As in Judith Kerr’s classic children’s story, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the monster in a new Women’s Aid’s children’s book invites himself in for food. But rather than eating and drinking their house dry, the monster erupts into a rage, unsatisfied by the spaghetti. And unlike the tiger, who leaves, never to return, the ‘monster’ stays put – because he’s not a fictional character in a children’s tale but an abusive adult. 

The Monster Who Came to Tea is too dark a tale to read to children. But this is precisely the point Women’s Aid wants to make; for many children, it is not fiction but their lived reality. 

The illustrated children’s book sits at the heart of a new Women’s Aid campaign determined to turn words into action with an open letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, imploring him to prioritise funding for specialist domestic abuse services in the spring spending review. 

Filmmaker Guy Manwaring and animation directors Tulips and Chimneys brought the book to life in film, dramatising the harrowing story of domestic abuse through the eyes of a young girl named Lily. 

The Monster Who Came to Tea will also be a teaching resource to help educate children and young people about spotting signs of unhealthy relationships – a campaign first for Women’s Aid – as part of broader lesson plans for schools. 

As part of the campaign, outdoor ads emulate a classic book launch with teaser quotes devised to hook people into the problem before encouraging them to sign the open letter. 

Countless women and their children live in fear every day, and this must change, insists Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid: “We’re calling on the government to take urgent action and provide adequate funding for the lifesaving domestic abuse services that support those fleeing abuse. The government’s pledge to halve violence against women in a decade will require tangible actions and not empty words.”

Credits: 
Agency: House 337
Chief Creative Officer: Josh Green
Creative Director: Christopher Ringsell 
Director: Guy Manwaring
Production Company: Merman Branded 
Composer: Stuart Hancock
Animation Production: Passion Pictures 
Animation Director: Tulips and Chimneys