WELCOME TO BOOKSHELF! The Graphic Novel Resource for Educators, Librarians and Independent Retailers! Graphic Novels have a lot to offer as literature, educational tools, entertainment and more. Whether you are an educator or media specialist seeking to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom; or a librarian or independent retailer looking to add graphic novels to your collection, our mission at Bookshelf is to provide you with comprehensive information on the latest graphic novel news, reviews and events. LEAD STORIES Eisner Award Nominees Feature Something For Everyone! The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, presented annually at the San Diego Comic Con, are considered one of the Comics Industry’s most prestigious awards. This year’s roster of nominees reflects the strength of the industry, boasting an unprecedented diversity of titles and creators. Like the Movies? Read the Comics! Anticipation has been building for this summer’s action-packed movie blockbusters, which are sure to spark interest in their comic book and graphic novel counterparts. Iron Man, Speed Racer and Indiana Jones all open this May. Seize the opportunity to turn moviegoers into readers with the following titles! New York Comic Con Report: Let’s Hear it for the Kids! On Sunday, April 20, the New York Comic Con hosted its first ever Kids Day, a special event for the newest generation of comic book and graphic novel fans. Creators, teachers, librarians, parents and children all came together to assure that the future of graphic novels will be bright, educational and fun. New York Comic Con Report: Let’s Hear it for the Teachers and Librarians! As the world of graphic novels continues to grow and evolve, the role of educators and librarians has become increasingly prominent. This was reflected in the programming at the New York Comic Con, which took place at the Javits Center in Manhattan April 18-20. Before They Were Graphic Novels The stories collected in Graphic Novels are often serialized first in pamphlet form. Keeping an eye on these ongoing stories can be a good way to anticipate upcoming graphic novels. This month, Bookshelf takes a look at Marvel’s ongoing The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home series, the first issue of which topped sales charts in March! Time for Kids, Scholastic Instructor Praise Comic Books in Schools The benefits of using comics in the classroom are featured on both the covers and lead articles of Time Magazine for Kids and Scholastic Instructor! Subscribe to the ICv2 Guide The ICv2 Guide takes you "inside pop culture" for what's hot, what's new and what's good in graphic novels, anime, manga and games! NEW RELEASES New Releases: April Each month, the Diamond Bookmark presents a list of newly released graphic novels. Here are descriptions of titles that shipped in April, broken down by age rating. Upcoming Releases: July Each month, the Diamond Bookmark presents a list of upcoming graphic novels from the current issue of PREVIEWS, the Comic Shop's Catalog. Here are descriptions of upcoming titles, due for release starting in July, broken down by age rating. BESTSELLERS Top 50 Graphic Novels for March 2008 For librarians or educators interested to know which graphic novels are bestsellers at your local comic shop, DC Comics' Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition HC(shown) is the best-selling graphic novel in Diamond's Top 50 Graphic Novels & Trade Paperbacks for March. Top 25 Manga for March 2008 In order for librarians and educators to be informed about what people are buying from local comic shops, the Diamond Bookmark presents the Top 25 Manga for March, led by Viz's Nartuto Vol 28 GN (shown) FEATURED REVIEWS That Salty Air by Tim Sievert (PW) EVENTS GRAPHIC NOVELS AT BOOKEXPO AMERICA Diamond Book Distributors Present Breakfast Moderated by Jeff Smith and Featuring Jeph Loeb, Mike Mignola and Art Spiegelman Diamond to Attend ALA's 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA Diamond Book Distributors, the company that hosts Bookshelf, will be exhibiting at the American Library Association's 2008 Annual Conference, which will be held in Anaheim, CA! FEEDBACK The Bookshelf Wants to Hear from You Send your feedback, ideas and suggestions to the Diamond Bookshelf! And if you find the Bookshelf worth your while, be sure to tell your colleagues!