The noted science writer covers familiar territory with his characteristic flair, offering real specifics on: why leaves turn; the earth's rotation and angle with respect to the sun; the calendar vs. other measures of the season; a sampling of seasonal animal behavior (bison clustering around Yellowstone's hot springs; monarch butterfly migrations); sights across the nation (milkweed, pumpkins, brilliant yellow aspens in the Rockies, heavy rains in the Olympic rain forest). A lucid introduction, presented thoughtfully and with enough scientific detail to convey real understanding. The handsome color photos--by the author himself, among others--are mounted on pages in vivid autumnal colors embellished with delicate traceries of leaves: sometimes dazzling when it comes to reading, but right in the spirit of a perfect October day. (Nonfiction. 6-10)
