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.

It might be a little bit scary for young readers, but I think it has a strong message. The illustrations were engaging, and the storyline was interesting. However, it is not my favorite and I would not recommend purchasing for the library.

Sometimes it's less humiliating to tell a lie than admit the truth but the problem is lies get out of control. Besides, every time you lie, it gets easier to do it again. The Fib, by Pedro Iniguez, is a great way to teach children both of these lessons. The drawings are engaging and the classroom setting will have kids easily identifying with the main character. I definitely recommend this book as a teaching aid for parents.

RE-READ TALLY: 8

BLUF: "C" absolutely loves this story and has been requesting this every night! A great way to start the discussion of truth vs lies, with great, expressive illustrations.

Overall: 5 🌟
Plot/Lesson: 5📍
illustrations: 5🖌️

Suggested Ages:
Read To: 4+
Read By: Early Readers

Mom's Review:
A great visual portrayal of how a little fib can easily get out of control, and that the best path is honesty. Both kiddos seem to have grasped the concept of telling the truth, even using some of the language Mr. Iniguez uses in the book.

"A's" Review:
I can read this all by myself but I thought the Fib was a little scary! I'll listen to it if Mommy or Daddy read it but I don't request it.

"C's" Review:
"I LOVE THE FIB! He's so soft looking and I love his wings and eyes!*" I ask Mommy and Daddy to read this book all the time!
(*Mom's Note: direct quote! But the lesson also went through!)

Dad's Review:
(Pending)

A huge, huge thank you to Mr. Pedro Iniguez, Mr. Nathan Kwan, Gloo Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this wonderful children's book! The Traveling Family approves!

All reviews are our own.

Great artwork and a fun story. My son loved the scary Fib. It can be worrying as a parent when your little one discovers the ability to lie and this is an accessible way of letting your little one learn about make-believe and lying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gloo Books for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book with my son and we enjoyed it!
The art is adorable - especially Fib - and the message is conveyed well for little minds to understand: the importance of telling the truth and how lies (no matter how little) can hurt ourselves and others.

I'd recommend this book to any parent with little ones, and to classroom libraries.

This is a cute ready about the consequences of lying. It reminded me of Pinocchio and his growing nose with every fib! The illustrations were colorful and interesting. I enjoyed the diversity of characters.

This is a cute story about how a small fib can spiral out of control.
It is a good lesson on why lying is bad and can get stressful. Keeping up with a lie can be hard work and hurt people.
The reason Pepe lied in the beginning was because he felt self conscious about the comic book he created over the summer. I do wish his confidence issue was addressed more.

The Fib is a cute monster and I'm glad Pepe found a creative way to keep him in the end.

"The Fib" is a beautiful story about how a small lie—or fib—may seem harmless at first, but can grow to hurt not only the person who tells it, but others as well. On show-and-tell day, Pepe doesn't have anything interesting to present to his class. So, he turns a ball of lint from his pocket into a pretend pet. With each lie he tells, the pet grows—eventually becoming so large that it threatens the students. Pepe soon realizes what a fib truly is, and how to make one disappear. The minimalist illustrations, with their focus on emotions and the changing size of the fib, make this book stand out. The dynamic between Pepe and the fib is the heart of the story—a charming and meaningful tale that readers of all ages will enjoy.

I loved Pedro Iniguez' story "The Fib," and so did my six year old! What magical way to teach children about how sometimes, little fibs can grow and grow, but the best way to make them disappear is by telling the truth. Delightful illustrations as well!

-Emily Bond

Thank you, Gloo Books, for providing me with this ARC. I read it with my children, and we absolutely loved the story. The plot, characters, and illustrations were perfectly crafted. I appreciate how the author took the concept and truly brought it to life. Highly recommend adding this to your library if you have little ones at home.

Pub Date Oct 07 2025

I absolutely loved the illustrations and the messaging behind this book! I feel as though it would be a great way to explain how damaging (and addictive) "fibbing" is. The personification of the fib was well done and super cute. The only thing I didn't love was that we didn't circle back to the comic he originally made and was too embarrassed to share with everyone because he felt as though it wasn't good enough. If I were teaching this book, I would make it a point to circle back with my class to make the point that a homemade comic would've been a great thing to share. In fact, let's make our own comics and pictures to share with our class. I might also have them draw a picture of what their fib would look like. Overall, I would recommend this for classroom use.

Ok I realllyyyy liked this!

The illustrations looked great, digital but almost crayon/chalk like. The Big Gib definitely looked scary and I know kids will love that.

And a nice little moral and lesson. Loved it!

The artwork and story in this book are both lovely--showing kids how easily lies get out of hand without coming across as preachy or as a very special episode kind of vibe. I'll read this one with my own daughter.