WELCOME TO BOOKSHELF! BookShelf Update: New Features This Month! Our references and links sections have been updated to include new resources. New BookShelf Magazine Available The all-new issue, which will debut at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, includes special feature articles, sample lesson plan, core lists, reviews and more. LEAD STORIES Exploring the Star Wars Universe: An Interview with Randy Stradley Ever since the movie Star Wars: A New Hope premiered in 1977, the Star Wars universe has captured the imaginations of fans of sci-fi, fantasy and adventure. Now with the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated film and related series on Cartoon Network, Star Wars is finding a new generation of fans. We talked to Star Wars editor Randy Stradley of Dark Horse Comics about new and current projects, and got tips about how to approach Star Wars graphic novels in terms of both collection development and fandom. Publishers Weekly Covers Comics in the Classroom The December 22 issue of Publishers Weekly features a profile of ongoing educational initiatives using comics and graphic novels. Nickelodeon Magazine Announces Nominees for First Comics Awards Nickelodeon Magazine, the print companion to the cable television network for children and pre-adolescents, has announced the nominees for its first Nick Magazine Comic Awards, honoring some of the industry’s brightest talents and their works for a young audience. YALSA Releases Great Graphic Novels for Teens Nominations Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18, prepared yearly by the American Library Association's (ALA's) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Participate in Free Comic Book Day Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores. An annual tradition for the past seven years, Free Comic Book Day occurs on the first Saturday of May, but preparations begin well in advance. NPR Announces Top Graphic Novels of 2008 National Public Radio (NPR) has released two lists of 2008’s Best Graphic Novels, including critically acclaimed titles from Marvel Comics, DC Comics/Vertigo, Adhouse Books, Drawn & Quarterly, First Second Books, Avatar and Oni Press! SLJ Recommends Select Graphic Novels to Connect Teen Readers to Adult Literature The School Library Journal Best Adult Books for High School Students Committee selected a number of titles written for adults that will also be of interest to teens, including several graphic novels. Attend the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference! With Art Spiegelman as the keynote speaker, Publishers Weekly’s Calvin Reid leading a discussion of graphic novel literary adaptations, a Web track, and the latest info on trends and strategies, the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference can supply a year’s worth of ideas for your graphic novel collection. NEW RELEASES New Releases: Available Now Each month, BookShelf presents a list of newly released graphic novels. Here are descriptions of titles that shipped in December, broken down by age rating. Upcoming Releases: March Each month, BookShelf 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 March, broken down by age rating. BESTSELLERS Top 50 Graphic Novels for November 2008 For educators or librarians interested to know which graphic novels are bestsellers at your local comic shop, DC Comics/Vertigo's Fables TP Vol 11: War and Pieces is the best-selling graphic novel in Diamond's Top 50 Graphic Novels & Trade Paperbacks for November. Top 25 Manga for November 2008 In order for educators and librarians to be informed about what people are buying from local comic shops, Diamond BookShelf presents the Top 25 Manga for November, led by Viz's Naruto TP Vol 32(shown) FEATURED REVIEWS Salt Water Taffy Vol. 1: the Legend of Old Salty by Matthew Loux(SLJ) EVENTS Diamond to Attend ALA's Annual Midwinter Meeting Diamond Book Distributors, the company that hosts BookShelf, will be exhibiting at the American Library Association's 2009 Midwinter Meeting, which will be held in Denver, CO. Fordham University to Host Graphica in Education Conference On January 31st, Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) will host Graphica in Education: Graphic Novels come out from under the Desk, a conference to discuss a pedagogical approach to the use of graphic novels and graphica in K-12 classrooms. New York Comic Con to Include Educational Programming New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest pop culture convention, featuring a wealth of exhibits, panels, special guests and educational seminars relating to comics and graphic novels. Always a thrilling experience for fans, the NYCC is also an excellent source of information for teachers, librarians and retailers looking to work with graphic novels. 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!