Yolanda T. Marshall

Marshall, the oldest of three sisters, was born in Guyana and grew up in Scarborough, Toronto.{{cite web |title=Author Bio |url=https://www.ytmarshall.com/ |website=ytmarshall.com |access-date=19 December 2021 |language=en}} Her family moved to Canada when she was 14. Her father is a jazz musician.{{cite news |last1=Dhanraj |first1=Joanna |title=Canadian Guyanese writer set to release seventh book |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/07/25/the-scene/canadian-guyanese-writer-set-to-release-seventh-book/ |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=Stabroek News |date=25 July 2020}}

Marshall's first children's book, Keman’s First Carnival, was published in 2016. Her children's books generally center around children partaking in elements of Caribbean culture, such as food and music. Her books include:

• A Piece of Black Cake for Santa (2017), where children give Santa sorrel and black cake.{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Shakkira |title='That's the magic of it': Author talks about the growing audience for diverse children's books |url=https://www.wrtv.com/lifestyle/thats-the-magic-of-it-author-talks-about-the-growing-audience-for-diverse-childrens-books |website=WRTV |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en |date=10 December 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Bull |first1=Megan |title=10 best diverse and inclusive Christmas books for children |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/20211118126602/culturally-diverse-childrens-books/ |website=Hello! |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en |date=18 November 2021}}
• My Soca Birthday Party (2020). A girl has a birthday party with plenty of Caribbean and African food and music;{{cite web |title=Why Yolanda T. Marshall created a picture book about the tastes and sounds of Africa and the Caribbean |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/full-episode-nov-28-2020-1.5814419/why-yolanda-t-marshall-created-a-picture-book-about-the-tastes-and-sounds-of-africa-and-the-caribbean-1.5814449 |website=CBC Radio |date=27 November 2020|access-date=13 December 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Adler |first1=Mike |title=Scarborough author's story brings Caribbean sounds and flavours to life |url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10203150-scarborough-author-s-story-brings-caribbean-sounds-and-flavours-to-life/ |website=Toronto.com |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en-CA |date=24 September 2020}} CBC.ca called it one of "the best Canadian picture books of 2020."{{cite web |title=The best Canadian picture books of 2020 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-best-canadian-picture-books-of-2020-1.5841827?fbclid=IwAR1PSQ_kJfeU0c5fn1T7Pj0WxOuuI6pliPrNvrAfoK15J1QJrozuv4y-Y3E |website=CBC.ca |access-date=14 December 2021 |date=18 December 2020}}
• C is for Carnival (2021), an A to Z book about children at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.{{cite web |last1=Adler |first1=Mike |title='Everybody wants to feel it': Scarborough author captures magic of Toronto's Caribbean carnival |url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10443660--everybody-wants-to-feel-it-scarborough-author-captures-magic-of-toronto-s-caribbean-carnival/ |website=Toronto.com |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en-CA |date=27 July 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Khokhar |first1=Rabia |title=Rabia Khokhar recommends 8 new kids books to celebrate all our identities and experiences |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2021/11/05/rabia-khokhar-recommends-8-new-kids-books-to-celebrate-all-our-identities-and-experiences.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=Toronto Star |date=5 November 2021 |language=en-CA}}{{cite web |title=C is for Carnival |url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/c-is-for-carnival-1.6127581 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=13 December 2021 |date=4 August 2021}}
• Hot Cross Buns For Everyone (2022), about children baking hot cross buns and having an Easter party.{{cite web |title=33 Canadian picture books to watch for in spring 2022 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/33-canadian-picture-books-to-watch-for-in-spring-2022-1.6377985 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=2 April 2022 |date=10 March 2022}}

She has also written two books of poetry, Obayifo (2008) and Messages on Dried Leaves (2017).{{cite news |title=Canada-based Guyanese children’s book now available in Guyana |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/06/19/the-scene/canada-based-guyanese-childrens-book-now-available-in-guyana/ |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=Stabroek News |date=19 June 2021}}

As of 2020, Marshall lives in Scarborough, Toronto. She has a son, who inspired several of her books.{{cite web |title=This children’s book highlights Caribbean holiday traditions – Breakfast Television |url=https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/this-childrens-book-highlights-caribbean-holiday-traditions/ |website=Breakfast Television |access-date=5 January 2022 |language=en-CA |date=22 December 2021}} As of 2020, she works in academic publishing.

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.ytmarshall.com/}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0IZJq8cY_g Marshall reads from her book Miles Away In The Caribbean], 10 June 2021, Bibleovideo
• [https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/this-childrens-book-highlights-caribbean-holiday-traditions/ This children’s book highlights Caribbean holiday traditions], 2021 interview on Breakfast Television

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Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Canadian women writers

Category:21st-century Guyanese writers

Category:Black Canadian poets

Category:Canadian women children's writers

Category:Writers from Scarborough, Ontario

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Black Canadian women poets