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Mitchell Itches
An eczema story
by Kristin Kelly
Illustrated by Amelina James
Published by EK Books
ISBN 9781922539724
For ages 4 -8 years
Eczema is quite a common problem and for kids who suffer with it, it can not only be itchy but quite a nuisance, troublesome and unsightly. As the reviewer I am speaking with first hand knowledge as I had eczema as a child and leading up to my thirties.
In this hardcover picture book readers find out that Mitchell has had this itchiness ever since he was a baby and his parents do all sorts of things to try and help him stop itching.
They try a range of ointments, bathing, not using soap, eating eggs and some other food and keeping Mitchell's nails short to stop the scratching.That doesn't help which is quite understandable, actually is makes the itching more frustrating. He wants to play sport at school but that only makes the icing worse as when he gets hot it inflames the eczema.
Not only does he have to contend with this dreaded itch but then his friends call him Itchy Mitchy - oh how horrid and they become wary of close contact when they are playing soccer because they don't believe Mitchell when he tries to reassure them it's not catching (contagious). But this itching doesn't let Mitchell hold him back, he goes onto surprise everyone at school as he finds something he loves and it stops him from itching!
This is a caring look at the suffering with eczema but also offers some good solutions - no spoiler alerts here but there are thoughtful suggestions from Mitchell and his parents. However, this is an overall look at eczema and does not go into the different types of of eczema. it is an overview with a suggestion to look at the food eaten, but does not include the lack of good and essential nutrition.
The author
Kristin Kelly‘s professional journey spans from nursing in a large Sydney, Australia hospital to preschool teaching and working as an end-of-life biographer. She combined her lifelong experiences with eczema and her diverse professional background to craft “Mitchell Itches.” Kristin believes in nurturing kindness in the classroom and cherishes the privilege of capturing individuals’ life stories. Her unique experiences underscore the value of empathy and continuous learning.
The Illustrator
Amerlina Jones has a passion for nature, stories, and paints shines through her illustrations. Working with traditional watercolor and ink, she loves weaving storytelling elements and emotions into her artwork. Her preferred medium, watercolor and ink, offers her the creative freedom she enjoys, creating illustrations that breathe life into stories.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review - Buy me a coffee
