No one has a brother like Peter Hatcher’s brother, Fudge - no one. At least that is what he would tell you, and once you read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, you would have a hard time not believing him. Nine year old Peter Hatcher lives in an apartment in New York City with his parents, his turtle, Dribble, and his three year old brother Farley Drexel, better known as Fudge. Dull moments are few and far between in this household and with a brother like Fudge, you never know what is going to happen next! Peter, who often finds himself in his brother’s shadow, feels like a fourth grade nothing – Fudge can do no wrong and everyone who meets him falls in love with him. Can Peter balance the love and resentment he has for his brother at the same time?

Never has a sibling relationship come along quite like that of Peter and Fudge. Mostly hilarious, these unforgettable “tales” will find themselves being read over and over again. Readers will have a hard time putting this one down as the characters are so zanily memorable and the antics even more so. Aside from the opportunity for multiple laughs, this novel does much to teach older children about dealing with an incorrigible younger sibling. Older siblings will be able to relate to Peter’s feelings of being ignored and often held responsible for Fudge and his actions. The ways in which he learns to cope with his family dynamics make this book more than just a laugh-out-loud read. The award-winning, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, would make a great read-aloud or individual read, and is an essential purchase for all libraries.