Bookbuzz 2021

This is the 2021 film for BookBuzz, a campaign created by BookTrust. We created this blend of animation and film to be shown as part of the campaign targeting secondary school age children.

Daily reading typically drops among children in years 7 and 8 when they start secondary school. Bookbuzz is the BookTrust’s annual programme that supports schools with the aim of inspiring a love of reading in this age group.

The charity selects a shortlist of the latest books it recommends for key stage 3 and provides a book from the collection for every student who would like one.

The target for this Bookbuzz film was to increase the uptake of books being chosen and taken home to 271,000 students.

The BookBuzz film approach

To make the content engaging for a very visually switched on audience, we added animation, and cast a young voice as its narrator. We also added an engaging soundtrack to increase the pace of the content.

The film features a bold design and a lively script as our narrator introduces 17 ‘top titles’ that are a perfect choice for readers in this age group.

Throughout the film, ‘talking head’ clips of each of the individual authors of the 17 books appear, as they pitch their own books to the audience. These are interspersed with young people – the ‘reading crew’ – reviewing their personal favourite book from the collection.

Campaign feedback from BookTrust

“A big thank you and well done on the Bookbuzz film. I think this is our best ever!!

It feels fresh and fun. I think the kids are going to love it.

You have exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t sure there was much more we could do within the parameters of this project, but you smashed it. Great job!!’

Samantha Psarelis
Head of Marketing, BookTrust