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Reviewed by Nat Lagah, Teacher, South Makirikiri School, Manawatu/Whanganui
Opening sentence
According to his mum, Mitchell was born scratching.
Mitchell is a young boy plagued with eczema, which makes him itch, no matter what he tries. His wonderful Mum has managed to find some of Mitchell's allergies, but alas this does not keep the itch of eczema away from him. Mitchell's journey with eczema is definitely not an easy one - no matter what happens, he is always scratching the uncomfortable itch on his skin. Doing this at school has caused some issues with teasing from his peers, leading to Mitchell to feel down about the eczema. There are some things that help though: a visit to the seaside and a swim in the sea and playing his guitar, kindly gifted by his uncle. As a teen, Mitchell auditions for the school band which allows his peers to see him in an entirely new light - as a rockstar! Mitchell's newfound fame encourages him to accept himself and to enjoy things that make him happy, despite what his peers say. Eczema is not the end of Mitchell's story.
Author & Illustrator: Kristin Kelly, Illustrator: Amelina Jones
Publisher: EK Books
ISBN: 9781922539724
Format: Paperback
Publication: March 2024
Ages: 0-8 years
Themes: Eczema, resilience, acceptance