A book trailer is a video advertisement for a book which employs techniques similar to those of movie trailers. They are circulated on television and online in most common digital video formats.
The term "book trailer" is currently a trademarked term owned by Sheila Clover of Circle of Seven Productions.[1][2] The first book trailer to be played publicly was at a book convention in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2003, Dark Symphony by Christine Feehan.[3]
Though book trailers were being made as early as 2002, the term caught on in 2005 when user-generated online video upload became more popular. Sites such as MySpace, YouTube and iFilm allowed for the videos to be viewed by the public, creating a market for this promotional tool.
Book trailers can be acted out, full production trailers, flash videos, animation or simple still photos set to music with text conveying the story.
Book Trailers can be found on most video sharing websites. Several websites, such as vabbler.com, booktrailercentral.com and bookscreening.com, are dedicated to sharing book trailer videos exclusively.
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The issue of the distinction between online readings by the author of excerpts and book trailers has become important since the introduction of Book Trailer Awards. It is generally accepted that a book trailer can incorporate material from the book but it must be presented in a format consistent with a trailer. An exception to this general rule is that the preface, introduction or sleeve-notes, although physically part of the book, are to be regarded as external elements and so a simple audio recording of elements of this complies with the accepted scope of a book trailer. Competition rules will vary between regions and, over time, as the genre continues to evolve. Interviews with authors which can be classed as promotional can be incorporated into a book trailer but cannot be classed as such on their own.
Besides being used to promote books, book trailers are a way to get otherwise reluctant readers to become motivated to read. The Digital Booktalk project,[4] sponsored by the University of Central Florida includes a curriculum model that teaches teachers and students how to create their own trailers for books. Drs. Robert Kenny and Glenda Gunter have been developing this model based on extensive research since 2003 and have settled on a simplified intervention. Their research demonstrates that students have a new-found purpose for their reading.
In September 2007, the School Library Journal established the Trailie Award for the best book trailers.[5] There are three categories: author/publisher created, student created and librarian/adult created. The awards was announced at the School Library Journal Leadership Summit on the Future of Reading on October 22, 2010 in Chicago.