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

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