(Michael Reilly has introduced a new game to Little Bill and his friends. You get twelve chances to say something mean to another kid--and whoever comes up with the biggest insult is the winner.

Insults start flying: "Jose hops with the frogs in science lab!" "Andrew eats frogs for dinner!" "Little Bill shoots baskets like a girl!"

Little Bill tries to think of really mean things to say in retaliation. But Dad teaches him a strategy that enables Little Bill to save face while remaining the nice kid that he really is!

Oprah Book Club� Selection, December 1997: The first three books in Bill Cosby's Little Bill series, which fall somewhere between Fat Albert and Fatherhood in sensibility, are designed to help kids cope with tough social situations. In The Meanest Thing to Say Little Bill must figure out how to avoid the challenge offered by the new kid in his class, "The Dozens," a duel of insults Bill doesn't want to join. With his family's help (which is free of preaching), Bill finds a solution.

Dr. Alvin F. Poussant, a frequent Cosby collaborator and advisor, adds a useful introduction to explain why Little Bill not only beats the game, but also goes on to befriend its instigator. (The publisher recommends the book for ages 4-8, but because the author is Bill Cosby, kids up to age 10 would probably accept the counsel offered by this volume and others in the series.)

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