How to Make Your Own Book Trailer (for Kids)

Whether you’re a kid at home trying to spice up a book report or a teacher at school trying to do the same thing, making a book trailer is a fun way to incorporate reading with technology or scriptwriting in response to reading. Learn the steps and programs for how to make your own book trailer.

What Is a Book Trailer?

You may be asking, what is a book trailer?

Like a movie trailer, book trailers give the audience enough juicy information to make them really, really want to read the book. (Hopefully.) Your job as a movie creator is to get your audience of other kids to want to READ the book you read!

Are you ready?

Examples of Book Trailers

Before you start making your own, watch a variety of book trailers.

Research the possibilities. See what ideas you like in other trailers and want to try in your own script. Take notes. What do you like? Do you like or dislike the titles, the text overlays, the transitions, the music, and so forth?

Here are some good examples to get you started with your research:

Lost and Found Cat

Magic Tree House: The Night of the New Magicians

Bud, Not Buddy

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

All Four Stars

The Graveyard Book

How to Make Your Own Book Trailer (for Kids)

1.PICK A BOOK.

The first step is to select and read the picture book, chapter book, or middle grade book for your book trailer.

2. WRITE THE SCRIPT.

After you finish researching and reading, it’s time to write a storyboard (or script) of how the trailer will go. (Download a storyboard template here.)

There are TWO PARTS to writing a storyboard. One is the visuals. This is what you’ll show on the movie screen. Two, the audio, or what narration (and music) will be happening to accompany those visuals.

Use your storyboard to plan out each scene for the beginning, middle, and end of the video. Include specific details about what will be shown visually (filmed, drawn, stop-motioned) as well as anything you’ll narrate or have written as a text overlay on the screen.

Think in sequential order. Where will you start? What needs to be next? Will there be tension or teaser? How do you want your mini-movie to end?

Don’t forget to tell viewers the title of the book and the author!! (You should also include your recommended age range for the book.)

But, you don’t want to give away the ending. You do want to drop some hints. (Teasers.) Often, asking questions is the best way to give a good hint. Ask questions like, “How will the kids survive?” or “Will they ever see home again?” These leading questions get the viewer interested in learning the answer.

3. MAKE THE MOVIE.

When you’re done writing, pick one of the movie-making programs or apps listed below.

Using your storyboard as a guide, start making the movie. Add in the visuals first with photos, drawings, or video clips. (If you’re searching for photos online, ask a parent or teacher for help finding royalty-free photos.)

The next step is to add text, transitions, titles, and audio. If you’re narrating, make sure you speak loudly and slowly.

If you need background music, check out this list of royalty free songs. Do not use popular music that is copyrighted. You could get sued.

4. SHARE

After you make your movie, it’s time to share it with your audience. Upload the book trailer movie to YouTube, SchoolTube, or Vimeo after getting permission from an adult. Sometimes you will have to export your movie to a different format. Ask an adult for help with this step.

Book Trailer Programs and Apps

There are many choices for your book trailer movie-making — apps and desktop programs. I’ve listed many below. Here are some of the best online sites, programs, and apps kids can use to make their book trailers.

Animoto FREE & PAID

Canva FREE & PAID

Creative Cloud Express FREE

Google Slides FREE

Green Screen (app)

Lumen5 FREE & PAID

iMovie (program + app)

Kid Pix (program + app)

Puppet Pals (app) FREE

Shadow Puppet Edu (app) FREE

Stop Motion Studio FREE

WeVideo

I can’t wait to hear how it goes. Comment below with your book trailer link!

KEEP READING