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The popular series written by Cosby and illustrated by
Varnette Honeywood made its debut in ninth place on the American
Library Association's (ALA) annual list of the books that are
most often challenged in U.S. libraries.
"This children's book series was challenged because of criminal
sexual allegations against the author," the U.S.'s oldest
library organization said on its website.
More than 50 women have accused 79-year-old Cosby of sexual
assault in a series of alleged attacks dating back to the 1960s.
Most of the claims are too old to be the subject of criminal
prosecution, but Cosby is due to go on trial in June for charges
made in Pennsylvania.
The "Little Bill" series was the subject of some of the 323
challenges to books reported to the ALA's Office for
Intellectual Freedom.
The once-heralded children's series includes three titles
selected by Oprah Winfrey for her influential book club,
including "The Meanest Thing to Say," "The Treasure Hunt" and
"The Best Way to Play."
The most challenged book for 2016 was "This One Summer," a young
adult graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by
Jillian Tamaki. It won two prestigious prizes - a Printz and a
Caldecott Honor Award - but was banned from some library shelves
because of lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender characters,
profanity and was considered sexually explicit, the ALA said.
Another Cosby book, his autobiography "Childhood", is the
subject of a court battle in his case, with prosecutors seeking
to introduce as evidence excerpts which they say show his
willingness to use intoxicants to incapacitate women before
assaulting them.
(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Andrew Hay)
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