The Cinnamon Hen's Autumn Day

Cinnamon Hen loves autumn, and the ``crunch and scrunch of the leaves.'' Then Mr. Rabbit persuades her to let him take over the raking, citing her health as the reason for his offer. She lets him blow the leaves into piles and then into bags, but when he is gone and her yard is leaf-free, an odd feeling settles over her. In minutes she has happily taken over the raking of the yard next door, and she is having so much fun that her neighbor Mabel joins in. Orange and gold, the pictures convey the invigorating, indefinable aspects of a crisp, fall day; even though the story is a bit slow to wind up once the source of Cinnamon Hen's malaise is discovered, readers will still enjoy her headlong rush into the season. Ages 4-7. (September)