ALA Booklist (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

This collection of episodes from the Step into Reading series features Raymond, an African American boy who likes to do things fast . The first little story shows that from the moment he rises from bed--with a bound that sends the cat bouncing into the air--until he falls fast asleep at night, Raymond does everything at top speed. In the second tale, new neighbors move in next door and Raymond makes a fast friend. The third story shows Raymond slowing down temporarily as he puts on his new, white sneakers and tries to keep them clean before a race. More than most books for beginning readers, this one creates a distinguishable character whose stories spring from his personality. Elements of humor enhance both text and illustrations. Though the artwork looks a little dark at times, even in daylight scenes, Anderson's overall style and, in particular, his depiction of characters greatly enhance this entertaining choice for young readers.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

Three short episodes focus on Raymond, a young African-American boy, as he rushes through a day ("Raymond slows down--but not for long!"), makes a new friend ("'Making friends takes time,' Papa says"), and wins a race with his new sneakers. Simple, familiar problems combined with clear and repetitive language make this an attractive choice for new readers. The accompanying illustrations are rather dim.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-2-This book contains three short vignettes about an enthusiastic African-American boy who "does things fast," whether going through his day, making a new friend, or running a race. Emerging readers will identify with Raymond, and the repetitive phrases will help them grasp the concepts as well as the words; the lively color illustrations suit the text well. This title is a solid addition to beginning-reader collections.-Kay Bowes, Concord Pike Library, Wilmington, DE Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.