. Gummy worms can be eaten alone or used as part of a recipe to make cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. A popular gummy worm dessert is the “worms dirt dessert.”

Dirt pudding with worms is a novelty cake of sorts – not all pudding, made from ingredients kids love such as Oreo cookies, cool whip, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms. Used mostly for kid’s birthday parties or on Halloween, the dirt pudding with worms dessert has many different versions, but the following recipe happens to be an American favorite.

Ingredients:

1 bag of gummy worms
1 1/4 lb. pkg. Oreo cookies
1 12 oz. tub Cool Whip (can use chocolate)
2 3 1/2 oz. pkg. instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
Flower pot (8 inch diameter)

Crush Oreos. Put 1/3 of the crushed Oreos into brand new flower pot. Set aside.

Mix sugar, butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Set aside.

Stir milk and pudding mix together. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding.

Fold pudding mixture and butter-cream cheese mixture together.

Layer the mixture (about 1/3) onto the crumbled cookies. Add another layer of the pudding mixture, then another layer of cookie crumbs. Continue until all ingredients have been used.

Place the gummy worms in the “dirt” with their heads poking out. Embellish with decorative pieces like edible flowers or plastic daisies.

Chill for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

For a lower-sugar version of dirt pudding with worms, replace the powdered sugar with “powdered Splenda” made from scratch. The following recipe is perfect because dirt pudding with worms does not require baking and powdered Splenda does not bake well.

Try the following Splenda recipe for powdered sugar:

1 cup granulated Splenda (buy a box of loose Splenda, not the sugar packets)
1 tsp cornstarch

Place the Splenda and the cornstarch in a mixer or food processor. Blend on high speed for one minute until the texture is similar to powdered sugar. The mixture can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month. While Splenda can be used for baking, keep in mind that this particular Splenda mixture is not intended for baking. Click here for Splenda baking tips.

Dirty Worm Greenhouse NH

Michelle — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:30:57 +0000

Dirty Worm Greenhouse is a greenhouse and nursery located in New Hampton, New Hampshire. The published address is 819 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH 03256, (603-968-7024). Dirty Worm Greenhouse is located between Upper Ox Bow Road and Huckelberry Road. This full service greenhouse & nursery sells trees, shrubs, perennials, bedding plants, herbs, vegetables, and growing supplies.

Dirty Worm Greenhouse NH is open year around and it is in good company. The following list represents only a few popular nurseries, greenhouses, and even farms in the New Hampton and surrounding areas.

Cameron’s Home and Garden
Full-service garden center, annuals, shrubs, trees, full landscaping services
16 Flagstone Ave., Rte. 11, Farmington 03835
(603) 755-2124 ajcameronhomeandgardencenter.com
Mar. – Dec., M-F 7a-5p, Sa-Su 8-4; contact us for store/lumberyard hours: Year round, 12p-4p, M-F; all day weekends for tours & classes

DeVylder Farm
Greenhouses, cider mill, hay rides, HYO apples, produce stand
563 Pleasant Valley Rd., Wolfeboro 03894
(603) 569-4110
Apr. – Oct., 9a-5p, daily

DiFilippe Farm and Greenhouse
Quality vegetable and flower plants, fresh vegetables in season
395 Chase Rd., North Sandwich 03259
(603) 284-6482
Apr. – Oct., 9a-6p, daily

Elf’s Garden Center/A Fountain of Flowers
Perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, grain, hay, food items, pet food
296 Walnut St., Rochester 03867
(603) 332-8324 elfslandscaping.com
Year round, daily, hours vary, see web site for information

Gould’s Garden Center – Agway
Live plants, shrubs, annuals & perennials, garden decor & gifts
64 Gilford East Dr., Gilford 03249
(603) 524-5366
Year round, M-F, 7:30a-5p, Sa 7.30-3, Su; Spr/Sum 9a-1p

Growing Nature’s Creations/Forever Green
Nursery, landscaper, perennials, stone work with water features
536 School St., Rumney 03266
(603) 786-3622
Mar. – Nov., daily, 8a-5p

Hillside Meadow Agway
Vegetable plants, fruit trees, berries, full garden center
67 East Main St., Tilton 03276
(603) 286-2224
Year round, M-Sa 8a-6p, Su 10a-3p

Moulton Farm
Retail farm market and greenhouse
18 Quarry Rd., Meredith 03253
(603) 279-3915 moultonfarm.com
Feb. 18 – Apr.,Th-F, 9a-5p, Sa 9-1; Apr. 28 – Dec. 24, daily, 8a-6:30p

Petal Pushers Farm
Garden Center: annuals, perennials, shrubs & trees, landscape division
2635 Parade Rd., Laconia 03246
(603) 524-7253 ppfnh.com
Apr. – Oct., 8a-6p, or 9a-5p

R&R Gardens
Vegetables, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, mulch and firewood
112 North Ashland Rd., Ashland 03217
(603) 968-3978
Jan. – Dec. Plants and PlowParts

Spider Web Gardens
Premier garden center and farm; own grown annuals, perennials and vegetables
252 Middle Rd., Tuftonboro 03816
(603) 569-5056 spiderwebgardens.com
Year round, Spring/Summer, 7a-5p, Fall/Winter 8a-4p

Studley Flower Gardens
Florist, garden center, landscaping, irrigation
82 Wakefield St., Rochester 03867
(603) 332-4565 studleyflowergardens.com

The Flowersmiths
NH grown annuals, perennials, cut flowers, delivery service, weddings, funerals
584 Tenney Mountain Hwy., Plymouth 03264
(603) 536-8111
Year round, M-Sa 8:30a-5:30p, closed Su

Tilton Nursery & Greenhouse
Full service nursery- trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, mulch
477 Laconia Rd., Tilton 03276
(603) 524-7347
Approx. Apr. 1- Dec. 24th, M-Sa 9a-5p, Su 9a-4p

Wayside Farm
Greenhouse & nursery, growing unique, high-quality garden plants
506 Whiteface Rd. (Rte. 113A), North Sandwich 03259
(603) 284-6886 waysidefarm.com
May – Sept., 9a-5p, daily

Yeaton Agway Services
Retail – lawn and garden, pet food, farm supplies
295 Highland St., Plymouth 03264
(603) 536-4554
8a-5p, daily

Banana Worm Bread

Michelle — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:09:55 +0000

Yes, banana worm bread is actually made with real worms. If roasted worms are not your thing, there are several other versions of the real deal that might be more suitable for the human palate. But first, the following is the basic recipe for authentic, protein packed banana worm bread.

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Next, gather the following items and ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dry-roasted army worms
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 2 eggs
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups flour
• large mixing bowl
• greased loaf pan

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once the mixture has a smooth consistency, pour it into a the greased loaf pan. Bake for around one hour.

We haven’t had much luck finding a place that sells dry-roasted army worms, but don’t worry — you can make your own. Army worms will show up in your lawn around late summer to early fall. Once you have collected the amount needed to make the bread, wash the worms off (of course). After the worms are nice and clean, dry them off and arrange them in a shallow pan, one layer. Heat in an oven at 300 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

If prefer your sweets without the army worm component, you are not alone. To enjoy banana worm bread without the worms, simply replace the 1/4 cup or worms with an additional 1/4 cup of nuts or you don’t have to substitute at all.

Other Worm Recipes (without the worms)

Ingredients:

Crush Oreos. Put 1/3 of the crushed Oreos into brand new flower pot. Set aside.

Mix sugar, butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Set aside.

Stir milk and pudding mix together. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding.

Fold pudding mixture and butter-cream cheese mixture together.

Layer the mixture (about 1/3) onto the crumbled cookies. Add another layer of the pudding mixture, then another layer of cookie crumbs. Continue until all ingredients have been used.

Place the gummy worms in the “dirt” with their heads poking out. Embellish with decorative pieces like edible flowers or plastic daisies.

Chill for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

Try the following Splenda recipe for powdered sugar:

1 cup granulated Splenda (buy a box of loose Splenda, not the sugar packets)
1 tsp cornstarch

Eating Worms: Harmful or Helpful?

Michelle — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:58 +0000

Eating worms is not necessarily bad for humans. In fact, there are some worms that may be rather useful in treating certain illnesses. There are also some worms that we might eat unintentionally that will not usually cause us any harm. However, there are also worms that can hurt us as they are parasites of the worst form.

The first thing to ask yourself when thinking about the possibility of eating worms is whether you want to or not. It’s not usually necessary to eat worms for survival. There are rare instances where someone may be on a survival television show, living in harsh survival camp conditions to experience the rugged outdoors, or are truly lost in nature and need to eat whatever they can to survive.

Eating an earthworm or two will not hurt anyone. In fact, they are full of protein, are a source of nourishment and food for many animals, and may provide a good deal of entertainment as documented in the popular book How to Eat Fried Worms.

Other worms are being used in experimental research to treat intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. Worms are proving to alleviate the symptoms of this disease and give relief to those who suffer from it. And, while the idea of deliberating eating worms (or in this case worm eggs) may make some nauseous, those who are in the research trials are finding that it is far better than suffering from the condition itself.

If you do eat worms you will want to make sure they are dead or that you chew them completely before swallowing them. Live worms can live in a person’s intestines or stomach for ages eating other foods taken in by the worm’s host or the waste created by these foods. Live worms can also find their way out of a body and cause a great deal of discomfort both physically and mentally.

Most worms that dwell in soil and gardens are fairly safe. However, there are many parasitic worms such as heartworms that infect dogs and cats. These worms are very dangerous parasites that can be fatal to both animal and human hosts.

There are also many insects that appear to be worms in the early stages of life, but they are not worms at all. Butterflies, moths and flies are commonly mistaken for worms in their youth. And, while maggots (baby flies) are not likely to hurt anyone, they are seldom among the animals (worms or otherwise) that anyone wants to eat, including children on a dare.

Lair of the White Worm

Michelle — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:18:27 +0000

The Lair of the White Worm is a popular novel written by Bram Stoker and published in 1911. The Irish author also wrote Dracula, The Snake’s Pass, and The Lady of the Shroud. His gothic novels have found millions of fans throughout the years since they were published.

Stoker’s writings are over 100 years old, yet they continue to find fans and inspire movies. Based on European folklore and vampire mythology, Stoker was able to turn horror stories into popular tales of love, death, adversity and triumph.

The Lair of the White Worm is also commonly referred to as The Garden of Evil. The book was published in the United Kingdom the year before Stoker died and it was made into a movie in 1988. The book itself is not generally considered a Stoker masterpiece. He wrote it during his final years when he was ill and potentially medicated. Some literary scholars believe that the combination of pain and medication may have impacted Stoker’s writing abilities in a negative way.

However, for all that, the book has found itself fixed in modern literary circles. It is sexist, as most books from this time period are. And, it has racist language in it that many, in the 21st century, are likely to find offensive. For all that, the book is fascinating.

The plot revolves around Adam Salton, a young man from Australia. Adam goes to England in the effort to reconnect with his sole living relative and to accept the position of heir from his great-uncle. On his arrival, Adam takes residence at the Caswall estate and encounters a series of strange, otherworldly events that raise his suspicions and has him on guard against the people he encounters.

One of these individuals is Arabella March, a nearby resident. Arabella is a strange creature in her own right who does not like Adam as he is the creator of events that interfere with her goals. Upon Adam’s arrival, he discovers snakes on the property. These snakes are causing harm as they bite and kill. In his efforts to rid the property of snakes, Adam discovers that there is a creature living near Arabella’s house.

The creature, aka The White Worm, is an evil creature that eats anything given to it. Adam decides that he must get rid of both the White Worm and Arabella to protect his friends and the girl he loves. The challenge is difficult as both are resilient creatures with their own agendas. The plot goes beyond this as it explores love through the relationship between Adam and a young lady named Mimi Watford, family through the reunion of Adam and his remaining relatives, and the nature of evil through the actions of Arabella.

The story is a bit disjointed and at times, does not appear to make much sense but it is a thrilling horror novel that takes readers on a fantastic journey through life’s most common events shadowed by unknown fears that pierce the heart.

How to Eat Fried Worms Activities

Michelle — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:55:05 +0000

How to Eat Fried Worms author Thomas Rockwell, was published in 1973. The book was one of the first to create a splash in the world of children’s publishing as it had kids begging their parents to read to them. The easy to read book resonated with children as it was a true reflection of their lives rather than an adult’s version of remembering childhood. The popularity of the book amongst grade school children has not diminished in the years since it was published. A movie based on the book was made in 2006 which has successfully increased interest in the book once again.

For teachers and parents, there are many activities developed and created around the book that help children learn a variety of skills while they get to interact with some of their favorite characters.

Telling Stories
In Chapter 14, Billy recalls a dream and tells his friends about it. Being able to tell stories to let others know what you are thinking and feeling is an important communication skill. Collect a series of pictures from magazines or books that your children are not familiar with. Have them pick one of the stories that they like and give them some time to look at it and imagine a story that the picture represents.

Have them tell you the story they have imagined or write it down depending on their age. Ask questions to get them to fill in the details and expand their imagination. Examine the picture to see if there are any additional elements that may enhance the story.

Learn About Worms
The main attraction of the book is its gross but real activity of the main character eating worms. Many people find the idea of this rather upsetting. However, there are many cultures that do eat worms and there are many worms on the planet to learn about. Earthworms alone are an important part of the earth’s ecological system.

Assign students a worm research project based on their age. Older children can be asked to write reports, create storyboards or work together in groups to create an oral report on what earthworms do for the planet. Younger children can be asked to collect pictures, look for worms after a rain, and participate in group activities such as reading about worms and their lifecycles and then drawing those lifecycles from memory to increase retention.

Biology of Animals
Continuing on the worm theme, teachers and parents can expand learning to worms outside of the infamous earthworm’s featured in the book. Students can learn about groups of worms as well as the biology of worms. This is a perfect time to introduce concepts such as vertebrate and invertebrate animals and what that means. For older kids, dissecting an earthworm is a great opportunity to introduce biology and let them see and learn about internal organs.