Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Why does Mr. Hatcher invite the Yarbys to stay in the family’s crowded Manhattan apartment? Mrs. Hatcher acts as though this is not wise, although she does her best to be a good hostess. What might her concerns have been?

Fudge surprises his parents by suddenly refusing to eat, although the pediatrician cannot find a medical reason for this. Mr. Hatcher tries to entertain Fudge and cajole him into eating by juggling for him; Mrs. Hatcher asks Peter to stand on his head so that Fudge will be more likely to eat. Were these good techniques for dealing with this situation? Why or why not?

Sheila Tubman begs to babysit Fudge for 10 minutes in Central Park. When Sheila loses focus, Fudge falls from a jungle gym, losing his two front teeth. Peter’s mother forgives Sheila immediately but blames Peter for the accident. Why does she do this? What happens afterward?

Peter helps his mother and grandmother run Fudge’s third birthday party. The guests are three other toddlers from the apartment building, each with a specific problem or behavior that creates difficulty during the celebration. Describe each of the guests and summarize what they do at the party.

Adults repeatedly enlist Peter’s help to encourage good behavior in Fudge, whether at the dentist, in Bloomingdale’s, or at home. Why is this tactic so effective? How does Peter feel about these situations?

Describe Sheila’s attitude toward the group project. Why does she act this way? Is she really the smartest member, or does she just act as though this is the case?

Describe the traditional gender roles depicted in the story. How is labor divided in the Hatcher household in particular? How do these roles affect the family?

Describe the scenario that occurs when Peter and his father bring Fudge to the movies. Why does Fudge leave his seat? What mistaken impression leads the toddler to try to get closer to the movie screen?