TODAY'S TOPIC: What is your favorite part of autumn?

I like to jump on leaves and hear them crackle. I like when I get to snuggle with my bunny and drink hot cocoa. Also, it's great to make warm, delicious, moist cookies. I love it when it rains and there is a black-out. I like to go to my cousin's house on Thanksgiving because we get to eat apple pie with ice cream and milk. I like Election Day because we get to find out who will become president of the United States of America. I also like Halloween because you get to dress up at school.
Kristine A. Lopez, 9
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

My favorite part of autumn is probably that mysterious feeling in the air. Autumn is a bridge between the warm sweetness of summer and the cold sharpness of winter, and it is a perfect mix of the two. Its air holds the crispness and coolness of winter while the brilliant explosion of color on the leaves gives a last reminder of summer brightness. Another part I enjoy is my birthday. It comes right before Halloween when the chill is beginning to creep through the air and frost dusts the grass. I always have fun celebrating a new year of my life with my friends and family. Autumn is probably one of my favorite seasons, the perfect balance between the fiery summer sun and the cold winter moon.
Margaret Weng, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

My favorite part of autumn is when the leaves turn autumn red and when they fall off the branches. My brother will rake them up and I will jump in them just to get him angry. Another one of my favorite parts of autumn is when the autumn smell is just right and football starts, just when Tom Brady throws that seventy-five yard pass down to Randy Moss to win the game. There are many seasons, but autumn has to be one of the best.
Daniel Fradin, 12
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

Autumn is my favorite season because I like watching the baseball World Series and football with my dad. My mom makes the best food for Thanksgiving. Raking leaves is a bore but playing in the leaves is fun with my friends. I like to eat pumpkin pie with my family. Sometimes my friend sleeps over and we all eat at Thanksgiving.
Jordan Morales, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

My favorite part of fall is getting my pumpkin because it is fun to visit the pumpkin patch.
Lindsey DiSilvestri, 8
Sacred Heart School
Lancaster

I like jumping on a big pile of leaves because it's really fun to destroy the pile of leaves. Jumping on leaves is really comfortable. Jumping on leaves is one of my favorite autumn things.
Kimberly Perez, 9
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

My favorite part of autumn is when the weather cools down from the brutal summer heat to the cool breezes of the fall. We can wear more comfortable clothes, like sweatshirts and pants and sleep better with all the covers instead of just sitting in bed with no sheets on like in summer. Also, the fact that the fruits change seasons, too. I might miss the big, juicy watermelons but I will love that first bite into a crisp apple.
Jake Field, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

My favorite activity during autumn is raking leaves. Raking leaves is hard work but it is a good way to get to know nature and to smell the fresh air of the outside, though jumping in the leaves is more fun. I like autumn, especially the holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and election day. Other holidays are fun, but those holidays are the best. It's kind of hard to choose my favorite thing to do, especially in autumn because there is so much to do. You can cuddle up with your blanket, with hot chocolate, watching a movie on a weekend night.
Sandra Aguilar, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

My favorite thing about autumn is that after an amazing summer of relaxation, I get to go to school and see all my friends and hang out. The feeling of the first day and seeing all your friends, for me, is great. Another thing I love about autumn is the weather. Summer is really hot and winter is really cold. But autumn and spring are perfect weather to play outside and not to sweat like crazy. One more thing I like about autumn is walking on leaves. I like to walk on the leaves because the sound they make is really unique that nothing else can make.
Julianna Gross, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

In autumn, I can go outside and rake the leaves. I jump in the leaves and when my dog sees me, he gets on top of me.
Alyson Fierro, 8
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

Autumn is one of the most beloved times of the year for me. My favorite thing about this breathtaking season is definitely all the holidays that happen during these few months. The Jewish holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving are some of my favorite celebrations. I love that cozy, blissful feeling you get inside when you are rejoicing with the people you love the most. Whether I'm trick-or-treating, enjoying a mouth-watering Thanksgiving feast or laughing with my family, autumn and its magnificent holidays never cease to amaze me.
Natalie Geismar, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

My favorite autumn thing is Halloween. Halloween is my favorite because it is in the night. Halloween has scary things you could look at. You get candy. I like going trick-or-treating.
Vivian Little, 7
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

What I like to do in autumn is playing outside. I like to rake the leaves and jump into them. I like to look at the colorful leaves. I like to play with my uncle. I like to play soccer. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it has my favorite food. It is turkey with potatoes. Halloween is my second favorite holiday. I like carving pumpkin and getting free candy.
Cesar Uribe, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

My favorite part is watching football games because it is entertaining and exciting. I like it because people get tackled and maybe I could be a football player and that would be fun to do. My family will watch it with me and we will have popcorn and soda. I go for the Dallas Cowboys. It is exciting to watch them play.
Randy Catlett, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

The thing I enjoy about autumn is Thanksgiving. My family and I get together for a big feast. My mom makes cranberry sauce and salad. My dad's mom makes the turkey and gravy. My aunt makes bread and mashed potatoes. My mom's mom makes all of the desserts - pies, cookies, berries with whipped cream and sometimes, even a cake. Everything is so scrumptious. I think I gain a few pounds by eating so much! My cousins and I play board games like Monopoly, Twister and Candyland and we watch a bunch of movies. The grown-ups talk (I have no idea about what). I have to admit that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.
Taliah Mancini, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

COMING UP: Do you have a best friend? What virtues does your friend have that you admire? What do you like to do together? What is your advice on how to make friends with someone? Draw a picture of your friend and yourself doing something you like to do.

Parents and teachers should make sure that the student's name, address, age and school are CLEARLY PRINTED on the letters and the backs of drawings.

Pictures should be drawn using black or dark blue ink on white, unlined paper. Drawings must be no larger than a standard, 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of paper.

The deadline is Sept. 30 and letters will be posted Oct. 7. Letters received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Send entries to Kids' Daily News, Daily News Features Department, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365-4200.