Children’s Author Celebrated By Guyanese Community
By Neil Armstrong
Children’s books author and storyteller and Caribbean Camera’s contributor, Yolanda Marshall, finally feels seen by Guyana, the country of her birth and early upbringing.
In honour of the 60th independence anniversary of Guyana, the Guyana Independence Celebrations Committee of Canada recognized the prolific writer for her “dedication to education, empowering others through knowledge, mentorship, and lifelong learning” at Guyana’s 60th Independence Day Gala on May 2.
It was a major and joyful surprise, said Marshall who began her publishing journey in 2008 and secured a multi-book deal in 2019.
“As a writer born and raised in Guyana, I achieved literary success and am celebrated within the Caribbean diaspora and beyond. Yet, I had accepted that I would never be considered an ambassador of Guyanese culture in any form, nor would I be recognized for bringing Guyanese culture and presence into many classrooms and libraries in Canada and internationally.”
Marshall said she had appeared in several news articles in newspapers in Guyana over the last decade, or on their TV channels. However, the American Peace Corps was the only organization to contact and invite her to virtually read to Guyanese local libraries.
“I sent free books to the library in Guyana and had to make multiple calls to have them made available to the public, after many people in Guyana kept asking why my books weren’t in the library. It was like they received my books and hid them for an entire year. I had to keep explaining to the library the legal rights difference between traditionally published books (mine) and self-published books because they felt that they could re-print my books.”
Three years ago, she sent a signed collection to the president of Guyana but heard nothing from his office.
“I had so many reasons to believe that I would have to keep showing up for the nations that see me and invite me to share my storytelling and literary expertise. Not too long ago, the Ministry of Education in Guyana contacted the publishers of my books and me. That was an amazing feeling of hope. Then this award happened because of nominations sent by the Canadian community, and I am honoured. I finally feel seen by the nation I was born and raised in.”
In February of this year, her book, “Marching North” — featuring the legacy of Black Caribbean soldiers who served and fought for Canada during the First and Second World Wars — was featured on CTV News. It includes Hewburn Greenidge, a veteran born and raised in Guyana, and a war hero that Marshall says the Guyanese community should be celebrating.
The author has received numerous awards for her books, including recent literary accolades for “Brown Girl in the Snow,” which highlights a young immigrant child from Guyana moving to Canada.
It was honoured as “A Globe & Mail Best Book of the Year 2025,” “A CBC Best Book of the Year 2025,” “2026 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Commended Book” (USA), and “2026 Notable Social Studies Book Award,” also in the United States.
Marshall is a traditionally published, agented author of 20 beloved titles.
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