"The toddler's labor day has begun. His gait is hurried, though somewhat lurching. Already in the first bars its initial rhythm is conveyed. We have to have time to see everything, not to miss anything, in general, there is a lot to do… The graphic contouring of the melody and the character of continuous movement with the tapping of quarters are intended to create a flavor of childishly naive concentrated «businesslikeness». However, the lightness of the slightly waltzing rhythm immediately brings this «businesslike» into the appropriate framework of childish «diligence»."
(V. Delson, "Prokofiev's Piano Works and Pianism")