Piccaninnies

In Short

Set deep within the native New Zealand bush, this whimsical tale follows the tubby, brown Piccaninnies as they react to the intrusion of modern civilization and picnicking humans. From adopting leaf-fashions and chasing culinary myths to surviving a catastrophic forest fire, these resilient woodland infants navigate a series of domestic misadventures. When their beloved green sanctuary is reduced to ashes, the surviving little folk make a remarkable adaptation, finding a permanent home in the dark, cool waters of the swamp where they transform into the Teenywiggles.

The Story

Long ago, the tubby, brown Piccaninnies lived freely among the ferns and trees of the New Zealand bush. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when human settlers arrive, building houses, running shops, and driving clattering trains through the country. Seeking refuge, the Piccaninnies retreat deeper into the forest, but human picnic parties continue to intrude, leaving behind scraps of paper and strange objects. One day, a young girl Piccaninny finds a fashion magazine page, sparking a sudden desire for clothing among the forest dwellers. The girls fashion crimson kilts from Christmas tree blossoms, while the boys cleverly construct breeches out of broad flax leaves. Soon, trends shift to clematis frocks, leading to a playful berry fight that stains the delicate new clothes and causes a hasty retreat.

Inspired by overheard conversations from picnickers, a little girl named Swanki grows tired of a perpetual diet of berries and roots. She convinces a boy named Tiki to accompany her on a long journey to find legendary foods like pickled cabbages. Guided partly by a helpful kiwi and harassed by the inquisitive, gossip-loving Miss Fantail, the pair reach the edge of the swamp. They struggle to climb the tall, smooth trunks of the cabbage trees until Swanki cleverly uses discarded cicada shells. Finding only bitter, stringy leaves instead of savory treats, an argument ensues, and Tiki tumbles backward into the muddy water. Swanki tries to pull him out, but the boggy ground gives way, plunging them both into the swamp before a friendly frog helps them ashore. Returning wet and weary, they face teasing from the rest of the bush folk, but Swanki happily returns to her traditional diet.

Other adventures follow, including a frightening mishap where a sleeping boy is carried away on a tea tree branch into a human house and nearly swept up as a household insect. Meanwhile, golden Bush Babies emerge from kowhai flowers to seek honey, and graceful Hoheria maidens dance on the wind until they drift down to earth. The fragile harmony of the forest is shattered for good when a picnic fire leaves behind a smoldering heap of ashes. Ignorant of the danger, a young boy approaches the glowing embers and gets burned by what the children call the Great Red Enemy. As the fire roars through the forest with intense heat and blinding smoke, the terrified bush creatures flee for their lives. They plunge headlong into the cool waters of the swamp, watching helplessly as their beloved trees are reduced to black stumps and grey ash. Left homeless and unable to return to the ruined forest, the surviving Piccaninnies adapt completely to their watery refuge, developing webbed toes and tails to become the Teenywiggles.

How It Unfolds

The forest retreat Fleeing the clatter of encroaching human settlement, the tiny brown Piccaninnies abandon their open-ground homes to live entirely within the green depths of the bush. Here they spend their days swinging on giant ferns, teasing the owl-like morepork, and riding good-natured kiwis.

Fashions in the bush The discovery of a discarded fashion page inspires the woodland children to abandon their natural nakedness for elaborate plant-based clothing. Girls and boys compete with rival outfits made from blossoms and flax leaves, eventually staging a disastrous berry battle that ruins their delicate new attire.

The quest for cabbage Craving exotic foods heard from human picnickers, Swanki and Tiki journey past the edge of the forest toward the swamp. After struggling up smooth cabbage trees using old cicada shells, they find only bitter leaves and tumble into the muddy water.

The human house A sleeping boy is accidentally carried away on a plucked tea tree branch and placed in a silver vase inside a human home. Frightened by giant objects and a sweeping dustpan, he narrowly escapes back to the safety of the trees.

The Great Red Enemy A smoldering picnic fire awakens into a raging wildfire that destroys the forest and forces all the woodland creatures to flee. Seeking refuge in the swamp, the displaced Piccaninnies ultimately adapt to aquatic life, transforming permanently into the water-dwelling Teenywiggles.

The People

Swanki is an ambitious and imaginative Piccaninny girl who grows deeply dissatisfied with a monotonous diet of berries and roots. She wants to experience the exciting, exotic foods she overhears humans discussing, but her main obstacles are the lack of such foods in the forest and the difficult journey required to reach them. Her quest ends in swampy disappointment, curing her of her complaints and returning her to simple woodland routines. Tiki, a more contented boy, wants to please his companion and shares in her journey. He faces the challenge of navigating unfamiliar terrain and climbing slippery trees, ultimately ending up soaked in the swamp alongside Swanki before they safely return home. Miss Fantail is an endlessly inquisitive bird who acts as the informal gossip columnist of the forest. She wants to know everyone's business, constantly badgering travelers with questions, and her primary role is to track and broadcast the misadventures of others. A young Bush Baby emerges from a kowhai flower wanting nothing more than sweet honey. She faces barriers like prickly plants and defensive bees, but ultimately enjoys a sticky, blissful feast after a brief fright. Together, these figures populate a lively community defined by simple desires, youthful curiosity, and immediate consequences.

In Its Own Voice

The narrator introduces the rustic origins of the forest infants before human settlement disrupted their quiet lives.

Long ago the Piccaninnies didn't have a rag to their backs except a huia feather which they wore in their hair.

The text captures the playful, mischievous spirit of the woodland children as they experiment with new trends.

Of course fashions change, and no one need be surprised to find that crimson kilts were soon "out," while the Piccaninny girls were to be seen walking about in pretty little white, frilly petticoats made out of clematis blossoms, and sun hats of the same flowers.

The whimsical tone reflects on the natural cycles of the forest and its delicate inhabitants.

When the tree of gold Turns a tree of green, The dear Bush Babies Are no more seen.

What It's Really About

The book explores the friction between untouched nature and the relentless march of human civilization. Through the lens of playful woodland fairies, it examines how modern habits, waste, and industrial noise disrupt ancient ecological rhythms. It also touches upon human nature, particularly the universal desire for novelty—whether through fashion trends or exotic foods—and the grass-is-greener mentality that plagues even the smallest creatures. Beneath the whimsical surface lies a melancholic reflection on environmental loss, showing how human carelessness can permanently destroy a forest habitat and force its native inhabitants to reinvent their very biology to survive in an altered world.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic children's fantasy infused with distinct regional flora and fauna will find plenty to cherish here. Reading this work feels like stepping into an old-fashioned illustrated storybook where New Zealand plants like the pohutukawa, clematis, and kowhai come alive with mischievous personalities. The prose balances lighthearted humor with a quaint, engaging rhythm that captures the innocent wonder of childhood. However, modern readers must approach the text with historical awareness, particularly regarding the author's period terminology and colonial framing of indigenous nomenclature. Despite these dated elements, the narrative offers a surprisingly poignant ecological parable about habitat destruction and adaptation. The lingering image of a forest reduced to ash, and the resilient little creatures turning the swamp into a new home, stays with the reader long after the final page. It is a charming, bittersweet glimpse into a bygone era of juvenile literature that rewards patient readers with its unique blend of pastoral whimsy and sudden, dramatic consequence.