Happy New Year! As is our tradition here at Book News & Reviews, we are kicking off the new year with a look back on our favorite books of 2014. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about our picks for the best books of the past year. First, though, we are sharing some of the great book trailers that have sparked our interest.

So without further ado, here are our favorite book trailers of 2014:

Honorable Mentions

Quest by Aaron Becker
I like the restrained animation, which allows the illustrations themselves to shine. Like the previous year’s trailer for Journey, this one gives just enough of a glimpse into the book to convey the magic and wonder to be found in Becker’s work. I also think that the music selection is spot on and wonderfully effective.

The Right Word by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Excellent narration, a short summary, and close-ups of Sweet’s artwork provide the perfect introduction to this nonfiction picture book.

Us by David Nichols
Short and sweet, but intriguing. I love the sense of movement and design.

Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
This trailer does a wonderful job of setting the scene and leaving us wondering what comes next, and I love the animation frames. Plus, the hazy green used throughout is a nice touch.

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Creepy and intriguing.

Jellaby by Kean Soo
A new trailer for an older release, this is a sweet and gentle animation of the graphic novel. The brief quotes and piano music provide the perfect accompaniment to the graphic novel panels and light animation.

Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
Evoking the feel of classic film trailers, this one  certainly conveys the novel’s sense of adventure. Plus there’s the Sasquatch.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
The voice over is compelling, with just enough going on visually to add interest. Also, the shoes at the end are a nice touch and may have observant viewers wondering why they aren’t red.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry
I love the silent-film style intro, the twisty sense of humor, and the wonderfully delivered narration.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Hakuri Murakami
The narration and animation work together seamlessly here, and the transitions between the changing geometric backgrounds are flawless.

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
It’s intriguing enough—but then the kicker tagline at the end brings it to a whole new level and begs for a rewatch.

One More Thing by B.J. Novak
A high-concept book trailer centered on elitist French intellectuals may or may not work for some viewers, but when the snobby act crumbles, it’s hard not to crack a smile. Plus: fun guest star!

Now I See You by Nicole C. Kear
Dark comedy gets stylized animation treatment here and really makes me want to read Kear’s memoir. And the elevator music in the background? Nice touch.

Going Over Beth Kephart
This trailer is visually compelling from start to finish, and I love how the wall is used to display quotes at the end. The text provides just enough information to describe the plot and create interest.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Burnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
I love that Mac and Jon are following in their characters’ footsteps to dig a hole “because who doesn’t love digging a good hole every now and then.” Their antics—from digging to resting to playful bickering—are fun to watch in juxtaposition with key illustrations from the book. Like the book, the trailer shows teamwork, fun, and the joys of a job well done (even if no giant diamonds are discovered). Plus, the music is sort of stuck in my head now. In a good way.

The Magician’s Land by Neil Gaiman
I adore the concept behind this trailer. (See also: Poison Apples trailer.) Most of the readers are flawless in their delivery, and there is charm to be found in the less polished segments as well. And I love that the author “special guest stars” are interspersed with “regular,” anonymous readers, some of whom provide the most compelling deliveries of all.

The Top 5

#5

The Thickety by J.H. White
Intense, dramatic, and ultimately intriguing. It sets the stage without giving anything away. Shortly after viewing the trailer, I went to search the library shelves for the book to check it out.

#4

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming
This comical treatment of history adds interest to the more “serious” subject matter. I also enjoy the news-bulletin presentation, which makes historical events seem more relevant and interesting to potential teen readers.

#3

Jesus Jackson by James Ryan Daley
The music, text, and video all work together perfectly. The pacing creates drama and tension, and the end leaves me wanting more and wondering why I haven’t yet read this book.

#2

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Talk about tension. This trailer does an amazing job of building a feeling of eerie paranoia which eager viewers will hope will translate into their reading experience.

#1

Noggin by John Corey Whaley
This trailer seems almost like a movie trailer for a cool indie flick and perfectly communicates the offbeat tone of the novel. From the gushing office lady to the battered, camera-phone-wielding classmate, the quirky characterizations are intriguing. And the Matthew Quick quote gets me every time.

So, those are our favorites from 2014. If you want more great Book Trailers, please check out our Book Trailers and Other Videos board on Pinterest!

Happy New Year! New Year’s Day is traditionally the time for looking forward, but
first we would like to  look back on the year that is past. Over the next few
weeks, I will be posting about our favorite books of 2013. But before I
identify our Best Books of 2013, we thought it might be nice to whet
your appetite a bit!

So here are our favorite Book Trailers of 2013… Don’t they make you want to read the book?!

Honorable Mentions

The Dark by Lemony Snicket & Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
I love seeing the use of lights and shadows from the book in full animation.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Appropriately eerie and intriguing.

Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)
An abbreviated version of the book, wonderfully brought to life with vivid animation. Is it bad that I enjoyed the trailer more than the book? I wonder if the e-book has enhanced animation…

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by Dave Sedaris
I love that the trailer is built around the title itself. It’s funny and a little bizarre, as we have come to expect from Mr. Sedaris 🙂

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Short, but powerful. And the sound editing is genius.

Pawn by Aimée Carter
Simple, but appealing. I’m getting a bit burned out on dystopian fiction, but this trailer does such a good job of quietly establishing the the world setting and creating a bit of mystery that I find myself intrigued.

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
This trailer truly captures the book’s tongue-in-cheek humor. Also, the narration and added sound effects are perfect.

Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel
I really like the shadows and contrasts of this 3-color trailer..

 
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
I loved this wordless picture book, and adding music and animation almost perfectly replicates my experience of reading the book.

 
I Am Blop! by Hervé Tullet
An imaginative and colorful introduction to a fun concept book. I like that it goes beyond the book to show real-world applications. Its beginning reminds me somewhat of a PBS promo.

 
Journey by Aaron Becker
The magisterial wonder of the picture book is brought to life in this trailer. I love that the animation is only very slight, allowing the illustrations to shine, and the musical clip perfectly echoes the sense of magic and discovery the book brings.

 
Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman
I usually hate author intros in book trailers—but this is Neil Gaiman 🙂 Like the book, this trailer takes itself none too seriously and kids will get as kick out of the silly humor.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
The simple narration is compelling, and the music, text, and imagery work together perfectly to instill a sense of eeriness and intrigue.

The Top 5

#5

More Than This by Patrick Ness
Intense, dramatic, and ultimately intriguing. It sets the stage for the mysteries of the book without giving anything away.

#4

 
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Is it cheating to choose a series of trailers? If it is, then I guess I’m a cheater. I love how these trailers build on one another and let the characters’ inner thoughts shine, giving equal time to each of the alternating narratives. I think the excerpts from Park’s POV are particularly affecting. Oh, and the animation is great too.

#3

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
This highly polished trailer has it all: spooky narration, striking animation, and interest-inspiring testimonials. And it successfully conveys the basics of the plot (or the setting at least) without giving away any of the particulars. Probably because of the mood-setting music, it sort of makes me think of an animated version of a Harry Potter movie trailer. Which is a perfect reference for this Potter-like faiy tale.

#2

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
The use of animated illustrations here is fantastic, as is the comedic timing. The music and sound effects (whistling, scribbling, etc.) are spot-on.

#1

The Farm by Tom Rob Smith
Creepy and completely captivating, atmospheric and oh so mysterious. It leaves me feeling as if I watched an entire short film and eager to see/read the expanded version. Unfortunately, according to Hatchette, the book won’t be released until April 2014—and I can’t wait. (Though the UK edition comes out two months earlier…)

So, those are our favorites from 2013. If you want more great Book Trailers, please check out our Book Trailers and Other Videos board on Pinterest!