Our Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books Illustrator in Residence program supports children’s books creators and encourages exchanges between the resident illustrator and the community. The Illustrator in Residence creates and delivers programs and events, evaluates submitted portfolios, meets with creatives from the public and works on their own projects.

​Apply to be Illustrator in Residence
We invite applicants with extensive experience in the areas of children’s book illustration to fill the role of Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books 2024 Illustrator in Residence.
The Illustrator in Residence is a paid position that will be at Lillian H Smith Branch in the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books from October 21 to December 13, 2024.
Deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 5 pm.
To apply, submit the following documents through the Illustrator in Residence page on the Bonfire posting.
●       Curriculum vitae
●       Program proposals (2 minimum)
●       Letters of reference (2 minimum)

Thursday, June 13, 2024
6:30-7:30PM
Lillian H. Smith Branch
In-person, Lower Level 
Free

​Margo L. Beggs (M.A., Ph.D.) is an independent art historian in Toronto. She obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 2013, where she taught for nine years. Since 2020, she has been conducting research on nineteenth-century illustrated manuscripts at the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. Her book chapter “The ABCs of Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon: new views on her manuscript ‘An Illustrated Comic Alphabet’” was published in Nineteenth-Century Women Illustrators and Cartoonists in 2023 (Manchester University Press). 
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon was a young British teacher who lived in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1859. She produced the charming handmade book long assumed to be for her students, “An Illustrated Comic Alphabet”. This jewel in the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books is acclaimed as Canada’s first picture book.
In her talk, Margo will present extensive visual evidence that Howard-Gibbon’s manuscript in addition to being a delightful teaching tool is an ingenious and audacious creation; in it, Howard-Gibbon embedded the very history of British children’s alphabet books, while simultaneously claiming her place in a literary lineage almost entirely dominated by men.

Thursday, February 22, 6:30–7:30
A talk to be given by Myrna Scully-Ashton, assisted by Jennifer Yan.
Celebrate the life and work of writer-illustrator Edward Gorey (1925–2000) with the Osborne Collection. In honour of Edward Gorey’s 99th birthday, we have gathered some of his weird and wonderful creations for a show-and-tell presentation. Explore original artworks, rare books, and unique objects from Gorey’s career. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-very-gorey-birthday-party-an-osborne-collection-show-and-tell-tickets-796324406737and https://events.tplcs.ca/4880

​The 75th Anniversary Exhibition has been extended until February 18th. There will be a guided tour on Tuesday, February 13th from 3-4pm. Please meet in the gallery. For a quick peek, click here.

Danny Ramadan: Writing an Immigration Children’s Book-While Also Keeping It Fun!
​Thursday, March 7, 6:30–7:30

In-person,lower-level auditorium
Lillian H. Smith Branch

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ+ refugees advocate who will discuss his award-winning children’s books, the Salma Series. When we think of stories about refugees and immigrants, tanks and tents on a grim landscape come to mind; stories of separation and trauma. But Ramadan will describe how to tell a different story: one with joyful moments, community-building, and family love. Danny Ramadan is a Lambda-award winning Syrian-Canadian author. His novels, The Clothesline Swing and The Foghorn Echoes continue to receive accolades. His award-winning children’s books The Salma Series continues to grow. Ramadan has raised over $300,000 for LGBTQ+ refugees. His memoir, Crooked Teeth, comes out in the summer of 2024. 

No registration is required. Everyone is welcome. 
Books available for purchase from Little Island Comics. Photo credit: Dave Mac/Daily Xtra