Super impacting story for kids!
The visual imagery of the harm a small fib can do, is very successful in this story. Short and to the point and with vivid colors to keep children engaged while reading. It kept my kids attention!

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This super charming book is about a boy who tells a fib which turns into a monster that grows and keeps on growing. It’s only by telling the truth that he can save the day and shrink that fib back down to nothing. This book is a charming read full of colourful illustrations and a snappy little storyline that’s perfect to share with children. I would definitely consider buying this to read with my own kids or with children I work with. I think it would work especially well with children between the ages of 4 and 6.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gloo Books for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

This was ok, kinda seemed scary for a kids book but it does teach about fibbing and the emotions you can get from that.

This was a cute story about the importance of telling the truth and how small lies can spiral out of control.

The Fib
By Pedro Iniguez
This is a super cute book about the consequences of lying. It was show & tell day at school and our little guy doesn't feel like his item is good enough to show after seeing what the other kids brought. So he makes up a fib. This fib gets bigger and bigger as he lies more and more. Soon the monster fib is wrecking the school.
The book ends nicely with the lesson learned.
The pictures have bright colors and fun shapes to hold the interest along with the story. A win-win combo!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this clever and fun book!

This was a cute story that sends an important message that telling a lie can escalate out of control quickly and only be resolved by telling the truth. My son is four and he enjoyed this story. He also liked the colorful pictures. It allowed us to discuss the topic of lying in a more comprehensible way.

Something I would have liked to have included in the story.. In the beginning of the story, Pepe has a comic book he made over the summer. He brought it for show and tell but after seeing what his classmates brought, he puts it back in his backpack. I think a good ending would have been him explaining he told the fib because he lacked confidence. Then his teacher could encourage him to show off his comic book. Which leads to him gaining the confidence to return home to create the fib comic book we see at the end of the story.

ThankYou NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Fib with it's cute illustrations and valubale lesson. Lies, even tiny ones, have the ability to snowball and I think the author done a great job conveying that in a way that children can comprehend.

a fun little story about the fantasy consequences telling lies with gorgeous eye catching and colourful artwork that my 18 month old absolutely loved. i especially enjoyed the addition of how fibs can be fun as long as everyone knows they're make-believe because that's how we are going to do the tooth fairy etc.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Whimsical Tale with a Powerful Message
The Fib by Pedro Iniguez is a creative and thought-provoking picture book that masterfully blends imagination, fantasy, and an important moral lesson. This Children's Fiction book tells the story of Pepe, a boy who tells a small lie, or "fib," which then takes on a life of its own, literally growing into a giant, uncontrollable monster that threatens the entire school.
The story is an excellent tool for parents and educators to discuss honesty and responsibility with children in a way that is both engaging and memorable. As the chaos escalates, Pepe learns that even the smallest lie can spiral out of control, and that courage and honesty are the keys to setting things right. It’s a timeless narrative that powerfully conveys the consequences of dishonesty and the importance of accountability.
What makes this book truly stand out is how Pepe brace himself to tell the truth, as we all know that telling truths is difficult. Especially when we've alreading telling lies all along. Personally i think that scene is the major highlight of this book and what amazed me the most.
The illustrations are also wonderfully expressive and imaginative, perfectly capturing the whimsical nature of the growing "fib" monster and the emotional journey of the characters. The artwork makes the story feel vivid and dynamic, turning a moral lesson into a visually captivating adventure.
Overall, The Fib is an essential read for any family. It is a fantastic example of a children’s book that not only entertains but also teaches a crucial life lesson through a brilliant combination of imaginative storytelling and beautiful illustrations.

This story strikes a lovely balance: funny and imaginative, while also thoughtful. It handles the topic with care, avoiding any heavy-handed lessons. Instead, it offers a simple, relatable message: fibs can easily get out of hand, and telling the truth is always the better choice.

This would be a wonderful book for classroom settings especially. Its wit and humor will keep most young readers engaged, while still providing a great message. I could see it being a great resource for encouraging empathy, responsibility, and social-emotional learning in a way that’s easy for young children to understand.

This was a cute story to teach kids the consequences of telling a lie/fib. It would make a cute book to read for social skills.

I received an advance e-copy from the publisher on Netgalley to review. All opinions are my own.

In a Nutshell: A picture book about the dangers of fibbing. Cute story and cute illustrations. A good lesson for little ones (and adults) to remember. Recommended, but it will work better with discussions.

Plot Preview:
Second-grader Pepe planned to use the comic book he had drawn on Show-and-Tell day. But after seeing his classmates’ presentations, he is embarrassed at the childishness of his work. So he takes a ball of lint from his pocket and spins a lie about it being a magical creature with impressive physical features. Unfortunately for Pepe, his fib soon turns into reality. Worse, his “fib” grows every time Pepe fibs about its qualities. The danger seems to balloon out of Pepe’s control. How can he restore normalcy and get rid of the giant Fib monster?

This is a clever book that uses a creative story to drive home an important point: even small fibs can turn dangerous. Like all fantastical works, it would be better read with suspension of disbelief, because there are quite a few things the book leaves dangling.
The story begins in a light manner, but as Pepe’s fibs and his Fib grow, the proceedings get quite menacing. Luckily, Pepe learns his lesson soon enough.
With not much rationale for the sudden manifestation of the Fib monster, the lesson might be a bit too subtle for some little readers to grasp. All the more as the meaning of the word ‘fib’ is revealed quite late in the book and not every child might be familiar with it beforehand.
The text is good for the target age of 4-7 years, though the older kids in that age group might find the content a bit too simplistic and the younger kids, too abstract. There are about 2-6 lines per page, and the page layout spaces out the text blocks well. There are a load of similes, thanks to Pepe’s imaginative Fib monster.
The illustrations are fabulous. The characters as well as the background are vividly coloured. Pepe’s Fib monster is especially well-drawn, with every stage of its growth (and decline) represented perfectly. That said, its huge teeth and destructive tendencies might end up scaring some little readers.
I think I loved the message the most, even though the execution could have been slightly better. The book doesn’t get preachy about morality, which works to its advantage.
I have mixed feelings about the ending. The part where there’s a hint about the difference between make-believe and lying, is good, but again, it is too understated and would work better with discussion. Also, I would have liked Pepe to return to the comic book he first made and show it to his friends happily.
Overall, this is a good book with a great message, but I’d have liked it to be slightly more refined in its execution. Perhaps it would click better if read in a classroom as some of the finer points about the consequences of lying and the out-of-control fib are worth discussing in a group.
3.25 stars.

My thanks to Gloo Books for providing the DRC of “The Fib” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Oh wow I absolutely loved this book. In my classroom we talk about fibbing all the time and really, any child (and adults if we're being real!) needs to know the consequences of a fib. This is the perfect story in which our protagonists' little white lie grows way out of hand, and how to go about righting his wrongs.

Publishing Date: October 7, 2025

This is a wonderful book for exploring what is a complicated concept with younger children i.e. the consequences of telling a fib. The book’s dedication humorously hints at the moral dilemma all humans have faced from time to time i.e. to fib or not to fib, dedicated as it is to ”anyone who has ever told a fib.”
I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but the cover art manages to capture interest and build excitement from the get-go, giving a hint of what is going to happen. The illustrations are excellent and will have children engaged in the story right from the very start. It really is excellent how the fib grows and the changing reactions to each new development.
Poor Pepe finds himself in a tricky situation at school. At show and tell he feels his self-created comic doesn’t stand up well against the other children’s choices so he tells a fib … a fib that takes on a life of its own and grows beyond his control.
The subject matter is handled sensitively but also with humour. What is refreshing is that there is no preaching here just a nice, easy to understand message that telling fibs is not a good idea, that they can easily spiral out of control and that telling the truth is always the best course of action.
This is a fantastic book that I and my little one enjoyed. I will definitely be using it in the classroom with my pupils to help build social/emotional understanding, personal responsibility and empathy.

What a great book about lies. This book shows what can happen when a little "fib" gets out of hand. Once you tell a small lie, it can grow to become bigger and more harmful. This was a cute way to put it into a story with a fib monster. I think kids will really enjoy it and the pictures to go along with it. Thank you to Gloo Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a great option for folks who want Larryboy and the Fib from Outerspace with a more secular focus. I also like how the fib comes from self-consciousness and then inspires Pepe creatively. This illustrates positive coping mechanisms! Great work.

Thank you to Net Galley & the publisher this cute little arc.

The story,, characters & illustrations in this book were all great. It was such a fun story but at the same time carried such an important message for kids.
I read this with my 5 year old son & not only did he enjoy the characters, it opened up a discussion regarding the importance of being honest and how telling "fibs" and then letting them grow out of control can always be made right by telling the truth and being honest about everything is always the best way.

Super cute,

Overall a good book. The illustrations were different and nice. Though, I wish the book made him show his comic book to his class and get appreciation for that.

A very funny story about telling lies. I like that the story approaches the subject from a humorous point of view and shows what can happen when a fib starts getting out of hand. A great resource for parents and teachers!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

Although this is a picture book, this could be used for different age groups. The super young children will enjoy the story but will not be able to understand the allegory. That will happen between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Definitely would recommend this book to children around that age, though.