Free Comic Book Day returns to a comic book store near you this May 3 (as always, the first Saturday in May). That's the day when anyone can visit a comic shop and pick up a free book from all the top publishers in the business. For more information on the event, which is celebrated with huge events and signings at many shops, visit the website.

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If you're in the New York City area, make sure you're planning to attend MoCCA Art Fest on April 5 and 6 at the 69th Regiment Armory, 68 Lexington Ave. This is about the best value in all of NYC: Admission is just $5 each day!

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The good folks at the Society of Illustrators have announced that they will be putting on the first annual Comic and Cartoon Art Week from April 1 - 6, all leading up to MoCCA Fest. They'll be marking this new event with lectures, screenings, book launches, and a festival, all in New York City. For more information, visit their website, and scroll below for a calendar of events. 

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Congratulations to David B., Ben Katchor, Ulli Lust, Anders Nilsen, Joe Sacco, and Gene Luen Yang, all of whom have just been nominated for an L.A. Times Book Award! Yang's book (or books, technically) BOXERS & SAINTS was nominated in the Young Adult Literature category, while the rest's books (INCIDENTS IN THE NIGHT, VOL. 1; HAND-DRYING IN AMERICA AND OTHER STORIES; TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE; THE END; and THE GREAT WAR: JULY 1, 1916 --- THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME, respectively) were nominated in the Graphic Novel/Comics category. Congratulations and good luck to them all!

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MARCH, the first book in Congressman John Lewis's epic graphic memoir about his life and his civil rights work with Martin Luther King Jr., has just been named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.

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Each year, the fantastic librarians on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee (a part of YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association) compile a massive list of the best graphic novels suited to teen readers. The list this year features 78 comics, all vetted for quality and content and suitable for readers ages 12 to 18. The Top 10 this year is an amazing compilation showing the variety of comics available to readers (of all ages --- this list would appeal to many adults as well). The GGNFT Top 10 is listed below; below for the full list of the committee's selections, click here.

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Entertainment Weekly reports that bestselling author Rainbow Rowell has just signed a two-book deal with the good folks at First Second, who are well known throughout the industry for their first-rate graphic novels. The bestselling FANGIRL author will be joined by the awesome Faith Erin Hicks as the artist of the first book, making this doubly a treat for YA fans.

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A Mighty Girll, a website devoted to shining a spotlight on "books, toys, movies, and music for parents, teachers, and others dedicated to raising smart, confident, and courageous girls," recently announced their selection of 2013 Mighty Girl Books, and the smart list (check it out; it's great) includes several graphic novels.

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The American Library Association’s mid-winter meeting takes place January 24–28 in Philadelphia. If you’re attending, you may want to keep track of these graphic-novel-related events and add them to your schedule:

The Continuing Evolution of Digital Comics in Libraries
Saturday, January 25, 2014, 10:30amto 11:30am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 104 B

ALA Graphic Novels & Comics in Libraries Member Interest Group Business Meeting
Sunday, January 26, 2014, 10:30amto 11:30am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 119 A
Business Meeting of the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics in Libraries Member Interest Group

PopTop Stage - Jimmy Gownley
Monday, January 27, 2014, noon to 1:00pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Exhibit Hall - PopTop Stage

Jimmy Gownley began writing and drawing comics at age 15 and has been nominated for the Eisner Award 13 times. In 2001 his hit series AMELIA RULES! was released amid a flurry of rave reviews. He co-founded the organization Kids Love Comics, which works to promote comic books and graphic novels as a valuable tool for literacy and education in schools, libraries, and at home. Jimmy Gownley's new graphic novel memoir titled, The Dumbest Idea Ever! is about his adventures as he grows from an eager-to-please boy into a teenage comic book artist. This is the real-life story of how the DUMBEST idea ever became the BEST thing that ever happened to him.

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