Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume is a classic children’s novel that is beloved by millions of young readers. I started every 4th-grade school year with Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing as our first novel unit. It is such a humorous book and opens up many discussions and activities tied to the curriculum and standards. Children relate to the main character, Peter Hatcher, and his struggles to get through the everyday life of a typical 4th grader. Throw in the antics of his younger brother, Fudge, and you are in for a treat! I have never had a child tell me they didn’t enjoy this book. Most students are fighting over who gets to read the sequel, Superfudge, as soon as we finish the unit!
Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing is one of my favorite novels. I loved it as a child and I still love it as an adult. I so enjoyed sharing this story with my students and my own kids. There are so many ways that kids can identify with the main character, Peter Hatcher. Peter seems to have that streak of bad luck that hits us all, at one time or another. Anyone who has a younger sibling (or a toddler of their own) can completely identify with the challenges that Peter’s brother Fudge, creates for the family.
Some elements of the story can be a bit dated, copyright 1972, but this does not seem to bother my students in the least bit! Being from Omaha, this book opens up discussions about living in a metropolis like New York City. My students always enjoy discussing how Peter’s life compares to theirs, which I am sure is even more pronounced for students in more rural areas.
I highly recommend using Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing in your classroom. Not only is it an informative book, but it is also fun! Students will love reading this book and sharing the humor.
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Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing is an excellent choice for a novel study.
- Age-Appropriate: This novel is written for children aged 8-12, making it a perfect fit for fourth-grade students.
- Humorous and Relatable: The book is filled with humor and relatable situations that children can easily connect with, making it a great tool for building reading comprehension and engagement.
- Develops Empathy: The novel follows the struggles of the main character, Peter, as he deals with a new baby brother who gets all the attention. This helps students develop empathy and understand different perspectives.
- Increases Vocabulary: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing uses simple language, making it accessible for young readers, but also introduces new vocabulary words that can be taught and discussed in class.
- Supports Character Development: The novel explores themes of family, jealousy, and responsibility, which can lead to valuable discussions and lessons on character development.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing
I am a big advocate for using humorous books to spark a love of reading, especially with boys. Students can extend their love of Peter and Fudge by reading the sequels Superfudge, Fudge-A-Mania, and Double Fudge.
Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing is an excellent novel for a fourth-grade novel study. It’s age-appropriate, relatable, humorous, and educational, making it a great choice for building reading comprehension and character development.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
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