Some Very Cool Things a Book Trailer Can Do

With my third picture book coming out, it's been really interesting to see the things all three book trailers do:

They're each 60 seconds or less.

They all intrigue folks about the story.

Every one hints at the art.

They have music that speaks to the emotional tone of the book.

Fascinatingly, each one does some things the others don't.

My first picture book was illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, who created the amazing trailer for our picture book RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE (Levine Querido.)

This one made a thematic promise, visually hitting story beats of difference (one house lit up blue and white for Chanukah and all the rest red and green for Christmas), of challenge (the sound of breaking glass), and the hope of a community coming together (hundreds of houses lit up red and green AND blue and white.)

My second picture book, just out, was illustrated by Jieting Chen, who creating this gorgeous trailer for our picture book LOVE OF THE HALF-EATEN PEACH (Reycraft.)

This trailer vets the book with blurbs from trade reviews and a well-known and best-selling picture book author, building interest by up-front pitching the story's value from respected third parties.

My third picture book comes out April 2025, and the trailer just released! Illustrated by Kelly Mangan, the trailer for LIKE THAT ELEANOR (Cardinal Rule Press) takes this curiosity-building approach:

What's fascinating here is that this one is all about setting up the characters and the problem, and it teases readers to want to read the book to find out the solution. It becomes all about "what happens?"

I admit that these are a decidedly not random assortment of book trailers, but I hope you also found it fascinating. Three different picture books. Three different approaches to book trailers.

There's so much book trailers can do!

What are some of your favorite book trailers for picture books, and what do they do?

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee