By Yolanda T. Marshall

Together, these four powerful books celebrate Black identity, creativity, and resilience across generations, genres, and geographies. From the joy and self-discovery of Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival to the revolutionary legacy of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti, to speculative visions of Black futures in Canada, and to the untold history of Caribbean soldiers who helped shape this nation, each title offers a distinct and compelling perspective. Rich in culture, history, and imagination, these stories invite readers of all ages to reflect, learn, and be inspired.

Carnival Curves

Written by Stacey Robinson.

“In this joyful YA novel about self-acceptance, friendship, and the power of cultural tradition, two teens experience their first Toronto Caribbean Carnival in their last summer of high school.

As the two best friends, one from a conservative Nigerian family and the other Jamaican Canadian, prepare costumes to dance in the Carnival parade for the first time, they confront questions of body image, relationships with young men, and the transition to life beyond high school.” – Lorimer, 2025.

Fela: Music Is the Weapon

Written by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery.

“In this bold and striking graphic novel, artist Jibola Fagbamiye and writer Conor McCreery team up to tell the remarkable origin story of one of Nigeria’s most famous sons, the King of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, who rose to superstardom with his band Africa 70 in the 1970s, during a charged political period for his nation. A once-in-a-lifetime musical talent who innovated the musical genre Afrobeat, Fela was also an outspoken critic of the Nigerian military regime. Fela focuses on a pivotal moment in his life, when he and his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the renowned Nigerian suffrage activist, were ruthlessly attacked in their own home by soldiers who suffered no repercussions for their violence. It also explores Fela’s complex relationship with women, including his mother and Sandra Izsadore, the American singer and activist who revitalised and inspired him. Over the course of his life, Fela married 27 women, fathered numerous children, and founded the Kalakuta Republic commune, where he and his band lived, declaring themselves independent from military rule.

As rich and original as its subject, Fela complements the historical with the surreal, featuring parallel dream-world sequences set between this realm and the next, in which Fela receives visions of his future and the dangerous path he must walk. Chronicling Fela’s perilous journey to claim his destiny, to become the King of Afrobeat and to advocate for Pan-African unity in the face of European imperialism and white supremacy, this masterful biographical graphic novel celebrates this enduring legend and his legacy, offering inspiration for our own troubled time.” – Amistad, 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      As The Earth Dreams

Edited by Terese Mason Pierre.

“Edited by esteemed poet Terese Mason Pierre, this bold and innovative anthology of speculative short fiction reveals and uplifts the spectacular imaginings, reveries, reflections, experiments, and hopes of Black writers in Canada. A masseuse attends her mother’s fourth funeral, only to encounter family she’s never met. A postdoc instructor navigates an almost-life in an Elsewhere realm of safety and comfort. After societal collapse, an immigrant leaves her precarious station and her memories behind. A woman isolating from a new virus starts hallucinating. A young nanny accepts a job with a peculiar employer in search of immortality. A medium is tasked with summoning a spirit that hits too close to home. And two teenagers test a friendship over magic carpet flying practice. These ten breathtaking stories explore natural and urban landscapes, living and dead relationships, economic catastrophe, love, and desire—all while celebrating the persistent and ever-changing self, and envisioning beautiful Black futures.

Featuring stories by: Trynne Delaney, Francesca Ekwuyasi, Whitney French

Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga, Chimedum Ohaegbu, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Chinelo Onwualu, Lue Palmer, Terese Mason Pierre and Zalika Reid-Benta.” – Spiderline, 2025. A CBC Best Book of 2025.

Marching North

Written by Yolanda T. Marshall and illustrated by Daria Lavrova. A special foreword by Historian Kathy Grant.

“When Aunty Evangelina gifts Abiola an old compass, it becomes more than just a keepsake; it symbolises direction, courage, and identity. She introduces Abiola to the remarkable legacy of Black Caribbean soldiers who served and fought for Canada during the First and Second World Wars. These men travelled from the warmth of their Caribbean nations to foreign battlefields, facing prejudice and hardship while remaining determined to serve with honour. Many returned to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, and community leaders. They were true heroes whose resilience helped shape Canada’s history. This beautifully illustrated book not only inspires kids to stand up for what’s right but also educates and encourages them to appreciate the contributions of the remarkable Black Canadian soldiers.” Chalkboard Publishing, 2026.

You’re invited to the book launch!

Please support local bookstores, such as A Different Booklist, Old’s Cool General Store,

Nile Valley Books and Knowledge Bookstore.