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My Extra-Special Aunty is a children’s book illustrated by foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong that shows the bond between “aunties” and the families they work for. Photo: PathFinders
Post MagazineShort Reads

Children’s book illustrated by Hong Kong foreign domestic helpers highlights bond between families and their ‘aunties’

  • My Extra-Special Aunty, illustrated by artists who are also domestic helpers, captures the ‘meaningful connections’ between them and the families they work for
  • The author, whose 2017 documentary shone a light on the lives of foreign helpers, aims to ‘inspire children’. Proceeds from the book will go to local charities
Books and literature
Kylie Knott
Kylie Knott
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Hong Kong is home to more than 350,000 domestic helpers, most hailing from the Philippines and Indonesia. Affectionately called “aunties”, many left their own children and elderly family members to care for others in the city.

Now a new book, My Extra-Special Aunty, narrated through the eyes of a child, celebrates the cultural diversity and creative talent within the migrant domestic worker community.

But what makes My Extra-Special Aunty extra special is that it is the first children’s book illustrated by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, with scenes of the city, the Philippines, Indonesia and beyond depicted by artists Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra.

The book’s author, award-winning British filmmaker Joanna Bowers, wanted to capture the special bond between Hong Kong families and their “aunties”.

“By sharing this enchanting story,” she says, “we hope to inspire children and families to foster meaningful connections that transcend boundaries.”

(From left) Cristina Cayat, Joanna Bowers and Noemi Caballero Manguerra, the creators behind My Extra-Special Aunty. Photo: PathFinders

It is not the first time Bowers has shone a light on the lives of foreign domestic helpers in the city.

Her 2017 documentary The Helper explored the challenges and maternal sacrifices made by the city’s helpers, who clean, cook and care for a minimum wage of HK$4,870 (US$623) per month, most of which is sent back home to support their families.

It may seem meagre to some Hong Kong residents, but it is more than most of the helpers would earn in their home countries.

“As much as The Helper was a great collaboration that changed people’s perception on how they saw aunties, it wasn’t suitable for younger children,” says Bowers. “So I thought, why don’t Guhit Kulay and I do something together that will reach these children?”

Guhit Kulay International is a collective of self-taught migrant Filipino artists based in Hong Kong, of which Cayat and Manguerra are founding members.

My Extra-Special Aunty is made in collaboration with Guhit Kulay International, a collective of self-taught Filipino artists based in Hong Kong. Photo: PathFinders

“Coming from the northern part of the Philippines, I wanted to bring my culture into this book by using traditional design and clothing,” says Cayat. “It’s the perfect tool to start a conversation, inspiring young readers to appreciate different cultures and understand their aunties better.”

My Extra-Special Aunty is available in both English and traditional Chinese, with all proceeds from sales and events supporting local charities Enrich HK and PathFinders Hong Kong.

My Extra-Special Aunty is available at The Lion Rock Press and Bookazine. For more information, visit myextraspecialaunty.com.

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