By Cyrisse Jaffee

Simple topics — snow, trees, cats — help children explore themes of identity, emotions, and what happens when we get what we wish for.

We Want Snow!: A Wintry Chant by Jamie Swenson. Illustrated by Emilie Boon. Sleeping Bear Press, 2021.

Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak by Danielle Daniel. Pictures by Jackie Traverse. Groundwood Books, 2024

Jet the Cat (Is NOT a Cat) by Phaea Crede. Illustrated by Terry Runyan. Barefoot Books, 2021.

In We Want Snow!: A Wintry Chant by Jamie Swenson, three children can’t wait for a real snowfall: “Up to our shins, up to our knees, up to our chins!” Their repeated refrain is interspersed with other wintry delights: woolly and warm mittens, piping hot cocoa, a “fire cracking and glowing,” winter stories, and cozy comforters. Sadly, like so many disappointing winters these days, there’s none to be seen — until a blizzard finally comes. And then, not surprisingly, it’s too much snow! Soon, their tune has changed. “Spring! Spring! We want spring!”

Adults and children alike will relate to both the desire for a snowy winter and then the reversal of that wish. The simple text, told in rhyme, is sprightly and enthusiastic. The charming and joyful illustrations by Boston-area artist Emilie Boon show three preschoolers, vaguely multicultural, in urban and rural settings. The result is a feel-good seasonal read-aloud for groups or individuals.

Another book that begins in winter is Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak by Danielle Daniel. A youngster gazes up to a majestic tree and says, “Sometimes I feel like a maple, full and most generous. I share my flowing sap as winter turns toward spring.” In each spread, a different child expresses the essence of the tree they are describing and the kinship they feel with it: a birch (“My peeling bark peels gently away with bright and brimming hope”), a cherry blossom (delicate, fragrant, and pretty), a cedar (comforting, graceful, and wise), an aspen (“Even with my trembling leaves, I stretch to conquer my fears”), and so on.

Daniel manages to capture a compelling combination in the text: a range of human emotions, the symbolism of each tree, and then the very real presence of the trees in the natural world. The result is evocative and powerful, and the illustrations, by Ojibway artist Jackie Traverse, are beautifully rendered. Hopefully, kids will feel inspired to go out and hug a tree, and then put their own thoughts and feelings into words. (The vocabulary may make this best for second graders and older.)

When is a cat not a cat? Well, according to the animals in Phaea Crede’s Jet the Cat (Is NOT a Cat), it’s when the animal in question does or likes things that are not typically cat-like: Jet loves to swim (like a frog), eat bugs and sing (like a bird), and prance around (like a goat). As Jet goes about her favorite activities, the other animals insist she is something other than a cat. And yet none of the alternative identifies fit her, either.

Finally, Jet is fed up. “Listen up!” says Jet. “I am a cat unlike any other cat. But I’m still a cat. And a great cat at that.” And it turns out that the other animals also don’t fit their stereotypes, either. After everyone admits to their own individuality, they all have a good time doing what the love.

There is an obvious message in the story, but it’s appropriately interwoven through the text so that it’s not pedantic or heavy-handed. Some grown-ups may recognize Terry Runyan’s delightful art from social media — it’s cheery, expressive, and fun. The illustrations help keep the story lighthearted and engaging. This would make a great conversation starter for kids from kindergarten on up about issues of identify, stereotypes, conventional expectations, differences, and what it takes to find one’s own true self.

Cyrisse Jaffee is a former children’s and YA librarian, children’s book editor, and a creator of educational materials for WGBH. She holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College and lives in Newton, MA.