Little Bill (book series): Difference between revisions
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{{About|the book series|the TV series based on the books|Little Bill|other uses|Little Bill (disambiguation)}} |
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'''''Little Bill''''' is a book series created by [[Bill Cosby]]. It was turned into a [[Nick Jr.]] and [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] animated series, also called ''[[Little Bill (TV series)|Little Bill]]''. |
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{{Infobox book series |
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| name = Little Bill |
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| image = [[File:Little Bill - The Day I Was Rich.jpg]] |
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| image_caption = Cover for ''The Day I Was Rich'' (book #9) |
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| image_size = 200px |
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| title_orig = |
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| author = [[Bill Cosby]] |
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| illustrator = [[Varnette P. Honeywood]] |
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| cover_artist = Varnette P. Honeywood |
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| translator = |
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| country = United States |
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| language = English |
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| genre = |
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| publisher = [[Scholastic Corporation]] |
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| pub_date = 1997–1999 |
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| english_pub_date = |
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| media_type = Print |
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| preceded by = |
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| followed by = |
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}} |
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'''''Little Bill''''' is a now [[out-of-commerce]]<ref name="CNN"/> series of twelve children's books by [[Bill Cosby]] and [[Varnette Honeywood]]. Cosby wrote the stories, while Honeywood created the characters and made the illustrations in her typical [[collage]] style.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/arts/design/16honeywood.html|title=Varnette Honeywood, Whose Art Appeared on 'Cosby Show,' Dies at 59|first=William|last=Grimes|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 16, 2010}}</ref> They were originally aimed at readers aged 7 to 10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/11/22/Bill-Cosby-pens-kids-books/9036848638800/|title=Bill Cosby pens kids' books|website=UPI|date=22 November 1996}}</ref> and were released from 1997 to 1999. These books are no longer available in school libraries after 2014.<ref name="CNN"/> |
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The books follow a young African-American boy named Little Bill. Every story is told in the [[First-person narrative|first person]], and the books cover topics like boredom, bullies, honesty, courage, family, and friendship. The characters are rendered in a "bold, blocky" style with bright colors and simplified forms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/arts/television/Proud-Family-Boondocks-black-animated-series.html|title=From 'Proud Family' to 'The Boondocks': 11 Black Animated Series|first=Maya|last=Phillips|newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99483236/ | title=Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on August 30, 1997 · Page 29 | date=30 August 1997 }}</ref> |
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All of the books were dedicated to Cosby's late son, [[Ennis Cosby]], and the character of Little Bill was based on [[Ennis Cosby|him]]. Little Bill's catchphrase "Hello, friend!" was originally a greeting that Ennis used.<ref name="latimes">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-12-ls-63133-story.html|title=Cos and Effect|date=December 12, 1997|website=Los Angeles Times|first1=Elizabeth|last1=Mehren}}</ref> |
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In 1999, the books were adapted into an animated series on [[Nickelodeon]], also called ''[[Little Bill (TV series)|Little Bill]]''. Discussions to adapt the books took place as early as December 1997, when it was reported that Nickelodeon was "planning to produce three ''Little Bill'' specials, and a five-day-a-week series is under discussion."<ref name="latimes"/> |
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{{child-book-stub}} |
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==Reception== |
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The books received positive reviews, with critics praising the realistic stories and dialogue. Karen MacPherson of the [[Scripps Howard News Service]] said that "the books' story line and dialog is candid and rings true, while the bold, expressively colored illustrations by Varnette P. Honeywood help keep the reader's interest."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/774656418/ | title=The Commercial Appeal 05 Oct 1997, page 64 }}</ref> ''[[The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books]]'' wrote that "there's a vulnerable commonality to Little Bill that many young readers will warm to."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/14311/bulletincenterchv00051i00004_opt.pdf?sequence=2#page=13 |title=Archived copy |website=www.ideals.illinois.edu |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103144029/https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/14311/bulletincenterchv00051i00004_opt.pdf?sequence=2#page=13 |archive-date=3 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Writing for the ''[[Orange County Register]]'', Sandra Draper said that both "children and parents can relate to the realistic tone of the stories."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/612861216/ | title=The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah on September 21, 1997 · 61 | date=21 September 1997 }}</ref> |
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In December 1997, [[Oprah Winfrey]] chose three of the ''Little Bill'' books as selections for [[Oprah's Book Club]]. This marked the first time that children's books were selected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-12-14-9712100083-story.html|title=Oprah Picks Cosby Books for Kids|website=Hartford Courant|date=December 14, 1997|first1=Jocelyn|last1=McClurg}}</ref> |
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==Withdrawal== |
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Following the wake of the [[Bill Cosby sexual assault cases|sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby]] in 2014, the ''Little Bill'' books are most often targeted for removal in school libraries.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/10/us/bill-cosby-books-challenged|last=Grinberg|first=Emmanuella|date=April 10, 2017|work=[[CNN]]|title=Bill Cosby's 'Little Bill' books targeted for censorship, library group says}}</ref> [[Nickelodeon]] also stopped airing the TV series on its networks in 2014 after the allegations came to light.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/is-little-bill-bill-cosby|title='Little Bill' Boasts a Darker Energy Today Than It Did in 1999 — Is Bill Cosby the Protagonist?|work=[[Distractify]]|date=January 21, 2022|last=Piazza|first=Bianca}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Portal |Children's literature}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:1997 children's books]] |
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[[Category:Series of children's books]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:11, 27 March 2024
 Cover for The Day I Was Rich (book #9) | |
| Author | Bill Cosby |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Varnette P. Honeywood |
| Cover artist | Varnette P. Honeywood |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Scholastic Corporation |
| Published | 1997–1999 |
| Media type | |
Little Bill is a now out-of-commerce[1] series of twelve children's books by Bill Cosby and Varnette Honeywood. Cosby wrote the stories, while Honeywood created the characters and made the illustrations in her typical collage style.[2] They were originally aimed at readers aged 7 to 10[3] and were released from 1997 to 1999. These books are no longer available in school libraries after 2014.[1]
The books follow a young African-American boy named Little Bill. Every story is told in the first person, and the books cover topics like boredom, bullies, honesty, courage, family, and friendship. The characters are rendered in a "bold, blocky" style with bright colors and simplified forms.[4][5]
All of the books were dedicated to Cosby's late son, Ennis Cosby, and the character of Little Bill was based on him. Little Bill's catchphrase "Hello, friend!" was originally a greeting that Ennis used.[6]
In 1999, the books were adapted into an animated series on Nickelodeon, also called Little Bill. Discussions to adapt the books took place as early as December 1997, when it was reported that Nickelodeon was "planning to produce three Little Bill specials, and a five-day-a-week series is under discussion."[6]
Reception
[edit]The books received positive reviews, with critics praising the realistic stories and dialogue. Karen MacPherson of the Scripps Howard News Service said that "the books' story line and dialog is candid and rings true, while the bold, expressively colored illustrations by Varnette P. Honeywood help keep the reader's interest."[7] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books wrote that "there's a vulnerable commonality to Little Bill that many young readers will warm to."[8] Writing for the Orange County Register, Sandra Draper said that both "children and parents can relate to the realistic tone of the stories."[9]
In December 1997, Oprah Winfrey chose three of the Little Bill books as selections for Oprah's Book Club. This marked the first time that children's books were selected.[10]
Withdrawal
[edit]Following the wake of the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby in 2014, the Little Bill books are most often targeted for removal in school libraries.[1] Nickelodeon also stopped airing the TV series on its networks in 2014 after the allegations came to light.[11]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Grinberg, Emmanuella (April 10, 2017). "Bill Cosby's 'Little Bill' books targeted for censorship, library group says". CNN.
- ^ Grimes, William (September 16, 2010). "Varnette Honeywood, Whose Art Appeared on 'Cosby Show,' Dies at 59". The New York Times.
- ^ "Bill Cosby pens kids' books". UPI. 22 November 1996.
- ^ Phillips, Maya (August 17, 2020). "From 'Proud Family' to 'The Boondocks': 11 Black Animated Series". The New York Times.
- ^ "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on August 30, 1997 · Page 29". 30 August 1997.
- ^ a b Mehren, Elizabeth (December 12, 1997). "Cos and Effect". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "The Commercial Appeal 05 Oct 1997, page 64".
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.ideals.illinois.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah on September 21, 1997 · 61". 21 September 1997.
- ^ McClurg, Jocelyn (December 14, 1997). "Oprah Picks Cosby Books for Kids". Hartford Courant.
- ^ Piazza, Bianca (January 21, 2022). "'Little Bill' Boasts a Darker Energy Today Than It Did in 1999 — Is Bill Cosby the Protagonist?". Distractify.