Parents' Guide to

Little Bill

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Little Bill knows a whole lot about love & laughs.

TV Nick Jr. Kids' Animation 1999
Little Bill Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Bethany R.
Bethany R. Adult
March 4, 2018
age 5+

Great classic show for kids!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Michelle S.
Michelle S. Adult
October 1, 2017
age 4+

Based on Bill Cosby-- he is no role model for kids

We were so excited to find Little Bill years ago-- it is not as easy to find kids shows with children of color as the main character. However, once Bill Cosby's criminal activity became public, I did not want to keep supporting his show. Role models matter, and his violent past is not the kind of thing I want my kids to see normalized.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

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.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (20 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the values of Bill's family. Is their interaction and how they navigate different situations, similar to your family dynamics? Do kids admire Bill?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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