diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
index a99ab0c99..664f50b5e 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
@@ -100,6 +100,35 @@ define(function(require){
                 }
             }
         },
+        'extend-selection-previous' : {
+            help: 'extend selection above',
+            help_index : 'dc',
+            handler : function (env) {
+                var index = env.notebook.get_selected_index();
+                if (index !== 0 && index !== null) {
+                    env.notebook.extend_selection('up');
+                    env.notebook.focus_cell();
+                }
+            }
+        },
+        'extend-selection-next' : {
+            help: 'extend selection below',
+            help_index : 'dd',
+            handler : function (env) {
+                var index = env.notebook.get_selected_index();
+                if (index !== (env.notebook.ncells()-1) && index !== null) {
+                    env.notebook.extend_selection('down');
+                    env.notebook.focus_cell();
+                }
+            }
+        },
+        'reset-selection': {
+            help: 'clear selected cells',
+            help_index: 'de',
+            handler: function(env) {
+                env.notebook.reset_selection();
+            }
+        },
         'cut-selected-cell' : {
             icon: 'fa-cut',
             help_index : 'ee',
@@ -288,6 +317,13 @@ define(function(require){
                 env.notebook.merge_cell_below();
             }
         },
+        'merge-selected-cells' : {
+            help : 'merge selected cells',
+            help_index: 'el',
+            handler: function(env) {
+                env.notebook.merge_selected_cells();
+            }
+        },
         'close-pager' : {
             help_index : 'gd',
             handler : function (env) {
diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
index 56f8328a7..a2f1a6e7f 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ define([
         
         this.placeholder = config.placeholder || '';
         this.selected = false;
+        this.in_selection = false;
+        this.selection_anchor = false;
         this.rendered = false;
         this.mode = 'command';
 
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ define([
          * Call after this.element exists to initialize the css classes
          * related to selected, rendered and mode.
          */
-        if (this.selected) {
+        if (this.in_selection) {
             this.element.addClass('selected');
         } else {
             this.element.addClass('unselected');
@@ -254,6 +256,7 @@ define([
             this.element.addClass('selected');
             this.element.removeClass('unselected');
             this.selected = true;
+            this.in_selection = true;
             return true;
         } else {
             return false;
@@ -261,19 +264,21 @@ define([
     };
 
     /**
-     * handle cell level logic when a cell is unselected
+     * handle cell level logic when the cursor moves away from a cell
      * @method unselect
+     * @param {bool} leave_selected - true to move cursor away and extend selection
      * @return is the action being taken
      */
-    Cell.prototype.unselect = function () {
-        if (this.selected) {
+    Cell.prototype.unselect = function (leave_selected) {
+        var was_selected_cell = this.selected;
+        this.selected = false;
+        if ((!leave_selected) && this.in_selection) {
+            this.in_selection = false;
+            this.selection_anchor = false;
             this.element.addClass('unselected');
             this.element.removeClass('selected');
-            this.selected = false;
-            return true;
-        } else {
-            return false;
         }
+        return was_selected_cell;
     };
 
     /**
diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/codecell.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/codecell.js
index a3d7fd227..6f5ebc19b 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/codecell.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/codecell.js
@@ -535,14 +535,14 @@ define([
     };
 
     /**
-     * handle cell level logic when a cell is unselected
+     * handle cell level logic when the cursor moves away from a cell
      * @method unselect
      * @return is the action being taken
      */
-    CodeCell.prototype.unselect = function () {
-        var cont = Cell.prototype.unselect.apply(this);
+    CodeCell.prototype.unselect = function (leave_selected) {
+        var cont = Cell.prototype.unselect.apply(this, [leave_selected]);
         if (cont) {
-            // When a code cell is usnelected, make sure that the corresponding
+            // When a code cell is unselected, make sure that the corresponding
             // tooltip and completer to that cell is closed.
             this.tooltip.remove_and_cancel_tooltip(true);
             if (this.completer !== null) {
diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/keyboardmanager.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/keyboardmanager.js
index 505b0b597..f2ef6cd85 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/keyboardmanager.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/keyboardmanager.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ define([
         return {
             'shift-space': 'ipython.scroll-up',
             'shift-v' : 'ipython.paste-cell-before',
-            'shift-m' : 'ipython.merge-selected-cell-with-cell-after',
+            'shift-m' : 'ipython.merge-selected-cells',
             'shift-o' : 'ipython.toggle-output-scrolling-selected-cell',
             'enter' : 'ipython.enter-edit-mode',
             'space' : 'ipython.scroll-down',
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ define([
             'up' : 'ipython.select-previous-cell',
             'k' : 'ipython.select-previous-cell',
             'j' : 'ipython.select-next-cell',
+            'shift-k': 'ipython.extend-selection-previous',
+            'shift-j': 'ipython.extend-selection-next',
             'x' : 'ipython.cut-selected-cell',
             'c' : 'ipython.copy-selected-cell',
             'v' : 'ipython.paste-cell-after',
diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/notebook.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
index 06179597a..731131ad7 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
@@ -600,6 +600,46 @@ define(function (require) {
         return result;
     };
 
+    /**
+     * Get the index of the anchor cell for range selection
+     *
+     * @return {integer} The anchor cell's numeric index
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.get_selection_anchor = function() {
+        var result = null;
+        this.get_cell_elements().filter(function (index) {
+            if ($(this).data("cell").selection_anchor === true) {
+                result = index;
+            }
+        });
+        return result;
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Get an array of the cells in the currently selected range
+     *
+     * @return {Array} The selected cells
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.get_selected_cells = function () {
+        return this.get_cells().filter(function(cell) {
+            return cell.in_selection;
+        });
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Get the indices of the currently selected range of cells.
+     *
+     * @return {Array} The selected cells' numeric indices
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.get_selected_indices = function () {
+        var result = [];
+        this.get_cell_elements().filter(function (index) {
+            if ($(this).data("cell").in_selection === true) {
+                result.push(index);
+            }
+        });
+        return result;
+    };
 
     // Cell selection.
 
@@ -618,23 +658,27 @@ define(function (require) {
                 if (this.mode !== 'command') {
                     this.command_mode();
                 }
-                this.get_cell(sindex).unselect();
             }
-            var cell = this.get_cell(index);
-            cell.select();
-            if (cell.cell_type === 'heading') {
-                this.events.trigger('selected_cell_type_changed.Notebook',
-                    {'cell_type':cell.cell_type,level:cell.level}
-                );
-            } else {
-                this.events.trigger('selected_cell_type_changed.Notebook',
-                    {'cell_type':cell.cell_type}
-                );
+            var current_selection = this.get_selected_cells();
+            for (var i=0; i<current_selection.length; i++) {
+                current_selection[i].unselect()
             }
+
+            var cell = this._select(index);
+            cell.selection_anchor = true
         }
         return this;
     };
 
+    Notebook.prototype._select = function(index) {
+        var cell = this.get_cell(index);
+        cell.select();
+        this.events.trigger('selected_cell_type_changed.Notebook',
+            {'cell_type':cell.cell_type}
+        );
+        return cell;
+    };
+
     /**
      * Programmatically select the next cell.
      *
@@ -657,6 +701,42 @@ define(function (require) {
         return this;
     };
 
+    /**
+     * Extend the selected range
+     *
+     * @param {string} direction - 'up' or 'down
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.extend_selection = function(direction) {
+        var anchor_ix = this.get_selection_anchor();
+        var cursor_ix = this.get_selected_index();
+        var range_direction = (cursor_ix > anchor_ix) ? 'down' : 'up';
+        var contracting = (cursor_ix !== anchor_ix) &&
+                            (direction !== range_direction);
+        var ix_delta = (direction === 'up') ? -1 : 1;
+        var new_ix = cursor_ix + ix_delta;
+        if (new_ix < 0 || new_ix >= this.ncells()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (this.mode !== 'command') {
+            this.command_mode();
+        }
+        this.get_cell(cursor_ix).unselect(!contracting);
+        this._select(new_ix);
+        return true;
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Clear selection of multiple cells (except the cell at the cursor)
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.reset_selection = function() {
+        var current_selection = this.get_selected_cells();
+        for (var i=0; i<current_selection.length; i++) {
+            if (!current_selection[i].selected) {
+                current_selection[i].unselect()
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
 
     // Edit/Command mode
 
@@ -710,6 +790,7 @@ define(function (require) {
         if (cell && this.mode !== 'edit') {
             cell.edit_mode();
             this.mode = 'edit';
+            this.reset_selection();
             this.events.trigger('edit_mode.Notebook');
             this.keyboard_manager.edit_mode();
         }
@@ -1290,36 +1371,71 @@ define(function (require) {
     };
 
     /**
-     * Merge the selected cell into the cell above it.
+     * Merge a series of cells into one
+     *
+     * @param {Array} indices - the numeric indices of the cells to be merged
+     * @param {bool} into_last - merge into the last cell instead of the first
      */
-    Notebook.prototype.merge_cell_above = function () {
-        var index = this.get_selected_index();
-        var cell = this.get_cell(index);
-        var render = cell.rendered;
-        if (!cell.is_mergeable()) {
+    Notebook.prototype.merge_cells = function(indices, into_last) {
+        if (indices.length <= 1) {
             return;
         }
-        if (index > 0) {
-            var upper_cell = this.get_cell(index-1);
-            if (!upper_cell.is_mergeable()) {
+        for (var i=0; i < indices.length; i++) {
+            if (!this.get_cell(indices[i]).is_mergeable()) {
                 return;
             }
-            var upper_text = upper_cell.get_text();
-            var text = cell.get_text();
-            if (cell instanceof codecell.CodeCell) {
-                cell.set_text(upper_text+'\n'+text);
-            } else {
-                cell.unrender(); // Must unrender before we set_text.
-                cell.set_text(upper_text+'\n\n'+text);
-                if (render) {
-                    // The rendered state of the final cell should match
-                    // that of the original selected cell;
-                    cell.render();
-                }
+        }
+        var target = this.get_cell(into_last ? indices.pop() : indices.shift());
+
+        // Get all the cells' contents
+        var contents = [];
+        for (i=0; i < indices.length; i++) {
+            contents.push(this.get_cell(indices[i]).get_text());
+        }
+        if (into_last) {
+            contents.push(target.get_text())
+        } else {
+            contents.unshift(target.get_text())
+        }
+
+        // Update the contents of the target cell
+        if (target instanceof codecell.CodeCell) {
+            target.set_text(contents.join('\n\n'))
+        } else {
+            var was_rendered = target.rendered;
+            target.unrender(); // Must unrender before we set_text.
+            target.set_text(contents.join('\n\n'));
+            if (was_rendered) {
+                // The rendered state of the final cell should match
+                // that of the original selected cell;
+                target.render();
             }
-            this.delete_cell(index-1);
-            this.select(this.find_cell_index(cell));
         }
+
+        // Delete the other cells
+        // If we started deleting cells from the top, the later indices would
+        // get offset. We sort them into descending order to avoid that.
+        indices.sort(function(a, b) {return b-a;});
+        for (i=0; i < indices.length; i++) {
+            this.delete_cell(indices[i]);
+        }
+
+        this.select(this.find_cell_index(target));
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Merge the selected range of cells
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.merge_selected_cells = function() {
+        this.merge_cells(this.get_selected_indices());
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Merge the selected cell into the cell above it.
+     */
+    Notebook.prototype.merge_cell_above = function () {
+        var index = this.get_selected_index();
+        this.merge_cells([index-1, index], true)
     };
 
     /**
@@ -1327,32 +1443,7 @@ define(function (require) {
      */
     Notebook.prototype.merge_cell_below = function () {
         var index = this.get_selected_index();
-        var cell = this.get_cell(index);
-        var render = cell.rendered;
-        if (!cell.is_mergeable()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        if (index < this.ncells()-1) {
-            var lower_cell = this.get_cell(index+1);
-            if (!lower_cell.is_mergeable()) {
-                return;
-            }
-            var lower_text = lower_cell.get_text();
-            var text = cell.get_text();
-            if (cell instanceof codecell.CodeCell) {
-                cell.set_text(text+'\n'+lower_text);
-            } else {
-                cell.unrender(); // Must unrender before we set_text.
-                cell.set_text(text+'\n\n'+lower_text);
-                if (render) {
-                    // The rendered state of the final cell should match
-                    // that of the original selected cell;
-                    cell.render();
-                }
-            }
-            this.delete_cell(index+1);
-            this.select(this.find_cell_index(cell));
-        }
+        this.merge_cells([index, index+1], false)
     };
 
 
diff --git a/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js b/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
index 8ec32405f..9c386884f 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
+++ b/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 // Test
 casper.notebook_test(function () {
-    var a = 'ab\ncd';
+    var a = 'ab\n\ncd';
     var b = 'print("b")';
     var c = 'print("c")';
 
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ casper.notebook_test(function () {
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(1), 'cd', 'split; Verify that cell 1 has the second half.');
         this.validate_notebook_state('split', 'edit', 1);
         this.select_cell(0); // Move up to cell 0
+        this.evaluate(function() { IPython.notebook.extend_selection('down');});
         this.trigger_keydown('shift-m'); // Merge
         this.validate_notebook_state('merge', 'command', 0);
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(0), a, 'merge; Verify that cell 0 has the merged contents.');
diff --git a/notebook/tests/notebook/merge_cells_api.js b/notebook/tests/notebook/merge_cells_api.js
index 9dd2fbdcb..665a9d1ef 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/notebook/merge_cells_api.js
+++ b/notebook/tests/notebook/merge_cells_api.js
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ casper.notebook_test(function() {
         return IPython.notebook.get_selected_cell().get_text();
     });
     
-    this.test.assertEquals(output_above, 'a = 5\nprint(a)',
+    this.test.assertEquals(output_above, 'a = 5\n\nprint(a)',
                            'Successful merge_cell_above().');
-    this.test.assertEquals(output_below, 'a = 5\nprint(a)',
+    this.test.assertEquals(output_below, 'a = 5\n\nprint(a)',
                            'Successful merge_cell_below().');
 });