You’re a cool cat if you know about Suzuki Beane–at least that’s what she’d say.  Written by Sandra Scoppettone, illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh (the author of the Harriet the Spy books, it’s a happenin’ look at a chick who thinks a lot of things are meaningless (“a drag” as she’d say).

“my name is suzuki beane
i have a pad on bleeker street
with hugh and marcia”

“this is our pad—-
we all have a ball here
we don’t have much bread but
bread is really not very important
when you have good relationships”

She goes to a dance.

“when that dance was over i grabbed this boy who was just a little taller
edition of henry—-
and when the piano started again—-”

“i danced”

“like dancing the swingingest and i didn’t want these cats
to miss out—so i showed them—-i made my own music—-man—-i mean
every cat should make his own music—-so i said out loud—-”

“go—-suzuki—-go—-”

Gotta love a girl like that, even though she has to learn that just because she thinks she’s a cool cat (and has all the answers), perhaps there are other ways to live, too.

The second book would be a great gift for a friend–to show what a great pair the two of you make–because, well, it’s called I Like You.  Written by Sandol Stoddard Warburg, and illustrated by Jacqueline Chwast, it’s a tender and sweet and exuberant books meant for two friends who can weather anything together.

“And I like you because
When I am feeling sad
You don’t always cheer me up right away

Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can’t stand the others being so google and gaggly
every single minute
You want to think about things

It takes time”

“I like you
And I know why

I like you because
You are a good person
To like”

“That’s because
You really like me

You really like me
Don’t you

And I really like you back
And you like me back
And I like you back

And that’s the way we keep on going
Every day”

“We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE
See what I mean?”

Do you have any favorites from long ago?  Or just favorites that make you laugh (or make your heart leap with the audacity or originality of them)?

Happy first-day-of-a-great-week!

[Post image: Partial of Suzuki Beane cover]