Why Do I Itch?

We all poo and grow, and most of us will have, at some time or another, sneezed, bled, drooled or had an itch. These are all ordinary life events that we may just take for granted, never really questioning “why?” we do them or why they happen. Children who read the six books in the “Why Do I?” series, however, will come away with new understandings, especially in terms of how the focal subject matter of each book contributes to a person’s health. As has come to be expected from books in Crabtree series, this title has an opening table of contents and a closing page containing a brief glossary of words highlighted in the text and an index. All books in this series are illustrated with cartoon-like art.

In Why Do I Itch?, Tyler suggests a number of reasons, such as allergies or sunburns, to explain why our skin might be itchy, but she notes:

An itch can be very annoying, but it is actually a message.
The itch gives important health information to your brain.

This last point is well-illustrated in a spread that must be turned sideways to be viewed. Readers can view an illustrated cutaway of a body where a finger has come in contact with a feather. Tyler then provides four labelled steps that trace the itch sensation from the finger to the brain which then provides the direction to “scratch”. Tyler also tells readers when NOT to scratch an itch and when adults should be informed about an itch. She also offers a few suggestions for “fixing” more persistent itches, such as using creams or cold wet towels. A “Match the Scratch” quiz invites readers to match an illustration of a patch of itchy skin with its source cause.

Readers will come away from Why Do I Itch? with a better understanding of the role that annoying itches play in human health.