Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Author: Judy Blume
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books/ Yearling Books
Copyright: 1972
Pages: 120
Reading Level: 4.9
Genre: Children’s Novel
Rating: ****

Summary:
Peter Hatcher has lots of problems, but only one classifies as his biggest problem, his little brother Fudge. Fudge is two and always into trouble. Trouble that Peter always seem to be either in the middle of or have to endure. From smearing his mashed potatoes all over the wall at Hamburger Heaven to being a “bird” on the monkey bars and losing his front two teeth Fudge is always into something. Peter is usually embarrassed or left cleaning up the mess after Fudge, but Fudge finally does it when he goes after Peter’s turtle Dribble. Peter won Dribble as his friend’s birthday party, and he is his prized position. He cleans his tank every weekend and talks and plays with Dribble often…but one day Peter comes home to find his door open and Dribble not in his bowl. After searching for hours they find that Dribble is not lost, but right where Fudge said he was, in his stomach. Fudge ate the turtle. Once all the uproar over Fudge swallowing the turtle leaving him in the hospital until it passed, had subsided, Peter finally gets a reward for dealing so well with Fudge. A dog, something all Peter’s own and far too big for Fudge to swallow. So pick up the book and enjoy a laugh as you sit back and enjoy the stories of Peter and his biggest problem, his little brother Fudge.

Who would benefit from reading this?
This book would be a fun read for any kid, especially those with younger siblings who can relate. It is also a great read aloud book especially for older kids.

Potential problems/conflicts:
The only problems I could see in this novel would be possible language if, parents don’t want their kids readings words like “shut up”. Another potential problem may be that all the adventures of Fudge just might give a kid some ideas that parents and older siblings don't want them to have. Other than that I see no conflicts.

My reaction:
I could not stop laughing while reading this book, whether I was alone or reading it to my roommates there was always laughter. Though my younger brother never swallowed my turtle, he did his fair share of embarrassing and obnoxious things. This perfectly portrays an older brother and what it is like to have a younger sibling. I would read it again in a heartbeat