The House that Jack Built is a book with two strands. The main rhythmic text, based on the well-known rhyme, tells the story of Jack Bull, who travels to New Zealand from London as a new settler in 1798. The illustrations tell the story from a Maori perspective—beginning with the creation story of Papatuanuku and Ranginui and showing the changing environment and cultural impact. The juxtaposition tells a poignant and thought-provoking story of colonisation.