About the Books

Little Tasmanian: Katy's Garden

Join Katy and an array of Tasmanian animals on a journey to create a garden to share with all their friends. Along the way, she meets four inspiring Tasmanians who help her achieve her dream.
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Little Tasmanian: Katy’s Garden

Little Tasmanian: Katy’s Garden is the second publication in the Little Tasmanian series.

Join Katy and an array of Tasmanian animals on a journey to create a garden to share with all their friends. Along the way, she meets four inspiring Tasmanians who help her achieve her dream.

Read with Hannah Moloney, Good Life Permaculture
Watch and enjoy in Auslan
Meet the Characters
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John Kamara

John Kamara arrived in Tasmania as a refugee. Now, he works to highlight systemic challenges migrants face, such as racism, labour exploitation, and the need for recognition of overseas qualifications. For John and his family, Tasmania is home, and his goal is to create community and a better, fairer life for all.
LT-KG-Mars

Mars Buttfield-Addison

Mars Buttfield-Addison is a computer scientist and science communicator. She moved to Tasmania as a young person in search of a new start in her life and education. As a technologist, Mars has solved problems across visual design, public health, aerospace, and more. Mars seeks to inspire even the littlest Tasmanians to appreciate the science and beauty all around them.
LT-KG-David

David Foster

David Foster OAM, a world champion woodchopper, is often called Australia’s most successful athlete. David grew up in North West Tasmania and won his first world title in a double-handed sawing team with his father. David wants every young Tasmanian to know their dreams can come true if they believe in themselves.
LT-KG-Carleeta

Carleeta Thomas

Carleeta Thomas is a proud pakana woman of northeast lutruwita/Tasmania. “The first time I came to wukalina was the first time I came to my actual homeland,” Carleeta says. “I felt a sense of connection the way I feel when I am home on Cape Barren, in the presence of my ancestors.”
John Kamara
Mars Buttfield-Addison
David Foster
Carleeta Thomas

Download Katy's Garden

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Little Tasmanian

About the illustrator

Shiloh Longbottom is a Tasmanian illustrator and designer. She works using Procreate, design software created by a clever team of Hobart-based people.

When Shiloh began working on Little Tasmanian, it was just a children’s book. She has since created a whole world around it.

More about Shiloh
Shiloh

Where can I find the book?

Little Tasmanian: Katy's Garden was provided for free to parents and carers of new Tasmanian babies born between 1 June 2024 - 1 April 2026. Along with the Little Tasmanian library bag, a Little Tasmanian book is given to families at their first appointment with the Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS), which is the 2-week assessment and often a home visit. Eligible families who do not receive the bag at 2 weeks can receive it at a later visit.

For those slightly bigger Tasmanians who may not qualify for a free bag but would like to experience Katy's Garden, the book is available to borrow at select Libraries Tasmania locations. You'll also find it in Tasmanian bookstores around the state, and available online in our Tasmanian store.