Everyone knows what a movie trailer is, right? The preview?
Apparently, people make these for books. Except it is called a book trailer. You talk about the book and give people a taste of what it is all about.
So being a DIYer at heart, I told my publisher I’d make my own. Animated.
Except that I didn’t know how to animate. At all. (So I googled it.)
But I also didn’t have any ideas for the video. At all. (So I asked my kids. And recorded it.)
And then I stayed up entirely too late and made this crappy video.
The Unofficial Crappy Book Trailer
There is just one problem with this utterly superb work of animation.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the book.
Oops.
Fortunately, my lovely publisher bailed me out and made this awesome video that actually happens to be about the book! (And I narrated it.)
The Official Crappy Book Trailer
(The “behind-the-scenes” making of this video included a hilarious phone conversation with myself and my publisher’s digital content manager about whether there was “too much penis” in the first batch of images we picked. So we narrowed it down to the peacock. They are good people over there, by the way. I’m really fortunate to be working with such a supportive and fun publishing team.)
Oh and in case the poop monster sealed the deal, here is where you can pre-order, just click the logos:
Also, 75% of the bookplate stickers are spoken for. So doing math, that leaves just 25% left. Thank you for pre-ordering, it means the world!!!
Love them both!
I love them both too but the poop one sealed the deal. I’m gonna pre-order when I get paid!
Ditto! LOOOOVE the poop monster! Definitely getting the book! May just buy a few as have a few baby showers coming up and think it is something EVERY new mommy should have!
Your self-made video is probably the best thing ever. Seriously. And I also love the “real” book trailer. I can’t wait for this book!
Btw, your voice sounds different than what I guess I always had going through my head when I read your blog. Not better or worse, just different
Lol, my first thought was that the Amber in my head sounds different…
Haha, me too! I think Amber in my head sounds more like me
Haha Me three! I think the real Amber sounds waaaay less tired! (That must be a reflection on myself I think)
I thought that exact same thing, but then I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what her voice in my head was like.
Of course the poop has a beard and a hammer, how could it not? Utter brilliance. The publishers should have used it (any potential customer who it doesn’t convince clearly isn’t cool enough to be in the crappy club).
What a wonderful brake to take and get to laugh!!! You always but a smile on my face!!!
OMG – the trailers are hilarious! Just what I needed on a Friday. Can’t wait for the book!
Brilliant!!! Your book trailer, that is. If trailers are supposed to tease you a little and get you to go see the movie or buy the book, then yours was successful! I’m fairly new to your blog and was intrigued about your book. But after seeing your trailer, I’m buying it FOR SURE! Now I’ll go back and watch your publisher’s version. Well done.
LOVED both versions! I am so excited to get my book on the 26th!
Hahahah that first video is awesome! You did such a good job, Amber!!
Also, I’m kind of disappointed you took out the other penis references and only kept the peacock one.
I’m ecstatic. And you are brilliant. Love.
LOL Poop monter with big foots!!!!!!!!
I *like* your publisher’s version. I LOVE yours! Watched it twice! Once by myself and once when my own little started laughing at the poop monster!
Love both trailers!! I think next step is to make an animated short film out of one of your stories. Seriously!
It will happen!
LIKE!!!
Yes! Do this!
YAY YAY YAY!!!
Yayayayayay! Count me in, sounds fab!
I was just going to say, This merits a cartoon series!!
They are both great. (However, yours is better. LOL) I can’t wait to read the book. It will be a best seller for sure!
As coherent as the official one is, I strongly prefer yours. Of course a poop monster would have a beard. Obviously.
I like yours better, lol!! Can’t wait to read the book!
I completely see how the publisher’s version is better for people who aren’t familliar at all with your blog but gotta say, your video was the bomb! I laughed so hard!!
Loved both trailers!
Those are both fabulous! So excited for the book now even though the poop monster is not included.
not going to lie, I’ve been wanting to order it but just haven’t (money is kinda tight) but after watching the poop monster trailer I decided I HAD to have it. Can’t wait!
Yay! Go poop monster!
My daughter wants to watch the poop monster one over and over and over! We’re both having giggle fits over here!
can’t…stop…laughing!
omg best thing i’ve hear all day.
Being a mom of a young boy myself, hearing about the roaring, big footed, bearded, feline-ish poop monster with a hammer just made my day….best video ever.
LOVE them both! So cute!!
OK OK that just made my day! He has a beard! lmfao
Are those really your boys laughing on the “official” trailer? TOO CUTE! Of course, I still like the poop monster video better…
No, the kid giggles in the official one aren’t really them. They weren’t available for giggles, they were specializing in whines that day.
I loved both of these so much! I loved your poop monster because it was such a treat to hear your voices and it made me laugh and I loved the official one because it make me really excited for the book. Great job and congrats!
My kids loved the poop monster! And I can’t wait for your book. Yay!
These are BOTH so wonderful!!
Well the poop monster did seal the deal. I just pre-ordered!
Yay! I knew he’d have some pull.
Mad, I know your American but I always read your blog in an English voice!
Hah! I’m reading it with an Aussie voice!
Haha I was coming here to comment the same thing – you have an Australian accent in my head!
Not gonna lie, I actually think the one you made is a better ad for your book. Very realistic about parenting and very reflective of the kind of real-world stuff you talk about on the blog. Totally made me want to buy the book.
Something about the kids’ tv music on the second video felt mismatched to my image of you and your family. But maybe that’s just me. Good work on both counts though!
I think the music was a little loud, almost drowned out her voice, but all in all was great.
Yours is just so charming! I laughed out loud all five times I’ve watched it.
“well he has a beard and a hammer and big foots”
LMAO!!! Seriously in tears watching this!
Fun seeing them back to back like this! Your crappy version and the official slick version and guess what? I loved both of them for different reasons.
Yours is so personable and hilarious and adorable and really shows you as a “real mom” talking to her kids. While the publisher one is slick and clean and very professional and gives an excellent overview of the content of the book.
Great job!
LOL
Big foots!!!!!!!
Will we get animated crappy pictures now on the blog? I mean you spent the time learning how to do it…you should really practice! Loved it!
Great idea!!
I love them both! The poop monster had both me and my daughter cracking up
Poop monster was the best!! Crappy baby is so stinking funny (see what I did there?!).
Now that is truly a work of art! The poop monster looks like a bearded cat? He’s closer than he knows! Love you and your Crappy Family! Thanks for letting us all in to watch! Can’t wait for the book to be delivered!
of COURSE there should be a bearded poop monster with big foots in your promo video… (Actually, your version threw me over the edge to pre-order, although the running kiddos in the publisher’s version is terribly cute.)
*Be careful… next thing you know, there will be a very popular Crappypictures cartoon. Are you ready to do all of that voice acting? I heard that they have pretty early studio calls…and that there is no food or sippy cup sipping allowed during recording.
Last I heard (you know, in my imagination) Tina Fey was going to do the voice acting.
Yes, that’d be perfect!
A Crappy Pictures cartoon would definitely fill the 30 Rock void.
OMG I love both of those videos! After you hit it big from your book, you should look into making this into a cartoon! Who wouldn’t love watching these episodes weekly?! Quality family primetime entertainment… that’s what I’m talking about!!
Yes!
I bet when you made your first crappy drawing to tell a funny story you never thought it would turn into this. You probably just wanted to vent about poop. Congrats
Precisely. Now I use poop as an advertising tool. Crazy!
I can’t wait to show my son the poop monster. I guarantee he’ll be “RAWRing” along with the poop monster!! They were both awesome and can’t wait for your book to arrive! Yippee…
Haven’t even read this post yet, but had to comment that I just saw a blip about your book featured in this month’s Parents magazine! Were you aware?!
I haven’t seen it in person yet but someone snapped a pic & shared it on my FB wall this morning!! So awesome!
Awesome! I took a pic, too, but couldn’t figure out a way to show you. But WAHOO!
I can’t think of a way that you could have made that video any better. “He really is made out of poop.”
LOL
Both of these are so great, Amber! Can’t wait for your book to arrive.
I like yours better.
I loved both of these but yours made me laugh my butt off!
More movies! I feel a tv show coming on, lol!
Well the publishers trailer was very professionally done but the Unofficial book trailer got several replay requests, so there you go!
Just pre-ordered on Amazon! Can’t wait.
I vote for the Poop Monster video.
Also your kids voices are ADORABLE. At least 47 times more cute than my own children’s voices. I’m going to read all your stuff in these cute voices now.
I actually liked the first one better. So much so that I was convinced to pre-order by the poop monster!
So that’s what the poop monster looks like. No wonder I have to plunge my toilets at least once a week. Must be the beard clogging up the works.
Very cute!
Very funny. Both of them.
Best of luck with the book, can’t wait for my copy to be delivered (shame about that non-International sticker though) …
I love you. This made my day. I can’t wait to get my copy of your book.
Oh, also, your sons have the CUTEST voices!!
I am not sure which trailer my boys (3.5 and 2.5) liked better…the poop monster or the hitting part of the official trailer. Either way they had a good laugh…waiting for the full version movie to come out now
I would SO watch a movie!
OMG. My kids love the Poop Monster!
Love them both…the first was a great trailer to the trailer.
Poop monster makes your unofficial trailer slightly better in my book! Sorry publishers… somethings are just true!
Also, this might be the weirdest comment you ever get, but I think your voice sounds like Sarah Silverman’s
My 2-year-old thought your unofficial was more interesting. Though, then again, he may have thought it was chocolate…
your boys have the exact voices that i use in my head when i read your posts
and my boy is now drawing his own Poop Monster. i’ll let you know if he, too, has big foots and a RAWR kind of talk!
congrats, lady! couldn’t be happier for you!
Congratulations on the book! I look forward to reading it. It was nice to hear the boys’ voices in your book trailer. Adorable! My 2 1/2 year old loves the word, “poopy” also. Everything is funny when it is used in a sentence…..I guess…
Of course the poop monster says “rawr!” He’s a monster, duh! Loved watching both of them… but the first one made me laugh.
My own crappy boy prefers the first one. In fact, he’s still laughing, five minutes later. I have a feeling I’ll be hearing a lot about the Poop Monster for the next month…
Sorry but I think yours is much better!
yours is better
Yours is definitely better!
Both videos are great, but the poop monster did it for me too! Just pre-ordered my book, so excited!!
The bookshelf looks like mine! Ok so need to preorder!
Yours is the best. I have ordered your book and can’t wait for it to arrive. You make me laugh more than any other blog. I absolutely love you!
The poop monster, illustrated made me laugh to tears!
Oh my gosh, that was the most hilarious thing EVER!!!
Hehe I watched your trailer Closed Caption and I have to admit, I was a bit…lost. There wasn’t even a mention of poop once?!
My friend translated and I laughed for nearly an hour.
Oh the travails of not being able to hear
Awesome! Both. Especially loved the ‘Crappy Pictures’ disclaimer at the end of your version. Were those your boys?
My girls feel very strongly that the Poop Monster video is vastly superior to the fancy publisher one.
“I like the part where he says ‘RAWR’!” — Gigi,
“And he says ‘RAWR’! That part too!” — Birdy
Okay, I am NOT buying your book – I just read the fine print, that the poop monster is not included! Plus in Australia, I don’t get stickers, so I feel doubly ripped off!
I WANT A POOP MONSTER PLUSHY LIMITED EDITION CRAPPY BOOK!!!
me too!
Oh MY GOSH they are BOTH so so adorable and hilarious!!! I love the hitting scene!!! And of course it was so lovely hearing the kids and your voices in your video!! Way to go Amber!!! Buying now… Wouldn’t DARE not support you!!! Cartoon…Movie…More books… The beauty in this parenting gig is that you always will have new material. Crappy Pictures will venture on through grade school years and tween years and teen years and early adult years and In-law years and grandmother years…. The road is ENDLESS. As is parenting my friend!!
That poop monster reminded me of the ‘scared is scared’ video. If you haven’t already seen it, you should.
I like the Poop Monster one best of all. You rock at creativity
I see a marketing opportunity… Plush bearded-feline-poop-monster dolls… Next Christmas must-have toys! Deluxe edition includes voicebox that says ‘Rawr’ when he swings his hammer.
I read every one of your hilarious posts… My husband always wonders what I’m laughing so hard about!? Nice work on the trailers! It was a book buying deal sealer for quite a lot of us!! Thanks and can’t wait!
And I totally 2nd the idea for a crappy cartoon! I’d be a loyal watcher!
My daughter introduced me to your blog a few months ago, which I totally love. I’m a Nana of 6 grandchildren and enjoying seeing young ones around again. You have totally nailed the parenting experience. The video took me over the top and I ordered the book today and the sticker is an added bonus. Keep up the good work!
It was odd hearing your voice, I always read your comics to myself in an Australian accent in my head… I seem to forget your American. hehe
Hooray! Two reasons to celebrate! My daughter gave birth to my grandson today (15th)! And your book is being born! So he is getting your book for his birthday, and his mama will get some laughs while she tries to remember what sleep was. So happy for mama & baby boy, and for you, Amber! Hooray!
Love the DIY video — my son is now re-enacting the adventures of Thor the poop cat.
LOL poop cat.
Thank you thank you!! I love your blog!! I also like both but am more familiar with poop cat. Also, we lock our cats in the basement at night so they can be psycho and not disturb us (specifically the kid). I will be ordering this coming Friday
Haha, I loved these!! That first one made me really laugh, and even more than before I can’t wait for your book to come out.
The poop monster one was way better. If i could afford it, I’d totally buy it.
You may have a future in child programming. I’m not sure I’d let my kids watch your show
but I let my kids see your trailers and promptly had to play then half a dozen times more.
Loved the videos! Both as reader and as a book editor! My almost 5 year-old, even though he doesn’t speak English, was absolutely fascinated with the poop monster video and watched it in over and over and over and over…
First, you convince me to buy a crappy t-shirt, now a crappy book. If you were a car salesperson, or perhaps selling a bridge, I’d be screwed.
Hhahah love it!!
Big foots!! I think I liked the poop monster video even better than the “real one”. Lol but both were great!
Awesome!! I can’t wait for my copy of the book to come!!!! My son Kale (6) absolutely loves your blog and he is going to die when he has his own copy of the book to look through instead of asking mommy to show the “spider one” or the “poopy baby” one over and over again. lol
I know it will be our bedtime story favorite!!
I love the poop monster preview! OMG!
My 3 yr old son enjoyed the Poop Monster one much more!
I love you, you made my day, LMAO!!!
Hi Amber
Congrats on the book and love both the videos! Hope you win the weblog awards too! Cheers Anna (ArtBuds)
I HAVE TO GET YOUR BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You sound so different in real life. What I imagine your voice to be in my head is waaaay off!
Please add captions on your official video, thanks! This is one of your faithful Deaf reader.
I wish I knew how to do that! I can tell you what I say though, the narration says, “Hi I’m Amber Dusick and I have two boys, a husband & two black cats. Some of you may know me from my blog CrappyPictures.com. I draw crappy pictures to illustrate the day to day things that happen as a parent. Apparently, these things happen to other parents too. I’m just as shocked as anyone. And very relieved Parenting is wonderful! And also, well, you know.”
hahhaha (cuz i really am laughing) the poop monster is awesome! both my boys (2 and 4) crowded around the laptop to see him and beg “more poop monster mommy more!”
i loved crapy baby’s voice i’m a sucker for small lil gnome like voices talking about gross things with incorrect grammar (foots)
ps i’ll be ordering one plus one for my pregnant with her second friend. since your blog helps me cope, by laughing till i cry i figure your book can keep her smiling too
Poop monster totally did seal the deal. Wasn’t planning to preorder, really. Just did!
And PS I love your kiddos little pipsckicky voices. I say that with love, I have two kiddos with pipsquicky voices and I think its adorable!
You should hire them to narrate themselves in your drawings, and pay them in sparkles. But not the kind from Sparkles the unicorn, that would be gross.
So happy for you about this book venture, you have a real talent of turning a bad day in the life of a parent into amusing anecdotes that make us all smile. Thanks for all the smiles!
How exciting! Can’t wait to get the book!
Where can we find this book in Europe???
It won’t be in stores (yet) but it is on Amazon UK and various other online places.
I think your crappy baby and my crappy baby should get married. And then we should move far away to somewhere that has lots of wine.
+1
Okay, send over the contract.
I’ve got to be honest: the real one is nice, but Poop Monster sealed the deal for me.
I’m serious. Here’s why: that trailed PERFECTLY captured your blog. Perfectly.
I can’t wait to buy your book!
So their trailer was pretty average. Yours, however, was amazing! Does this mean you’re going to start animating more videos for the blog? just in your spare time that is?
keep the laughs coming! Can’t wait for my copy to get here!!
We have been replaying your awesome Poop Monster clip for several days now! In a house full of boys (ages 1,3,6,7), it does not get old! Even my husband is still laughing
Adorable, and really well done.
Just preordered my book! And filled out the form for the bookplate, I’m excited!!
Ha! I was laughing at the Poop monster story while I marveled at how you didn’t laugh while saying “poop monster” so many times. My 5 year old came over asking what it was. “Poop Monster” I said. He verified “poop monster? okay.” Apparently that was enough explanation for him.
Love it, and my to year old gives special props to the poop monster storyline.
Is it terrible that I liked the Poop Monster trailer more? ^_^
(your kids sound awesome~)
I thought about reading all the comments to see if anyone had said this earlier, but I decided not to read all of them, so if this sounds repetitive, please forgive me
Anyway, you have such a nice, sweet voice. I heard you on a podcast or something before, but you sounded better on your trailer. You should do commercials or kids’ shows or something.
My 4 year old prefers the poop monster. Who incidentally looks very much like the poop monster in Dogma. You & Kevin Smith = mind meld? Or, what have you been showing those boys??
Love these videos! You have done such an amazing job of being a consistent (and funny) blogger and I am happy for you that you’re taking it to the next level. You rock!
I am fairly new to the blog but after reading just a few posts I’m hooked. I’m such a fan now. I’m going to pre-order my copy of your book today. I loved both trailers. I love the way you put parenting into words and adding crappy pics is the cherry on the sundae! I can’t wait to pass my copy of your book down to my 4 year old daughter Chloe one day when she has children. Sure their will be a 20 year gap but I don’t think the poopy monster will evolve too much between now and then! I will at least let her know how much the book helped get me through all of those crazy toddler moments! I’m such a fan now. I’m so happy I stumbled on your blog!! Thank you from parents everywhere.
I am surprised but I like both videos equally and would totally tune in to watch more of either sort.