Jim Valentino’s Image Comics imprint Shadowline has announced the October debut of a new imprint, Silverline Books, dedicated to publishing all-ages books that bridge the gap between traditional storybooks and comics.  Dear Dracula (48 pg. $8.99) by Joshua Williamson and Vincente Navarette, which is the first Silverline release, is due out on October 29th.  It will be followed in November by Bruce, The Little Blue Spruce (32 pg., $9.99) by Kristen Simon and Jim Valentino.

Silverline plans to release two volumes in December, Missing the Boat (80 pg. $19.99) by Justin Shandy and Dwellephant, the story of two lazy animals that miss their chance to get on Noah’s Ark, and PX! Book Two: In the Service of the Queen (152 pg., $16.99) by Eric A. Anderson and Manny Trembley, the follow-up to last year’s double Eisner award nominee.

The hybrid storybook/comic format of some of the Silverline releases would appear to have some similarities to the Toon Books model that introduces the comic book format to kids as young as four years old (see “Mouly and Spiegelman Launch Kids GN Line”).