A book trailer is a helpful marketing tool to promote your book. Adapted from the term movie trailer, a book trailer is a short promotional video distributed across multiple platforms to help you increase your online presence and reach a wider audience. Let’s get Tappan Zee High School Students Reading!

Get Ready!

🎬Choose a novel you have previously read and found enjoyable. If you liked it, we recommend using it for your independent reading assignment. Please note, the book should not be on any of your school’s required reading lists. After reflecting on your reading experience, consider writing a brief summary of the book. To get an idea of what makes a good book trailer, check out the examples on your teacher’s website. Sign up to make a trailer for your chosen book online, and if you choose, you may work with a partner but keep in mind that each trailer must have only two participants and both of you must have read the book.

Get Set!

🎬Collect at least 12 images and store them in a folder on your Chromebook. You can find free, copyright-free or Creative Commons licensed photos by checking out the Stock Photos post on the library website or by taking your own photos. When using Google Search, you can filter your results by usage rights to ensure that you can use, share or modify the images, videos or text you find online. Some photos may require attribution. As an alternative consider capturing your own images with the smartphone you have, this can enhance your project and also avoid any potential copyright infringement issue.

🎬Design a visual plan that lays out the structure and content of your trailer. Decide whether you will only use still images or incorporate original video footage as well. If you decide to make a video, carefully select which scenes you will include in your trailer and be mindful not to give away any spoilers. Templates for creating storyboards are available on your teacher’s website, or you may create your own personalized version to meet your project’s needs.

Go!  

🎬 Pick a software to produce your film. There are several options available such as Moviemaker, iMovie. I strongly encourage you to use CANVA. Join CANVA by using this LINK! You are already familiar with the features of this platform. Each of these programs have their own unique features and capabilities, you can choose one that best suits your needs and comfort level. Take a look at the amazing tutorial below. Yes, you can make a book trailer that looks professional by following the the tips in this video!

Use the “Book Trailer Rubric” as a guide for your project. Make sure that you incorporate the following elements in your trailer:

  • An attention-grabbing introduction
  • A clear and evocative illustration of a scene that aligns with the book’s theme
  • Clearly display the title and author of your book
  • End with a strong call to action, like “Read this book!”
  • By following this rubric, you will have a structure to help you create a trailer that effectively showcases the book you are promoting and convey the message you want to deliver.

Your goal is to leave the viewer with a compelling reason for reading the book!

  • Think about whether you would like to include background music or other sound effects in your trailer. Keep in mind that there are strict copyright laws regarding the use of music, so be sure to consult Ms. Eyer’s blog for more information.
  • Another thing to consider is whether you want to add a voiceover that narrates your book trailer. You can record a voiceover using any app on your phone or a voice recording app like Speakpipe, Vocaroo, Talkshoe, or the voice recorder on your personal smartphone device.
  • Lastly, make sure to include a proper MLA Works Cited slide at the end of your trailer, formatted correctly with no bullet points or standalone URLs. You may use Bibliography.com for formatting help.
  • Also, don’t forget to check grammar and mechanics in your trailer before submission
  • When you are finished with your trailer, use the “Book Trailer Rubric” to self-evaluate your work. Submit the final product along with the required Bookmark Book Trailer which should have your name, a QR Code link to the book trailer, and a cover image of the book. These bookmarks will be available in the library to inspire others to read the book you recommend! 

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