Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

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**Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing**
Author	Judy Blume
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's novel
Publisher	Dutton
Released	1972
Media Type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	128 pp
ISBN	ISBN 0-525-40720-0
Followed by	Superfudge

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is a novel written by Judy Blume in 1972 with interior illustrations by Roy Doty. It is the story of Peter Warren Hatcher, a boy living in New York City. It is the first of the "Fudge books." It was followed by Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-A-Mania, and most recently Double Fudge. Though Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great features many of the same characters as Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, it does not fit exactly in the continuity of the Fudge books because it focuses on Peter’s classmate, Sheila.

Fudge is the nickname of Peter's two-year-old brother (whose legal name is Farley Drexel Hatcher). Fudge hates the sound of his legal name, and prefers Fudge for any and all occasions. Sheila Tubman is a girl in Peter's class, and his best friend is named Jimmy Fargo. Fudge gets Peter into trouble several times, but somehow gets out of it just as easily.

[edit] Plot summary

1.The Big Winner

Introductory chapter with Peter winning a turtle at his friend Jimmy’s birthday party.

2. Mr. And Mrs. Juicy-O

Fudge annoys his father’s business clients culminating in plastering the client’s suitcase with stamps.

3. The Family Dog

Fudge refuses to eat, pretending he is the family dog and wanting to eat off the floor. Dad’s patience is broken and he dumps a bowl of cornflakes over Fudge’s head, leading to Fudge’s new favorite phrase, “Eat it or wear it!”

4. My Brother the Bird

While being watched by Sheila Tubman on the playground, Fudge jumps off the jungle gym, thinking he can fly, losing his top two front teeth, and Peter almost immediately gives Fudge a new nickname, Fang.

5. The Birthday Bash

Peter is recruited by his mother to chaperone Fudge’s birthday party, which ends when one of the attendees pees on the floor.

6. Fang Hits Town

Peter, Fudge and their mother go shopping. Fudge makes a spectacle of himself at every stop. Mum reaches her breaking point when Fudge decides to smear mashed potatoes on the wall of a restaurant.

7. The Flying Train Committee

Fudge destroys the poster Peter, Jimmy and Sheila had been working on for a school project and in the process gives himself a haircut.

8. The TV Star

Mum goes to visit her sister in Boston and Dad takes the boys to his work where Fudge gets to be the star of an advertisement for Toddle Bike.

9. Just Another Rainy Day

Fudge goes to the movies with Dad and Peter, soaks his clothes while splashing in rain puddles, disappears in the movie theater and wants to eat a burned omelette.

10. Dribble!

Fudge swallows Peter’s pet turtle, Dribble. This chapter was inspired by a newspaper article brought to Blume’s attention by her secretary.