I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. An unfortunate event with her cousin led Maggie to start fibbing. One fib after another, she found it hard to stop. That is, until grandpa got involved! This was such a cute story about the importance of telling the truth. #MaggieSparksandtheTruthDragon #NetGalley

Another super cute Maggie Sparks book! My daughter and I also liked this one, and I can't wait to see the book irl. I think it portrayed the consequence of lying in a way that kids can understand, while still coming across as a funny book (and not preachy). :)

I enjoyed Maggie Sparks and the Truth Dragon. It is a great story about the importance of telling the truth.

Maggie is no longer telling the truth. After all, her cousin lied about her and was believed. Now, Maggie has decided that the truth is overrated and lying is so much better.

Maggie is a sassy character with an indomitable fighting spirit.

This story will resonate with young readers, but it contains a lesson for adults as well. It teaches us not to make assumptions and to take the time to dig a little deeper so that we do not inadvertently contribute to the development of negative behavior.

I received an electronic ARC from North Star Editions through NetGalley.
In the third book, Maggie gets in trouble even though she told the truth and her cousin lied. So, she decides that telling lies is the better way to live. At first, she succeeds in lying but eventually, this starts to go wrong. Her grandfather helps her with a school project and uses some of his magic so that she has to tell the truth. Smallman does a terrific job keeping a lighter tone and offering important lessons for younger readers.

Quick Summary: A magical story with a twist

My Review: Maggie Sparks and the Truth Dragon written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Esther Hernando is book #3 in the Maggie Sparks series.

About the Book: " Maggie Sparks is NOT telling the truth! Well, not now after everyone believed her lying cousin Ella over her, landing Maggie in BIG trouble."

Maggie Sparks is a special, little witch with a sprinkling of power and an ever-blossoming sense of wisdom. When an unfortunate wrong is committed against her, she allows it to change the way she interacts with the people around her. One thing leads to another, and suddenly truth bombs are dropped everywhere.

About the Illustrations: This book was illustrated by Esther Hernando. What more can I say? The art work in this book, and in this series, is exceptional. Each illustration captures the very heart and emotion of Maggie and her cast of characters.

My Final Say: Young readers will adore Maggie and her magical ways. The story is fresh and filled with wonder.. It is all about life lessons, truth, family, and friendship.

Other: I highly recommend this series of books to young readers and their families. There is so much here! I can imagine just how rich family discussion times would be.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Children
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, to the illustrator, and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and were voluntarily rendered.

I loved this one because it has dragons. It's such a cute episode. In a family with magic, a secret well-kept, Bat gets transformed into a dragon for homework projects, and the truth always gets out.
Maggie thinks that lying works better than telling the truth, and then she will see the consequences of it. I love these chapter books and the illustrations.

Maggie Sparks and the Truth Dragon is a wonderful book for kids to learn about lying. I love how this book starts with why a child might start lying and how they may see lying as a way to get around their problems. It shows kids how they may feel while lying and what the consequences can be when they do. Overall I think this is a wonderful book for kids and I would recommend it.

This third book in the Maggie Sparks series,deals with the annoyance of not being believed when you tell the truth. Maggie is playing a game of tether-ball with her cousin, and her cousin keeps hitting the ball harder and harder, until Maggies is afraid of it, so ducks, and the ball hits her cousin, who immediately accused Maggie of doing it. When Maggies tries to tell the truth, no one believes her. So, from that moment, she decides that she won’t. What is the point.

Totally relatable, again, even if you dont’ have a grandfather who figures out what is going on, and makes a truth dragon, so that Maggie, who is now lying about everything, as revenge for not being believed, makes is so she can’t lie.

And of course we know that is when all the hilarity comes out. Well, not quite, but it is heartwarming when she tells her teacher, alone, why she has been lying and how annoying it has been to not be believed.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book comes out in North America on the 1st of January 2026. (It was previously published in the UK, two years ago.)

This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first but will be soon. I felt like the is works as a stand alone. It is a cute chapter book that spotlights that mistakes happen and lessons are learned. It was funny and entertaining. I think it will be a hit.