In the spring of 2010, the author had the pleasure of working with four fifth graders, exploring reading engagement with graphic novels. During her research study, she became inspired by the connections these fifth graders made between the graphic novels they discussed and the film medium and ultimately concluded that this connection contributed to the engagement the readers experienced. Scott McCloud, in "Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art," outlines the basics to comics and briefly references their connection to film. In a similar manner John Golden, in his book "Reading in the Dark: Using Film as a Tool in the English Classroom," outlines the basics to using film in an academic setting. Each book references the other medium, but neither develops the connection. It is the author's hope, here, to explore that connection further. Additionally, she will illustrate the value these visual modes of literacy have as classroom tools for language arts educators. Using the voices of her students intertwined with current literature and research, she will show the connections drawn between graphic novels and film during their book discussions. (Contains 3 figures and 1 note.)