How to Eat Fried Worms

"How to Eat Fried Worms" is a book by Thomas Rockwell.  Billy, Tom, Joe and Alan are four friends. One day as they are kicking around, they get to talking about the gross things that are eaten by accident. In the course of the conversation, a bet is made that Billy can't eat worms. The boys decide that if Billy can eat 15 worms in 15 days that Joe will give him $50.
And so begins the sneakiest ways to cheat and the most creative ways to cook worms every devised by a group of boys!
Although this was written in the 1970's and may seem a bit dated to some, it is still a really funny story.  The squeamish may not want to read it, but for me at least it brings back memories of the stupid things we did as kids.  Silly stuff that in retrospect made our childhoods so much fun.
The Think Police, IE the censors, would have this book pulled from the library shelves because it shows kids fighting, using "bad language" and being rude to the adults. You will have to trust me on this. There is nothing in there that is inappropriate for your 7, 8 or 9 year olds. Grandma can read it to them and not be shocked.  Grossed out maybe, but not shocked.
Kids in the age group I mentioned will love reading this book, especially the boys.  If you have a girlie girl she may not like it, but a tomboy will.  A tomboy will picture herself right in the group, picking sides or prepping the worm for its daily cuisine.
Kids who don't like to read will enjoy this book because it's disgusting. Kids love anything that is gross. Even better though, for a non reader this story may open a door to further reading. If you are an adult reading it, the repetition of recipes might get a little tiresome as you go through each day of how the worm was prepared. But the ingenious ways that Joe and Alan try to cheat are pretty funny. You will definitely find yourself chuckling at those parts Those two used a lot of imagination.
Thomas Rockwell, the author, is the son of Norman Rockwell, so you can see where the idea of boys doing silly boy stuff has come from.  Thomas' vision of the American childhood took the form of writing rather than painting, but it still shows up in an art.
"How to Eat Fried Worms" is a funny book that both readers and non readers will enjoy.
Just one suggestion though, if you read it yourself, don't serve spaghetti for dinner. It won't go down well!