The novel begins as Peter is told the dreadful news that his parents are having another baby. In the first book of the series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Peter’s first brother, Fudge, is born and causes havoc for Peter. Hearing that his parents are going to have “another Fudge” makes him angry (8), and he threatens to run away to his friend Jimmy Fargo’s house or to Grandma’s. Peter’s brother Fudge is four years old and innocently stands by while the parents make dinner. Fudge is gaining independence and not only wants to do things for himself, but also insists on pointing out when Peter does not wash his hands properly. He is smart as well, able to recite months, numbers, and the alphabet. When Fudge hears that a new baby is coming, he becomes curious and pensive, even asking about his own personality as a baby. Peter dreads the idea of another impatient and demanding sibling. He agrees not to run away and give the soon-to-be new sibling a chance, with the stipulation that he still plans to leave if the baby is as hard to deal with as Fudge.