Making and Sharing Book Trailers

Jennifer Shafer WyattLibrary/Instructional Media Specialist

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What is a book trailer?

• A book trailer is a commercial for a book. • They promote a book to readers through

visual, audio, and textual media.• This medium speaks to today’s 21st-Century

Digital Natives.

Book trailers should:• Promote reading to visual learners• Encourage students to read the featured

book• Give the reader a “taste” of the book• Leave the reader wanting more• Conform to ethical use of information

standards

•Let’s look at some examples

The Roar by Emma ClaytonTrailer by Lori Loranger, Walsh MS, Round Rock,TX

Unwind by Neal SchustermanTrailer by June Henderson, Downing MS, Flower Mound,TX

Umbrella Summer by Lisa GraffTrailer by Amy Jensen, Waxahacie,TX

Firelight by Sophie JordanTrailer by Jennifer Shafer, Victoria,TX

Blood on My Hands by Todd StrasserTrailer by Naomi Bates, Northwest ISD, Justin, TX

Those trailers were created by educators

but students can make them too!!!

Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth WinthropTrailer by Zayn Bednorz, 5th grade

Heist Society by Ally CarterTrailer by Devyn Hamblin

Why should educators make them?

• We have to sell reading to Digital Natives. • Book trailers speak their language using

music, video, pictures, and other media.

Why should students make them?

• More engaging that pencil and paper.• Provide opportunities to learn

o information literacy oattributiono technology skills

How should we use them in the library?

• To promote certain books• To encourage reading• As a vehicle for teaching research• As an opportunity to collaborate with

teachers

Steps to create book trailer• Read a book.• Decide what elements are important

to tell story in digital format.oDetermine most important elementsoStoryboard the book traileroCreate a plan for finding resources

Steps to create book trailer• Decide on best creation tool.

oAnimotooPhoto Story 3oWindows Movie Makero iMovieoSony Vegas

Steps to create book trailer• Find images/video that tell digital story.

oPersonal collectionoTake your ownoFind in creation tooloFlickroCreative Commons licensedoOther web-based photo sites

Steps to create book trailer

• Find music that sets proper mood. oCreative Commons licensedoCopyright free musicoMusic within creation tooloOriginal music

Steps to create book trailer

• Create text to enhance storytelling.oText feature within creation tooloPowerPoint slides saved as JPEGs

Steps to create book trailer

• Insert music, pictures, and text into software.

• Tweak project for appropriate effect.

What concepts can we teach through book trailers?

• Media literacy evaluation• Story analysis• Research skills

Media literacy evaluation• Read a book• Have students find and watch a book

trailer on that book• Evaluate the effectiveness of trailer

Questions for evaluation• What elements did creator include?• Were creator's choices effective?• How would you have done it

differently?• Compare and contrast two trailers for

same books

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

Story analysis• Evaluate the story for literary elementsoPlotoCharactersoSettingoTone/Mood

• Create a book trailer focused on one or more of these literary elements

Explore poetry

• Students read and analyze poetry• Create trailer for poem or poetry collection• Illustrate poem with images, set mood with

music, etc. 

Zombie Haiku  by Ryan Mecum

Research skills• Create a research plan – What is your

focus? What media do you need? Where will you find it?

• Do the research – Use searching strategies to find best media.

• Create citations – Make proper attribution for the book and the media you find online.

Adaptations for younger creators• Have students brainstorm using a

graphic organizer to plan their focus.• Have students create a storyboard on

a template or butcher paper.

Adaptations for younger creators• Let students take pictures with a

digital camera or draw the pictures themselves.

• If you have a Flip Camera or other recording device, students can create video clips to add to their trailer.

Sharing book trailers

• Loop them on a computer screen or television.

• Post on the library website.• Create a Glog of book trailers by genre,

reading list, or display.

Sharing book trailers

• Display trailers on digital picture frames at the circulation desk or as part of a book display.

•  Add a book trailer sticker for the spine of books that have book trailers.

Sharing book trailers• Create QR Codes

for the trailers so students can access using their smart phone or QR code stations.

No time to make your own?• Link to

oYouTube oTeacherTubeoSchoolTube

• Download from oBook Trailers for All

www.booktrailersforall.com

Need more resources?

www.jenniferesc3.pbworks.com