Cosby wrote the stories, while Honeywood created the characters and made the illustrations in her typical collage style.

Every story is told in the first person, and the books cover topics like boredom, bullies, honesty, courage, family, and friendship.

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.