So instead, her dad took her to the library. Amina’s face lit up when she spotted a book about gardens on display.

The next day, during recess, her teacher found her alone in the classroom with her nose buried in the book.

“Amina, why aren’t you playing outside with the others?” she asked.

Amina showed her teacher the book and told her all about her garden back home.

Illustration: Marianne Ferrer.

“What beautiful plants.” The teacher smiled. “Hmm. That gives me an idea . . . ”

What could her teacher’s idea be? Amina was curious.

It wasn’t long before Amina found out.

“Students, I have an announcement,” said the teacher, later that week. “For our next field trip, we will be visiting a greenhouse!”

A greenhouse? What could that be?

Yolanda T. Marshall is a Guyanese-born Canadian author. A world traveler, jazz lover, and devoted mother, she embodies art and takes her readers on festive, cultured journeys. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Marianne Ferrer was born in Venezuela and moved to Canada as a child with her family, trading forests of mango trees for the oaks and maples that inspire her beautiful, nature-filled watercolour illustrations. She currently lives in Montreal, Quebec, with her husband.

l to r: Yolanda T. Marshall (Credit: Yolanda T. Marshall) and Marianne Ferrer (Credit: Marianne Ferrer)

Excerpt from Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall and Marianne Ferrer (Greystone Kids, 2025). Reprinted with permission from the publisher.

Brown Girl in the Snow is out now.