The hazards of children’s librarianship are myriad. There is the papercut threat, liable to occur at any time without a moment’s notice.  There is the distinct possibility, every day, that a small child will vomit on you.  The odds may be slim but it’s still possible.  But greater than these, more likely than these, more insidious by far than any of these, is the threat that puts all others to shame . . .

The Picture Book Earworm

You’ve been there. You’re either sorting a cart or you’re checking books in or maybe you’re just innocently buying some titles from Baker & Taylor.  Then suddenly, ATTACK!  You encounter a picture book with a title that is clearly a song you know well.  And then, for at least the next hour (if you’re lucky), the earworm will force you to play that song over and over again in your head.

2017 has, for whatever reason, been a particularly strong earworm year for picture books.

Now I should define my terms.  Earworms do not count when a song has been directly adapted into a picture book format.  Therefore this

Pigeons, for the record, are hot in 2017. Has anyone else noticed this?

is not a Picture Book Earworm. That’s just a song with pictures.  And, as a side note, anyone else notice that Jean Jullien has produced at least three different picture books with three different publishers in 2017?  Busy dude, that.

Here then are the picture books I have located with videos of their most obvious song pairings.  If you spot any others this year, let me know.  I’ll add them as well.

The first and most obvious (and I’d call it a clear tribute to Bowie if it weren’t for the fact that it was written and even named before David’s death):

For the record, Agee’s book is oddly bereft of sailor fighting in the dance hall.

I may well be the only one out there who makes this next connection:

If you thought you could get through the day without a Flo Rida link you, my friend, were wrong.

Admit it.  It’s catchy.

You may be able to build a case for the fact that I listen to too much pop music on the radio.

And finally, because it makes for a perfect capper:

Is it just me, or is this the best pairing of them all?  It fits!!