Little Bill (Nick Jr.)

Based on the books written by Bill Cosby, this animated series centers on polite child Little Bill (voiced by Xavier Pritchett) and his family. Little Bill's mother (Phylicia Rashad) is an attentive and patient woman who is sometimes busy tapping away at her laptop but always has time for her children. When she requires support, she draws upon a community of family and friends who are interested in the well-being of the children in the community. Hence a strong foundation of care and attentiveness is created beneath the action of Little Bill's world, giving him a safe place to grow and explore.

Little Bill reflects another successful effort by Cosby to bring a story of a loving home life to the small screen. The show is set in an urban Utopia, which isn't a bad place for young viewers to visit. Also inspiring are the professional demeanor of the people who interact with Little Bill and his family, the seamless sense of community, and the Afro-centric world in which these characters celebrate life.

And although the animation is reminiscent of a storybook come to life, the audio track mimics real life, with voices speaking in regular cadence and sound effects that match the surroundings. The only sound that has a cartoon effect is the blinking eyes of Elephant, Little Bill's hamster, who is forever scrabbling around Bill's room in his plastic play ball. So much is true to life, yet somehow, since it's animated, the series keeps a magical TV-land effect.