Go back 10 years, and who had even heard of Internet memes?
These books -- and their covers -- certainly hadn't. Though they were around way before memes really took off online, they uncannily remind us of some of the web fads we know and love today.
We're not saying that these book covers predicted the future or anything, but we're also not saying that they didn't. Maybe they were just waiting for the right (Internet) moment.
1. Prancercise
The girl on this cover really captures the flowing energy and spirit of Joanna Rohrback's patented equine-inspired exercise. The only difference? She has an actual horse. Give it a few decades, and you've got Prancercise!
Image courtesy of Pony, scanned to Tumblr by massmirage
2. Like a Boss
Being awesome was a professional task, even in the 1980s.
Image courtesy of Bantam, scanned to Tumblr by massmirage
3. Overly Attached Girlfriend
Eyes wide, head tilted. You know the drill. Laina wasn't the first one to make this face.
Image courtesy of Century Books, scanned to Flickr by Joseph Bremson
4. OMG Rage Face
Same style of drawing (complete with startling red eyes), just a little bit more alien. Literally.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Thomas Shahan
5. Dramatic Squirrel
Dramatic Squirrel before Dramatic Squirrel was dramatic.
Image courtesy of Putnam, scanned to Tumblr by vintage-cover-art
6. Scumbag Steve
Scumbag Steve 1.0: Munching Peter doesn't even want to wear his hat.
Image courtesy of Ginn & Co., scanned to Tumblr by vintage-cover-art
7. Creepy Chan
Creepy eyes are creepy.
Image courtesy of Penguin, scanned to Tumblr by vintage-cover-art
8. Feel Like a Sir
Top hat and classy to the max.
Image courtesy of Flickr, 50 Watts
9. Keep Calm and Carry On
[img src="http://i.imgur.com/ghKMBkz.jpg?1" caption="" credit="" alt="The Worst Children's Books"]
This is a prime example of doing just that.
Image courtesy of Wonder Books, uploaded to Imgur by TeamJimmyJoe
10. Suave Six-Year-Old
The dude on this cover isn't six years old, but he's certainly got that same attitude.
Image courtesy of Flickr, NYRB Classics
11. Anxiety Cat
Concerning Cats? How about concerned cats.
Image courtesy of Tumblr,pretzelheart
12. All Cat Memes, Ever
Because feline dedication is pretty much half of Internet culture, in a nutshell.
Image courtesy of American Media, scanned to Imgur