Fudge.

Chapter 6 sees Fudge being taken to the dentist, having lost his two front teeth in the flying attempt of chapter 4. The biggest conflict in this chapter comes after the dentist, when the boys are taken to a shoe store. Fudge, who always wants to be like Peter, wants to get the same shoes as Peter, and all hell breaks loose when it transpires that the shoes that Peter has chosen are not available in Fudge's size. The boys' mother ends the conflict by pretending to Fudge that Peter is getting the same shoes as him. This, of course, will lead to another conflict later when Fudge realizes that he has been duped.

Numerous conflicts arise in chapters 7 through 9 of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Many of them involve the toddler nicknamed Fudge, for Farley, Hatcher. His behavior is troubling to his brother and their parents. When their father takes the boys to work at the advertising agency, Fudge’s behavior also brings him into conflict with a client, Mr. Vincent. This conflict spills over into the relationship between Mr. Vincent and Mr. Hatcher.

When Mr. Hatcher takes the boys to the movies, Fudge slips away. Searching for him requires shutting off the movie, which creates a conflict between the family and the other audience members. Peter’s internal conflict over his constantly changing feelings toward his brother remains unresolved.

The two-year-old Fudge looks up to his older brother and tries to be involved in his activities. This leads to a conflict over a school project that Peter creates as part of a group. When Fudge ruins the project, Peter grows angry with both his brother and his parents. This conflict is partly resolved by putting a chain on Peter’s door. The conflict between Peter and Fudge continues, however, when Peter sees Fudge getting preferential treatment. Peter cares for his brother but sometimes resents and envies him. Because he wants to be a good brother, he experiences internal conflict over his changing attitudes toward Fudge.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is told by the first-person narrator and protagonist, Peter Hatcher. The main events are those that he sees as important from his perspective as a fourth-grader, a responsible son, and an older brother. His little brother, Farley or Fudge, is the cause of many related important events. The toddler, who is impetuous and excitable, tends to spoil things for Peter.

Among the most significant events are those related to Peter’s desire for a pet. Early in the novel he wins a turtle, which later dies because Fudge eats it. Finally his parents get a dog.

Peter’s social life and schoolwork are also affected by Fudge. Peter frequently agrees to look after his brother or do things with him and his parents, when he would rather be socializing with his friends. In one such event at the playground, Fudge “flies” off the jungle gym and breaks his teeth. On two other occasions, Peter accompanies his mother and Fudge to the dentist and helps his father at work when Fudge appears in a commercial. A school-related event is Peter’s collaboration with Sheila on an important project, which Fudge wrecks.

Another important event occurs early on, also affected by Fudge, is Mr. Hatcher losing his job. Fudge’s behavior toward Mr. Yarby—the father’s boss—and his wife influences the boss’s opinion, and he fires Hatcher.

Judy Blume's 1972 novel Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is a wonderful book that has really stood the test of time. 

Many characters are introduced in this novel but not all of them are major. Some just serve to move the plot forward. The major characters in the novel are as follows: 

Peter Warren Hatcher is the narrator of the story and the protagonist. The antagonist is his younger brother, Farley Drexel Hatcher. 

My biggest problem is my brother, Farley Drexel Hatcher. He's two and-a-half years old. Everybody calls him Fudge. I feel sorry for him if he's going to grow up with a name like Fudge, but I don't say a word. It's none of my business. Fudge is always in my way. He messes up everything he sees. And when he gets mad he throws himself flat on the floor and he screams. And he kicks. And he bangs his fists. The only time I really like him is when he's sleeping.

Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher, Peter's parents, are also major characters. They interact with Peter differently over the major problem of Fudge. Peter's mom often holds Peter responsible for what Fudge does. She also tries to motivate the strong-willed Fudge by using Peter as a role model for him, as she does in the following quote:

But my mother said, "I have an idea." She motioned for me and Mr. Berman to come closer. I had the feeling I wasn't going to like her idea. But I listened anyway. "I think we'll have to play a little joke on Fudge," she said. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Well. . . suppose Mr. Berman brings out a pair of saddle shoes in your size and. . . ." "Oh no!" I said. "You're not going to get me to wear saddle shoes. Never!"

Peter's father is more detached and tries to be more stern with Fudge. However, he is not sympathetic to Peter's impossible situation, namely, that Fudge is a major problem in his life, and no one will help him with this problem. 

Jimmy Fargo is Peter's best friend, but, aside from a couple of episodes, he is not in the novel much. He really serves to drive the plot forward, but he is not a major character. This is also true for the Yarbys, Grandma, and Sheila. 

The biggest problem of the novel comes when Dribble, the turtle Peter wins at Jimmy's birthday party, is eaten by Fudge. All the concern goes to Fudge's well-being. His parents are panicked and take him to the hospital. The doctors prescribe medicines that will move the turtle through the digestive tract. A doctor informs Peter he will need to get another turtle. No one expresses concern for Peter's feelings about losing his beloved turtle to his brother's crazy behavior.

Different readers are likely to have slightly different lists of what the important events in this story are, but I think most lists will include Peter winning his pet turtle, Dribble. Follow that event with Peter telling his brother, Fudge, to never touch Dribble. That rule doesn't work out, as Fudge eventually swallows Dribble. The doctors get Dribble out, and Fudge is fine, but Dribble is dead. Dribble's arrival and death function as "bookends" for the important events in the story. I would pick two or three Fudge events that stand out to you as particularly meaningful or funny and add them to your list. I've always liked Fudge climbing to the top of the jungle gym, jumping off, and falling on his face. The three-year-old birthday party is also quite memorable. I would also include Fudge ruining Peter's school project as an important event.

Ten important events that happen in Judy Blume's novel Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will likely center on Peter, his turtle, his little brother Fudge, and their family.

One important event occurs right away. In the first chapter, Peter wins a small turtle, Dribble, at Jimmy's birthday party. The presence of Dribble leads to additional important events. At the end of the story, Fudge swallows the turtle, and it passes away. Before Fudge consumes the turtle, Fudge displays the turtle to one of his father's advertising clients. The turtle, along with Fudge's behavior, causes his dad to lose key business. Later on, Fudge helps his dad keep a client because they want to put Fudge in their TV commercial.

For a fifth important event, try Mrs. Hatcher's decision to leave Fudge in the care of Peter, Jimmy, and Sheila. The three wind up chasing each other around. Fudge is left unsupervised. He flies off the jungle gym and loses lots of teeth. The playground incident links to a sixth important event: a fight between Peter and his mom. In chapter 7, a seventh important event happens when Fudge defaces Peter's poster. This time, Mrs. Hatcher handles things differently. She takes out her anger on Fudge instead of Peter.

For three more important events, consider how Peter helps Fudge make it through the previously mentioned TV commercial, how Dribble impacts Fudge's birthday party, and how Dribble's death results in a new pet.

The central conflicts in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing are caused by Peter's rambunctious and disobedient younger brother, Fudge. During the course of the story, Fudge is responsible for a remarkable number of unfortunate incidents in Peter's life, all of which lead to conflict within the family.

The list of conflicts between Peter and Fudge is long, and a particularly memorable incident can be found in chapter 7, when Fudge destroys a school project that Peter and two of his classmates have been working on. As usual, this ultimately becomes a conflict between Peter and his mother, because he yells at her for failing to keep Fudge out of his possessions.

Earlier, in chapter 3, Fudge refuses to eat for a few days, and this causes conflict between Peter and his mother when Peter shows reluctance to stand on his head to get Fudge to eat and states that his brother will "eat when he gets hungry." Once again, Peter is up against her mother's blind love for her brother and the fact that Fudge can get away with anything.

Ultimately, the central characters in this novel are up against the force of nature that is Fudge. His disobedient nature causes endless conflicts and trouble for members of his family and those who visit the family's apartment.

The first three chapters of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing establish the conflicts that will continue throughout the book. Young Farley Hatcher, known as Fudge, is even more impulsive and mischievous than most two-year-old children. His behavior is especially challenging for his nine-year-old brother, and only sibling, Peter. However, Fudge’s parents often find it difficult to deal with the toddler. Peter sometimes perceives that they indulge or show favoritism toward the younger boy, which puts him in conflict with one or both parents. For example, he resents being asked to do tricks that will encourage Fudge to eat. The Yarbies come to stay for a few days in the Hatchers’ apartment because Mr. Yarby is an important client for Mr. Hatcher’s advertising business. There are numerous conflictual interactions between Fudge and Peter with the Yarbies, who decide to go to a hotel.

The conflict between the Yarbies and Hatchers, although based on the children’s behavior, results in a business problem for Mr. Hatcher when Mr. Yarby withdraws his account. Unfortunately, the conflicts between Fudge and the other family members sometimes escalate into violence toward the very young child. Becoming very impatient when Fudge plays with his pet turtle, Peter hits his brother. Their father loses his temper when Fudge is a fussy eater, and pours cereal over the child.

Written by successful children’s author Judy Blume, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first novel in the “Fudge Series.” The main character in the book is nine-year-old Peter Warren Hatcher. Peter has a two-and-a-half-year-old brother named Farley Drexel Hatcher who is known as “Fudge.” The book is told from Peter’s point of view and is about his problematic relationship with his little brother, Fudge.

Fudge is a mischievous two-year-old and manages to outdo even the most troublesome toddler with his never-ending antics, driving poor Peter to the point of despair. Peter’s parents dote on Fudge, and Fudge hardly ever earns any punishment for his wrongdoings, which only adds to Peter’s frustration with his little brother.

Fudge is prone to temper tantrums, manages to ruin several of Peter’s activities, destroys Peter’s school projects, gets lost at a movie theater, falls and chips his teeth, and even gets his father fired from an important account. But one of the main problems Peter has is that Fudge won’t leave Peter's pet turtle, Dribble, alone.

When it is discovered that Fudge has swallowed poor Dribble, effectively ending the little turtle’s life, Peter is too upset about his pet to worry about Fudge. At the hospital, Peter realizes that perhaps he does love his little brother after all, and he tries to be more patient with Fudge. Peter does struggle with jealousy when Fudge is showered with attention and gifts after his hospital stay, still believing that his parents favor his little brother and neglect Peter.

His parents are pleased with Peter’s continued patience with Fudge and, feeling sorry for the loss of his pet turtle, decide to get him a dog. Fudge’s traumatic experience with the turtle has apparently taught him a lesson, and he is insistent that the dog is Peter’s, not showing any inclination toward swallowing Peter’s new pet! The relationship between the brothers improves at the end of the book because Peter’s parents appear to care about Peter as well, and Fudge is making an attempt at better behavior.