A really lovely book about how dubs can get easily out of control. Great for PSHE and literacy. As a Year 2 teacher I can see myself using this a lot for use of similes, expanded noun phrases and potential for a pie Corbett T4W topic.

The fib, a little lie that grows bigger and bigger every time you tell a lie, even if its a small one, the story.
The illustrations are amazing, I throughly enjoyed them, this monster with this felt like texture and the characters in a simple style, it felt ... refreshing.
So I recommend this book to ANYONE who does not understand how lies can become harmful very quickly, but specially children.
Thanks to netgalley for providing this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Recommended ages: ~5–8, depending on sensitivity to spooky imagery

Pepe’s got a problem—he’s nervous about sharing his handmade comic book during show-and-tell, so instead he pulls a random piece of lint from his pocket… and tells a fib. A tiny one. But that little lie? It takes on a life of its own—literally.

This clever picture book turns the idea of a "fib" into a full-blown (and fuzzy) monster, showing how even small lies can spiral out of control when you keep trying to cover them up. The allegory is spot on, and the way the story builds as Pepe’s fib gets bigger—and harder to manage—is both engaging and relatable.

The illustrations are colorful. The fib monster is an awesome visual representation of guilt and growing lies, though heads up: very little ones might find his claws and teeth a bit spooky.

The Fib will be published October 7, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gloo Books, and Pedro Iniguez for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read children's books, but I'm also an artist, and the illustrations just captured my attention, and they were a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book a lot. It's short, but informative, teaching children, in a very lighthearted way, about how telling even small lies can lead to big trouble, and the proper way to counteract that. Yes, there's a monster, but its one of the cutest little (then big) monsters, I've ever seen.

This is book is perfect for younger readers (age 5 and up) who can handle a tiny bit of spookiness in their stories, with a life lesson in it as well. If this book reaches them at just the right age, it would definitely have a huge influence in their life.

I loved this and want to get it for my kiddo even though he's not quite to that age yet. I think the art style of this is so cool. This book is an interesting way to show how a small fib can get out of control fast - and can feel quite overwhelming. I appreciate the way this storyline went.

Mrs. Apple's class has show and tell. But Pepe doesn't think his show and tell will be as amazing as the things the rest of the class brought. What can he do? Luckily, there is a fib in his pocket.
This book would be great for a preschool aged kid. The illustrations will keep your eye. There are repetitive words you can have them recognize. And the message is one that age often needs to learn. Thanks to Gloo books and Netgalley for this cute story.

The Fib is an adorable illustrated Children’s book about the power of a lie and the way they spread out of control. Although the book sends a very direct and important message, the book is stunningly illustrated and sweet enough to keep little kids entertained. The artwork is stunning and this is definitely going to be a well loved book!

Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

This book is timeless, with fantastic illustrations and the important message of how a little lie can snowball, and how freeing the truth can be to tell.

The illustrations are vibrant and make brilliant use of the space - every page feels like you have fallen into the chaos the characters are experiencing!

While my six year old son picked the book because he was intrigued by the cover, I really adore the fact that there is no shame in The Fib. Pepe’s teacher showed compassion in such a human situation, and it’s honestly just heartwarming.

Picture books with clear stories, with a simple moral are always great for kids, especially when they are fun as well.

More so when the story feels as though it’s getting out of hand.

It all starts with Pepe being too embarrassed to share the comic book he had been working on all summer with the class, and it is here where he introduces the fib to the class.

and this is where things start to get out of hand, to defend the initial fib Pepe has to keep adding to the fib.

Initially the fib is a cute little green fuzz ball, but it gets bigger and bigger all the time and gets more destructive as it goes on.

This is a brilliant metaphor for lying and works really well, and the monster is wonderful in it’s growth and, eventually, in its reversal. The reversal is also excellently explained.

Really enjoyed this for its vibrant illustrations and straightforward clear explanation of what can go wrong when you lie.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

this is a brilliant book how fibs can get out of hand and what we need to do about them. This would be a brilliant story to use in the classroom!

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is a cute look at what happens when you tell a fib and how to make it right.

The Fib is a fun and imaginative story about a boy named Pepe who tells a small lie during show and tell—and watches it spiral out of control. His made-up creature suddenly comes to life, turning into a giant monster that threatens his entire school. As chaos unfolds, Pepe learns an important lesson about honesty, responsibility, and the surprising power of creativity.

This was so cute! It’s so important for kids to learn the significance of lying, telling a fib can grow into something much bigger. I loved the concept of the only way for The Fib to shrink was to tell the truth, that was genius. I think every child should read this.

The Fib is a creative and thoughtful story about honesty, imagination, and finding the confidence to be yourself. The book does a great job showing how even a small lie can grow into something much bigger, and how telling the truth — even when it’s uncomfortable — can help make things right.

I really liked the way the story explored the difference between pretending and being honest, especially in a way that’s easy for kids to understand. The illustrations were a perfect fit and added a lot of personality to the characters and the creature at the center of the story.

The only reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five is that the ending felt a little abrupt. I would have loved to see the main character’s growth come full circle, especially after the struggle he faced early on when he lacked the confidence to share his comic with the class. Still, this is a really sweet book with a great message, and one I think kids and parents will enjoy reading together.

I had so much fun reading this book with my two yer old son! He loved the illustrations so much. He kept turning the pages to look at them over and over again. The Fib was very entertaining for him.

I also liked that it was a more substantial read with a worthy topic to discuss: lying. It makes an important and relevant topic to discuss fun and lighthearted.

I would recommend this book to my fellow toddler mom friends.

Pepe and the Case of the Fuzzy Fib! 👾🧸

Check out my review on YouTube! @lifewithladyO #TheFib #NetGalley.

Pepe and his classmates are back from summer break and ready for show and tell! 🗣️🍎 Pepe has worked super hard on his own comic book 📖✨—but when it’s his turn to share, a wave of insecurity washes over him 😰. So… what does he do? He reaches into his pocket and pulls out… a fuzzy little FIB! 🧶😱

What starts as a teeny-tiny untruth quickly morphs into a big, fuzzy, chaos-causing monster! 🐾😵‍💫 The FIB grows bigger and wilder with every tall tale Pepe tells—until it's completely out of control! 😬🔥

Now it’s up to Pepe to fix what he started and face the hard truth. Can he stop the Fib before it gobbles up the whole school? 🏫💥

This story is a wonderfully spooky (but not too scary!) reminder that even small fibs can spiral into big problems 🧠💡. I loved how the message was woven in—perfectly palatable for young readers without ever feeling preachy 👏. And the illustrations? So vibrant and engaging! 🎨👀 Kids will love following the fuzzy antics across every page!

A delightful tale about honesty with a side of monster mayhem—what’s not to love? 💕📘👻

A kind of Pinocchio story about the nature of lies. The illustrations are super cool - maybe a bit scary for toddlers but would be OK for kids of 5 and above. A memorable lesson with a relatable situation. As a parent or an educator you definitely want to keep this book on your shelf.

Probably a little too scary for my 4 year old daughter but I appreciated the message here. It did leave her confused why “he didn’t listen” and went on to create the fib again in a different way. Will be better suited for kids who are a little older than my daughter.

This colorful, fantastical book teaches a great message about telling the truth. The premise is very familiar, since it depicts a fib as a monster that keeps growing and growing, and keeps creating more havoc. However, this book builds on that familiar concept in a memorable way. The main character learns to take accountability and tell the truth, instead of lying to try to impress people, and he also learns how to corral his creativity in a positive direction. I especially appreciated the ending, and the colorful, bold illustrations are very dramatic and fun.

Visually playful and emotionally sharp, this book uses bold lines and whimsical details to explore how a little lie can grow big feelings. A creative and honest look at guilt, truth, and making things right.

A fantastic story that shows the implications of telling a fib and how quickly it can get out of hand, and how being honest and truthful is always the way to go.

The story and the artwork are beautiful and children are going to love this. I would have loved reading this when I was little.