Fall is the season of great changes, great beauty and great books on the subject of fall. Here is a collection of some wondrous picture books celebrating autumn.

In November, by Cynthia Rylant, and illustrated by Jill Kastner, depicts the sounds, sights and even smells of this month as winter approaches. The elegant writing of this award-winning author is easily conveyed as she gloriously displays the land and animals as cold weather approaches.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, by Julia Rawlinson, and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, is a sweet story about a fox named Fletcher who witnesses a dramatic change in his favorite tree. The leaves are turning from “a dusty gold” to a lackluster brown. He tries to save the leaves as they flutter to the ground. But as nature takes its course, he is about to realize what great beauty is about to be present as fall changes to winter.

To Be Like the Sun, by Susan Marie Swanson, and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine, presents a poetic lesson as a young girl plants a sunflower seed and nurtures it as it grows strong in the sun when it finally reaches its peak in the fall. The full size sunflower on the cover, and the bright sun on the back, is a very nice opening.

The Best Gift of All, by Jonathan Emmett, and illustrated by Vanessa Cabban, takes three friends through autumn rain and wind to visit Rabbit who might be ill. The wind swept scenes with leaves billowing in the air as these friends attempt to get to Rabbit will surely give you the sense of a cold, blustery day. And when they finally arrive at Rabbit's house, they bring him the “best gift of all” – themselves!

South, by Patrick McDonnell, is a another wordless book about Mooch only this time he helps a distraught bird reach his flock that has already begun to head South for the winter. Wordless books like these captivate what the picture conveys making better use of discussions.

Old Bear, by Kevin Henkes, is an over-sized book that brings us awareness of the seasons. Old Bear has just walked past fall and into winter where he must sleep. But his dreams take him back to the colorful and beautiful seasons of when he was young. And – there's a surprise waiting for him when he awakes.

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt, by Steve Metzger, is a fun parody of the “Bear Hunt” song. However, the theme of this story is autumn and searching for leaves as they fall. Here is a book that easily teaches about shapes and colors of four different types of leaves as you enjoy the “Leaf Hunt.”

Leaves, Leaves, by Salina Yoon, is a lift–the–flap board book with colorful, bright leaves that hide animals as they prepare for winter. The final page unfolds to twice the size of the book.

Oliver Finds His Way, by Phyllis Root, and illustrated by Christopher Denise, is another board book about a cute, young bear, Oliver, who wanders away from Papa as he rakes the leaves and Mama as she hangs out the wash. As leaves rustle by, Oliver gets lost until he retraces his steps. This is a tender little story.

Patricia Polacco writes stories that are meaningful and that have great impact. For the Love of Autumn is about a kitten that Miss Parks names Autumn because she gets her just before Halloween. The antics of this furry pet will take you through many seasons, but it's the love of Autumn that brings two people together.

And the last two books are about Thanksgiving, which comes toward the end of fall.

Thanks for Thanksgiving, by Julie Markes, and illustrated by Doris Barrette, is a rhyming story that brings out the many things of which to be thankful. “Thanks for umbrellas / for rain boots and puddles / Thank you for Mommy /and warm, cozy cuddles.”

My First Thanksgiving, by Tomie DePaola, is a board book with two pilgrims and fruit from a “horn-of-plenty” that is elevated on the cover. This is a nice introduction to what Thanksgiving is all about, the food served and why we should be thankful.