Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is a children's novel written by American author Judy Blume and published in 1972. It is the first in the Fudge Series and was followed by Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Double Fudge (2002). Although Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great features many of the same characters as the series, it does not fit exactly in the continuity of it because, as a spin-off, it only focuses on Peter's classmate (who later becomes his cousin-in-law), Sheila Tubman.
 First edition | |
| Author | Judy Blume |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Roy Doty |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Fudge Series |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Dutton |
Publication date | 1972 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 120 pp |
| ISBN | 0-525-40720-0 |
| OCLC | 340266 |
| LC Class | PZ7.B6265 Tal |
| Followed by | Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great |
Originally, the book featured illustrations by Roy Doty, but all post-2002 reprints of it have omitted the pictures.
The story focuses on a nine-year-old boy named Peter Warren Hatcher and his relationship with his two-and-a-half-year-old brother, Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher. Farley hates the sound of his legal name, and prefers Fudge for any and all occasions.
Plot summary
The book focuses on 9-year-old 4th grader Peter Hatcher's frustration with the horrendous behavior demonstrated by his annoying 2½-year-old brother, Fudge, who frequently goes unpunished. Peter becomes frustrated with Fudge because he often disturbs Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, which Peter won at his best friend Jimmy Fargo's birthday party. Furthermore, Fudge throws nonstop temper tantrums, goes through a finicky phase of abstaining from eating altogether, and emulates Peter's behavior, throwing tantrums if it is prohibited. Nevertheless, their parents dote on Fudge, to Peter's anger and frustration.
For months, Fudge's antics continue; breaking his front teeth after catapulting himself from the jungle gym at the local playground when he decides to fly, vandalizing Peter's group homework assignment, and taking off on his family at a movie theater. One day, to Peter's absolute misery, he returns home to discover Dribble is missing from his bowl, Fudge claiming to have swallowed him. These proclamations prove to be correct, and Fudge is rushed to the hospital, where Dribble is extracted, to Mrs. Hatcher's relief. However, Dribble has died in Fudge's stomach, and no one, especially Fudge, seems to care. Peter is devastated over the loss of his beloved pet; his parents sympathetically compensate by adopting a dog, which Peter appropriately names "Turtle" in memory of Dribble.
Characters
Peter Warren Hatcher – The protagonist of the story, and a smart, assertive, but seemingly naive 9-year-old boy. Most of the book focuses upon his relationship with Fudge and his family, and the fact that Fudge is the perceived source of all of his troubles. His parents usually seem to let Fudge get away with anything and everything, and though it does appear that Peter's needs and wants are often ignored and overshadowed in favor of Fudge's, this is not always the case.
Peter believes that his parents show Fudge preferential treatment, especially Anne; he also is frequently frustrated when Fudge gets into his things and tries to become involved in his activities. However, Peter does love him very much and shows concern when he is hospitalized (after swallowing Peter's pet turtle, Dribble) and the doctors speculate that they may need to operate on him. Peter is very upset when he learns that Dribble is dead and is furious when he sees Fudge get showered with attention and gifts when he comes home, but then Warren comes home with a dog for Peter for being "a good sport" and to compensate for the loss.
Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher – Peter's younger brother, whom he often resents. At the beginning of the book, Fudge (a nickname for his much-despised legal name, Farley Drexel) is 2 years old, and turns 3 in Chapter 5. He is a very loud, demanding, and mischievous toddler who is prone to violent temper tantrums. He has a very active imagination, and others – including Sheila Tubman and the wife of one of his father's clients – adore him. In the final chapter, he swallows Dribble whole and is hospitalized, but the doctors are able to help him expel Dribble's remains without surgery. Peter often sees him as a pest, but Fudge looks up to his big brother, and eventually Peter realizes the bond that they have.
Anne Hatcher – The mother of Peter and Fudge, and wife of Warren. A caring mother, she shows love and devotion to her family and is very protective of Fudge. Her sometimes overprotective ways with him sometimes cause problems for Peter; for example, when Fudge jumps off the jungle gym at the playground (believing he is a bird that will land safely), she scolds Peter severely, holding him solely responsible for Fudge's injuries and not even listening to his side of the story. She later admits to becoming overly emotional with the aftermath of Fudge's flying experience and taking it out on Peter. When Fudge ruined Peter's school project, Anne spanked him, which surprised even Peter, who was convinced that everyone thought that Fudge could do no wrong, but Anne remarks that Fudge should have known better.
Warren Hatcher – The father of Peter and Fudge, and Anne's husband. He works at an unnamed advertising agency, whose major clients in Tales are with Juicy-O, a fruit drink that the Hatchers find rather unpleasant, and Toddle Bike, a manufacturer of plastic toy tricycles à la the Big Wheel and Green Machine; Fudge is hired for a commercial for the latter product. Although most of Warren's clients are happy with his work and company, he also had his share of failures, such as losing the Juicy-O account. A loving father who wants what is best for his family, he is more firm and conservative in rearing his sons than Anne, particularly with Fudge. For example, when Fudge refused to eat unless he was fed like a dog, Warren was the one to finally lay down the law, that if Fudge didn't eat his food like a human being, he would wear it. Unfortunately, Warren lacks in cooking and cleaning skills, and once, he cooked a disastrous dinner, and Fudge enforced his own 'eat it or wear it' rule against him.
Dribble – Peter's pet turtle, which he won at Jimmy Fargo's birthday party. Dribble seems to always be annoyed by Fudge, which led Fudge to swallow him whole. Afterwards, Warren gives Peter a dog to try to make up for the loss of Dribble; Peter names his new dog Turtle, in memory of Dribble.
Sheila Tubman – Classmate of Peter and Jimmy, who lives with her family in the same apartment building as the Hatchers. Peter is annoyed at the very thought of her, considering her to be a bossy know-it-all who still has cooties. She takes charge of a school project she, Peter, and Jimmy were assigned to work on together, and though the experience was stressful at times for all, their efforts are rewarded with an "A". She is sometimes allowed to help babysit Fudge, proclaiming that she learned about babysitting from her older sister, Libby, who takes a babysitting class.
Jimmy Fargo – Peter's best friend, at whose birthday party Peter won his pet turtle, Dribble. Peter and Jimmy have a special rock collection in the park and share a dislike for Sheila, which they must put aside when the three of them are assigned to work on a school project together.
Chapters
Chapter 1: The Big Winner
- Peter wins his pet turtle Dribble at his friend Jimmy Fargo's birthday party, and shows it to everyone.
Chapter 2: Mr. and Mrs. Juicy O
- Peter's dad's boss, Mr. Yarby, and his wife stay with the Hatchers, and Fudge misbehaves.
Chapter 3: The Family Dog
- Fudge stops eating, and everyone tries to come up with ideas to get his appetite back.
Chapter 4: My Brother The Bird
- When Peter, Jimmy, and Sheila go to the park to look after Fudge, he falls off the jungle gym and loses his two front teeth.
Chapter 5: The Birthday Bash
- When Fudge turns three, he has a birthday party, but it turns out to be a lot of work for Peter.
Chapter 6: Fang Hits Town
- Fudge misbehaves when he, Peter, and their mother spend the Saturday together.
Chapter 7: The Flying Train Committee
- Peter, Jimmy, and Sheila work on a school project together based on Transportation.
Chapter 8: The T.V. Star
- Fudge is chosen to ride the Toddle Bike in a commercial.
Chapter 9: Just Another Rainy Day
- Peter, Fudge, and their father head to the movies, where Fudge goes missing.
Chapter 10: Dribble
- Fudge swallows Peter's turtle Dribble. Peter gets a dog at the end and names him Turtle, so he'll never forget Dribble.