Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by Judy Blume

Paperback, 1976

Status

Available

Local notes

PB Blu

Barcode

1149

Publication

Yearling (1976), 128 pages

Description

Peter finds his demanding two-year-old brother an ever increasing problem.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1972

Physical description

128 p.; 7.66 inches

User reviews

LibraryThing member ptnguyen
Ages 8 and older

Peter Warren Hatcher is a normal fourth-grader who has a best friend, Jimmy Fargo, who lives in the same apartment. They often ride their bikes in Central Park. Peter lives with his two normal parents and his 2/12 year cute but otherwise mischievous brother, Fudge. Fudge is a real
Show More
handful who tries to get into Peter's possessions and embarrases the family with his usual outburst of temper tantrum. Some of Fudge's antics include: 1) pretending to be a dog and eat out the dog bowl; 2)jumping off from the jungle gym because he thinks he can fly--he ends up losing two of his teeth and earns the name Fang; and 3) smearing mashed potatoes on a restaurant's wall and dumping a bowl of peas on his head. When one of Peter's father clients expresses his desire to use Fudge in his Tootle-Bike commercial,there is no end to Peter's misery. Did I mention that Fudge ends up swallowing Peter's turtle, Dribble, and has to be hospitalized?

The story is brimmed with hilarious moments committed by the irresitible but annoying cuteness of Fudge. The story will definitely bring a chorus of laughter among readers throughout the path of the story. Students with little brothers and sisters will deeply sympathize with Peter. Peter's misery of living with his little naughty brother Fudge is real. Children will connect with Peter. Parents will learn to treat all children equally and not play favorites.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lep119
Living with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe story, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or scribbling all over Peter's homework, he's never far from trouble. He's a
Show More
two-year-old terror who gets away with everything, and Peter's had enough! When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, its the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge too ling. How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change? This book is an excellent book to teach children how to get along with their siblings who may be hard to live with. I would recommend this book to transitional readers because of the large print, and simple sentences. Excellent Book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsMariaUWG
The first in a series of "Fudge" books, this book is sure to get your students excited about reading. Most chapters provide comic relief as an annoying little brother causes light-hearted trouble with the family. I find myself laughing as I read this book to my third graders.
LibraryThing member kbrash1
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was a very entertaining story. I had never read a Judy Blume book before, and I was pleasantly surprised. In my opinion, there are three key aspects of this book that made it really intriguing. First, the main characters were developed well and I really felt like I
Show More
knew Peter and Fudge as I was reading. Peter, the protagonist, is a fourth grade boy with an obnoxious younger brother who “messes up everything he sees.” The point of view is another aspect of this book that I find to be valuable. The story is told in first person from the perspective of Peter who is a witty 9-year-old with a great sense of humor. I find that to be very relatable. Finally, the down-to-earth, first person language used in this story really helps the reader identify with Peter and the conflicts he experiences. The story revolves around Peter’s challenging relationship with his younger brother, who ends up swallowing Peter’s pet turtle. Throughout the story, Peter battles with feeling neglected by his parents and his peers, but when Fudge is hospitalized, Peter begins to worry and he misses his brother. The big idea of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is to always appreciate your family, even their idiosyncrasies, because you never know what could happen to them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jemilie
SUMMARY:
This contemporary realistic fiction is about a nine year old boy named Peter, who had a little brother Fudge who was very troublesome. Fudge threw temper tantrums when he did not get what he wanted.He interferred and messed everything up. He was a typical two year old exploring his world
Show More
and trying to make sense of his surroundings. However,Peter was feeling jealous because all the attention and focus was on his brother. He could not understand why he could not get away with things like his brother did.
Peter finally had it when Fudge decided to swallow his brother's turtle. He made his parents aware of how he felt. But they showed him how they loved him equally as his brother by rewarding him with a puppy that he always wanted,and which Fudge could not swallow.

PERSONAL:
This is an interesting story and is apptopiate for grade three to grade five. It will help students who have a younger sibling in the home and have difficulty coping with the situation.

ClASSROOM:

There will be a classroom discussion about students who have a new born or sibling in their home and how they felt.

students will write ten things they love about the baby or younger sibling.
Show Less
LibraryThing member koeniel
Nine year old Peter is an ordinary little boy who has to put up with his two year old brother Fudge. Not only Fudge is very naughty and can't keep his hands off his older brother's stuff, he is annoying because everyone, including mum and dad, seems to love him better and hence tolerates his
Show More
naughtiness, all because he - to them - appears so cute. But on the other hand Fudge seems to adore and admire Peter so much, Peter can't help but feeling flattered. Sometimes.

Judy Blume tells the story from Peter's view and it's amazing that she can really make it so real, like everything was really the thoughts of a nine year old boy. We readers were firmly placed at Peter's side, watching and getting annoyed at Fudge's antics, or laugh at him. That's one thing you get out of this book - chuckles and laughter.

I stumbled across this book the first time when I was in college, browsing the children book section because one day I missed the books I read when I was young. The version I read that day was the Indonesian translation. It was so funny it became one of my favourite books. Now I have the whole Hatcher boy series in its original language. They're maybe children books but they can be enjoyed by adults who are looking for a few smiles and chuckles. Perfect for an evening after a hard day at the office.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stoog
you can try all you want, but you still can't fly Fudge
LibraryThing member enzo1
Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing is the first book in the 'Fudge Series' by Judy Blume. I have found all of the books in this series very popular among the primary classes that I have taught over the last few years.
LibraryThing member Cottonwood.School
Peter finds his demanding two-year-old brother an ever increasing problem.
LibraryThing member messelti
Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing recounts the travails of 8 year-old Peter, whose younger brother causes him ceaseless trouble and evokes endless jealousy. Judy Blume’s style is so convincing and her characters and setting just detailed enough that it is incredibly easy to
Show More
experience the story from the narrator’s point-of-view. She hits on themes relevant to her audience, in a voice that will make it easy for younger readers to relate. The plot is a bit flat, with a conclusion that doesn’t seem like much of a conclusion, but entertaining the entire way through. Recommended for any intermediate fiction collection, in a school or public library.
Show Less
LibraryThing member blueyz6778
TeeHee. I've read the whole "series". This book is about a boy named Peter Hatcher and he has to deal with a snobby neighbor and worst of all his annoying,cute, hilarious, little brother FUDGE. He causes lots of trouble for his brother. I completely recommend this(and the super fudge and
Show More
fudgeamania and the double fudge..) book(s). Hilarious! I couldn't stop reading it. Read it! (or listen to it. Either way it's still a great book.)
9+
Show Less
LibraryThing member MOster
A fourth grade boy, Peter, relates tales from this family. Most of the tales are of his brother Fudge, who always seems to get in mischief. Peter receives a pet turtle at a birthday party and Fudge manages to eat the turtle. Peter is mad but everything works out in the end when Mom and Dad get
Show More
Peter a new puppy.

This story is both cute and also gives a good view of sibling rivalry. The story shows how a nine year old deals with life not only at school and with friends but with family. I love this story because it is a good book for children with younger brothers or sisters.

This book could be used in the classroom as an introduction for as assignment about family and how to get along with young sibling or classmates. The students could right a story about their family after being read the story. Students could also use this to draw a picture of the mischief their younger siblings get into.
Show Less
LibraryThing member daria1275
One of my all time favorite books as a child. Absolutely hilarious. And gee, I read it in fourth grade. Go figure.
LibraryThing member rheasly
Classic story about what it means to be an older sibling. Again, Judy Blume tells the true story of sacrifice and rolemodleship that comes with being the older brother or sister. This book gives great perspective not only for older siblings but also may help garner appreciation from younger
Show More
siblings. Good use as a tool for parents and/or teachers to discuss family relationships with their children/students. Ages 8 and up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member awiltenburg
This book is cute and humorous!! I really enjoyed this easy reader chapter book about a boy who must endure the wiles of his mischievous little brother!! Every kid with a younger sibling can relate to the main character. Peter talks and jokes about feeling left out, over looked, unappreciated,
Show More
embarrassed, angry, and in shock about how his parents discipline Fudge. This is a must read for anyone who loves books, words, humor, and their family. I oculd use this book as a read aloud or for topical study/discussions about the above. Grades 3+
Show Less
LibraryThing member supertomato
Tales of a fourth grade nothing is good for grade 4 readers. It is about Peter Hatcher and his little annoying brother Fudge. One day they have visitors and Fudge gets his dad in trouble! Their dad makes commerciels. And Fudge is in one of them without mothers permission!!!!!!!!!!!!
LibraryThing member CChristophersen
This is the story of Peter who has a little two year old brother who the family calls Fudge. Peter's life it turned upside down by the antics of Fudge. Fudge really is a little terror unless he is sleeping. Judy Blume has a nack for getting into the heads of children and seeing things through their
Show More
eyes.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hnebeker
This book was my introduction to Judy Blume, I truly enjoyed re-reading it and laughing out loud! I believe that the relationship between Peter and Fudge. I even went on to re-read Shelia the great because I enjoyed the reunion so much:)
LibraryThing member brittneywest
While reading this book, memories of my fourth grade year came to mind. I felt that the book is relatable to any boy or girl who has an off- the wall- younger sibling. Known as Fudge, Peter's younger brother takes the reader on a rollercoaster full of adventurous mischief. The book is intended for
Show More
readers in 2nd grade and up. I would reccommend this book due to the easy relatedness of Peter and his younger brother Fudge.
Show Less
LibraryThing member emma4321
Very good book! Halarious too. Fudge is a crazy kid! Not Peter... Fudge.
LibraryThing member mlsweatman
Tales of a fourth grade nothing is a good book for young children because they can relate to what is going on in the story with Peter. Peter has a little brother while he is in the fourth grade and at first he thinks having a little brother will be great, but when his baby brother arrives it ruins
Show More
everything for Peter and to be honest I think Peter is a little jealous. It is a good book and I can remember reading it myself when I was in fourth grade.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kshielee
Students could easily relate to this story about a boy with a brother who seems to mess everything up. Some of the technology in the book is slightly out of date, but for the most part students could easily relate to the book. The setting of the book really helps children relate to the story. The
Show More
author gives enough description for the reader to picture what is going on, but does not give specific details that would limit where the reader could imagine the story taking place. Because of this excellent job by the writer, the reader is able to enter into the story and imagine it is taking place in their own world, helping the reader better relate to the story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMcG
5P
I grabbed my poster and ran into the kitchen to show it to my mother. I could hardly speak. "Look," I said, feeling a lump in my throat. "Just look at what he did to my poster." I felt tears come to my eyes but I didn't care. "How could you let him?" I asked my mother. "How? Don't you care about
Show More
me?" p77

This is not a radical change book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ewang109
Blume, J. (1976). Tales of fourth grade nothing. New York, NY. Puffin Books.

What would the Hatcher family do without Peter? In Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing, Peter Hatcher is a fourth grader. His biggest problem is his two-year old brother: Farley Drexel Hatcher who is better known as Fudge. Fudge
Show More
is definitely in his terrible twos. He gets into all kinds of mischief. Peter or “Pee-tah” (is how Fudge pronounces his name) always seems to help his parents. It is Peter who pretends to like the saddle shoes, so that Fudge will want to wear the saddle shoes. Peter has to demonstrate how to ride the Toddle-bike, so that Fudge will ride it for a television commercial. Peter has to open his mouth wide at Dr. Brown’s dentist office, so that Fudge will open his mouth.

The plot is engaging. Readers never know what Fudge will do next. For the most part, the characters are convincing. Anyone who has younger siblings can identify with Peter. As an older brother, he struggles with sibling rivalry. He feels like everything great happens to Fudge or that no one cares about him. Readers also understand the mixed emotions of growing up. Peter sometimes wants to be treated like an adult, but other times, he wants to be treated like a kid.

Although the story is fun, it has some gender stereotyping. Peter’s dad works. His mom is a homemaker. There is a young female secretary. The bosses are all men.

Overall though I did enjoy Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing because of its slapstick humor. In comparison with Lois Lowry’s All About Sam, I liked Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing better, because it is entertaining. I think that this book will continue to be a classic, because children easily identify with the characters in the book. The book is appropriate for children in second through fifth grade.
Show Less
LibraryThing member forgeys
humorous; several books by Judy Blume have the same characters. Reading Level: Ages 8-12

Pages

128

Rating

½ (1228 ratings; 3.9)
Page: 1.958 seconds