41 pages 1 hour read

Judy Blume

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1972

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter 5

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 Summary: “The Birthday Bash”

Dr. Brown, the family dentist, advises that Fudge will not grow new top front teeth until he is six or seven years old. Peter starts calling his brother “Fang” as a result. When his mother insists that he stop, Peter continues to use the nickname silently.

Peter and his grandmother are enlisted to help at Fudge’s third birthday party. Three young guests arrive: Ralph, an overweight child; Jennie, who is going through a biting stage; and Sam, who is afraid of everything. When the cake is served, Fudge and Ralph grab icing flowers from it with their hands. Jennie bites Peter’s grandmother as she is being served a slice of cake. Ralph demands a second helping, but “he threw up right after he finished it” (47). Fudge is pleased by Jennie’s gift of a musical jack-in-the-box, but Sam is terrified of it, and Grandma has to hide the toy in another room. Ralph gives Fudge a windup car but rescinds the gift, and the pair argue until Peter’s mother confiscates the gift. Sam is the unfortunate giver of a picture dictionary that displeases Fudge greatly.

Peter distracts the group by leading them in a dance while they hold on to balloons, but Sam has a terrified reaction when Jennie’s balloon bursts.

Related Titles

By Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Judy Blume

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Double Fudge

Judy Blume

Double Fudge

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Freckle Juice

Judy Blume

Freckle Juice

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Fudge-a-Mania

Judy Blume

Fudge-a-Mania

Judy Blume

Plot Summary

logo

In The Unlikely Event

Judy Blume

In The Unlikely Event

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

It's Not the End of the World

Judy Blume

It's Not the End of the World

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

Judy Blume

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

Judy Blume

Study Guide

logo

Summer Sisters

Judy Blume

Summer Sisters

Judy Blume