Off for a run in the park, a young boy imagines he runs as fast as a rabbit, a bobcat, a horse, a cheetah, until he arrives home, where he sits down on the stoop with a thump, then goes in the house and flops down on his bed. The short, energetic text in the boy's voice is extended by Ruffins' bright, rhythmic illustrations, which show each wild animal running in its natural habitat, and, on the opposite page, the African American boy running with his dad in the city park. Beginning readers will enjoy the action, speed, and color in words and pictures in this entry in the Green Light Reader series.

As a boy goes for a jog with his father, he imagines himself as various fleet-footed animals--a rabbit, a horse, a bobcat, and a cheetah. Cleverly designed spreads depict each running animal alongside the running boy, whose stride changes to match those of his imaginary companions. Repetition and visual clues are suitable for the intended audience.

K-Gr 2-Two serviceable easy-readers. Marco's Run features an African-American boy who is jogging through a city park. As he moves faster and faster, he imagines himself to be various swift animals, such as a rabbit, a bobcat, and a cheetah. Splash introduces two clumsy bears that have fun playing in a fish-filled river. Both books have short sentences, simple vocabularies, and colorful illustrations that tie in well with the texts. However, the stories lack verve, and Marco's Run, in particular, may not hold the attention of children.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.