Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first book in the Fudge Book Series, which was written by author Judy Blume and was first published in 1972. 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 Hatcher and his relationship with his two-and-a-half-year-old brother, Farley "Fudge" Hatcher. He hates the sound of his legal name, and prefers Fudge for any and all occasions.

Summary
The book focuses on 9-year-old Peter Hatcher's frustration with the horrendous behavior demonstrated by his annoying 2½-year-old brother, Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher, who frequently goes unpunished. Peter becomes frustrated with Fudge because he often disturbs Peter's pet turtle, Dribble, which he 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, Warren and Ann, dote on Fudge, to Peter's anger and frustration.

For months, Fudge's antics continue; breaking his front teeth after catapulting himself off the jungle gym at the local playground when he decides to fly, vandalizing Peter's school project, and taking off 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 Ann'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 him; Warren and Ann sympathetically compensate by adopting a dog, which Peter appropriately names "Turtle" in memory of Dribble.

Characters

 * Peter Hatcher – The protagonist of the story.
 * Fudge Hatcher - Peter's brother.
 * Anne Hatcher (Mom) and Warren Hatcher (Dad)
 * Sheila Tubman
 * Jimmy Fargo

Book Covers
Since been published in 1972, this book has been reissued many times and so has a series of different book covers.