Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I loved this book when I was a kid. But I didn't remember how much until I read it together with my 7 year old son (who has a 3 year old little brother). It ain't Shakespeare, but boy did he love it, and he really really wanted to read the next one after that (Superfudge). Even knowing how much I enjoyed it as a kid, I was surprised by how much he liked it. Previous reviewing parents that get their panties in a bunch over using the word "naughty" and some other such nonsense--get over it. This is a great book for kids to begin to explore reading on their own.
Rating:
Summary: A Family Treasure
Review: I picked this book up tonight for the first time since the FOurth Grade. My four year old son had been begging me to read out of my book to him, and not quite ready to answer the questions my steamy romance novels would conjure I found one of my childhood memories tucked away on a shelf. We read the first chapter tonight before bed and throughly enjoyed it. This is a delightful story of a boy names Peter and his baby brother Fudge. It is full of humor and is written at a level any child who can talk will understand. You won't be dissapointed as you follow Peter through some tough times dealing with his brother Fudge.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best ever
Review: I read this book when I was in fourth or fifth grade. Now I'm 26, but I still remember this little gem well. Peter Warren Hatcher has many problems, but his biggest one is his little brother, whom everyone calls "Fudge" Everyone likes Fudge, because he's the cute one, but when Fudge becomes a little monster, everyone looks to Peter to solve the problems. Mr. and Mrs. Juicy-O meet Fudge and love him, but when he shoves Peter's turtle in their faces, Peter's dad loses the account. Mr. Toddle-Bike thinks Fudge is just right for a commercial, but Fudge won't ride the bike until Peter does. When Fudge eats Peter's turtle, Dribble, Fudge gets all the attention, and Peter just loses his pet. In every "Tale" Peter plays the role of the good son. Judy Blume knows her audience well. People this age have to deal with the fact that they are no longer cute, but they are still treated like they know nothing by most adults. I could identify with Peter when I was 10, and I can relate to him still now. Parents, buy this book for your kids. Kids, read this book. It's funny, touching, and will stay in your head for the rest of your lives.
Rating:
Summary: A great book to read aloud!
Review: I still remember my fourth grade teacher reading, "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" aloud to our class. That was about 20 years ago. I always enjoyed listening to a teacher read a book during class, and I especially remember how much fun "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" was! It was my first Judy Blume book. It is a good book to read aloud. Since then, I have read other Blume books, including "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" recently. Kids with younger brothers and sisters will understand and relate to the situations in the book. Judy Blume has talent with respect to combining humor and realistic situations of a young persons world. The book was just as much fun to read as when I was in the fourth grade. The main character, Peter Hatcher, has the problem of dealing with Fudge, his two-year-old brother. Temper tantrums, smearing food where it shouldn't be, and scribbling on homework are among the many difficulties Peter has to deal with. Peter and his family live in an apartment in New York City. There is also Peter's friend Jimmy Fargo, and Sheila Tubman, who he would care not to be around. I highly recommend this book for kids and I think adults would enjoy it just as much.
Rating:
Summary: Fudge foibles
Review: Judy Blume has often shocked the delicate sensibilities of stuffy parents worldwide with her straightforward tell-it-like-it-is young adult books containing sexual situations. When I was a kid though, Judy Blume meant only one thing. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing". One of my favorite books, written incredibly well, it captured perfectly what it means to be a kid with a little sibling. This book was a revelation. Nowhere else had I encountered an early reader story that wasn't afraid to say that little sibs can be annoying brats. There are roughly five bazillion books out there written specifically to coax older children into befriending their younger siblings. Far fewer are the books that recognize the difficulties these elder kids have to deal with when they're forced to abandon their personal privacy and sanity for the sake of a little brother or sister. The one book that really spoke to me about this (and was really funny as well) was Judy Blume's 1972 creation. And it reads as perfectly today as it did some thirty odd years ago.
There was Peter. And then there was Fudge. Peter Hatcher is nine years old and has the awful job of dealing with almost-three-year-old Fudgie at all times. Fudge is what a polite person might call a lively child. To Peter, however, Fudge is a holy terror. If he's not sticking green food stamps to full suitcases or refusing to eat until Peter stands on his head, he's leaping from large rocks (to fly) and throwing tantrums in shoe stores. Peter is understandably jealous of the amount of attention Fudge attracts but at least he has his pet turtle Dribble to comfort him. Each chapter in this book is a small story about the daily interactions and adventures of the Hatcher boys. The final tale (the most important day of Peter's life, according to him) is probably one of the most memorable episodes in children's literature to date.
What Blume does right with this book is put everything entirely within the first person perspective of Peter himself. His tone of voice is pitch perfect. You empathize with him completely. When Fudge goes into his older brother's room and destroys his poster for school, you're just as inclined to see him punished as Peter is. And when Peter must deal with an awful loss at the book's end, you know just how he feels. Somehow, Blume has taken that prickly mind of the fourth grade boy, and made it completely understandable to the rest of the world. This is no small feat.
There are some small dated elements to the book. Mrs. Hatcher is, suffice to say, your stereotypical frantic mama. You begin to wish that she would grow a backbone once in a while instead of sobbing "my baby" whenever Fudge misbehaves in a dangerous way. As for Fudge, he's great in that he's awful. The worst possible three-year-old to be trapped in a family with. If there's a way to screw something up, he'll manage it. The age difference between a nine-year-old and a three-year-old is immense. Blume bridges that gap adeptly.
I state here and now, as loudly as my little lungs can carry sound (or my little fingers can type a review) that this is one of the best children's books in American literature. It has everything you could possibly want. Humor, adventure, a hero with many troubles, and a happy ending. For kids that have a Fudge of their own, Peter's problems will speak to them instantly. For kids that ARE Fudge, the book will strike them as an amusing romp through a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. A must read for any kid you know.
Rating:
Summary: I love The Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Review: Peter has a big problem, his little brother Fudge.The setting of the story is in a town.The characters are believable because some kids never want to go shopping with their mom and little brother and some kids have to be entertained at a three year old's birthday party.The main character is likeable because he is nice and funny.I liked the story because it is so interesting and exciting that when I needed to stop reading I wouldn't take an eye off of it.My favorite part was when Fudge got another Picture Dictonary.What I learned from this book is never to leave your homework in a place where a three year old can get ahold of it.I would recommend this book to a friend because there's always something new going on and you never want to put the book down.If a friend likes this book he or she would also like The One In The Middle Is The Green Kangaroo, Otherwise Known as Sheila The Great,and Fudge Amania.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is a great book, which many children can relate to. It is about a little boy named Peter, who is in the fourth grade, and his little brother Fudge, who is only three years old. Fudge is very bad and pulls off many disastrous and embarrassing stunts, but to everyone else he is just an angel. He is always messing up Peter's stuff, but all everyone else is worried about is poor, little Fudge. Peter feels as if no one cares about him and that he is just a fourth grade nothing. Many children are put in this situation when they have younger siblings. By reading this book, children can see that they are still loved and that being older isn't always a bad thing.
This book is really an excellent and fun book. I remember having it read to me when I was in elementary school and loving it then. Now I reread it for a college class and still think that it is great. This is a book that children will definitely enjoy and if any adults want to read a children's book, they will certainly have a few good laughs as well!
Rating:
Summary: The Adventures of Peter Hatcher and Fudge
Review: TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING
By Natalie Watch out! Here comes an out of this world
Two-year-old. If you read Tales of a Fourth
Grade Nothing you'll see how much of a hazel
Fudge can be and his brother Peter's had enough.
You'll laugh until you cry with this hilarious book
And many others like Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mainia
By Judy Blume illustrated by Roy Doty.
The beginning starts with Peter getting a new turtle named Dribble and Fudge is just fascinated by it. In fact, you'd think it would be better if Peter had just said no to the turtle. Well, Fudge goes through many experiences with or without Peter's turtle. Whether he's scribbling all over Peter's homework or throwing a temper tantrum in the shoe store Fudge can be a blast.
Some of the characteristics that Fudge has are annoying and troublesome. I know because in the book Fudge lost his two front teeth. Can you guess how that happened? And Peter, I'd say some of the characteristics about him are generous and polite. I know because when Peter's dad made an egg omelet with a dozen eggs and Peter tried it all he said was "tastes great dad".
This realistic fiction book reminds me of Junie B. Jones. They just want to be the center of attention. Fudge also reminds me of my little sister their never far from trouble. I think this book is one of the funniest books I've ever read and I recommend this book because when you read it you'll see that with Fudge anything can happen.
Rating:
Summary: FUDGE gone WILD!
Review: This is a good book for kids to read because it's light, fun, easy, and interesting. Judy Blume does a good job of developing her characters. The storyline is interesting and appropriate for children. The book explores what children do, think, and feel. The main character in the story, Peter, is one of my favorite kids from children's lit, right up there with James Henry Trotter from James and the Giant Peach.
This is another one of those books that you don't have to read before you die, but still, it'd be a shame to miss.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This was the first book that I can remember ever reading, way back in elementary school. I don't think it's lost any of its charm. Anyone who has a sibling can relate to this book. It is funny, and especially witty for a children's book, and it helped to fuel my love for reading. I've read other books by Blume (Superfudge, Then Again Maybe I Won't) and I like them all. One note: Please disregard the following review: This book did not age well, from January 20, 2004. It was written by a PC Police Officer from Indiana and its ignorance is unjustified. The book is a light-hearted look at a small family in the city. It seems that everything these days, no matter how old it is, is judged by its Political Correctness. I'm tired of fools like her trying to water down everything to the lowest common denominator so that nobody's "feelings" are hurt. It's a story about brothers' misadventures together for crying out loud. Bottom line: This book has lots of well-deserved 5-star reviews. If you have small kids and want to turn them on to reading, this would be a pretty good place to start. But hurry, it may be a matter of time before its "unnacceptable violence" gets it banned by the PC Police.
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