Can I Tell You About Eczema?
Julie Collier, illustrated by Apsley
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Can I Tell You About Peanut Allergy?
Sharon Dempsey, illustrated by Alice Blackstock
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
These two paperbacks, both told from the viewpoint of children who live with the conditions, will be a boon to anyone working with, or caring for such children and are very good staring points for discussion at home or school.
In the first, Helen (like many children I’ve taught, some of whom have really suffered badly) has Eczema. I’m alarmed to discover from the book’s foreword, that one in five children in the UK now develop the condition and this little boon of a book is written by a girl and her mother, both of whom are challenged by living with Eczema.
Helen tells readers how her skin often feels to her, red hot and terribly itchy, and how scratching temporarily relieves the itching but only causes her skin to get sorer and bleed.

We hear of the sleepless nights, sometimes relieved by the application of cream or cool, wet bandages and how eventually, she’s learned to deal with encompassing Eczema easing routines in her daily life and even at times, how ‘life has had to be put on hold for a while whilst the severe flare-ups have been brought under control.’ Such flare-ups, we are told can cause the skin to become infected by bacteria and might need special treatment. As well as more about what can make things worse or better in the main narrative, there are additional pages about special treatments towards the end of the book.; and also information about related conditions, suggestions for further reading and some supportive organisations.
What comes across loud and clear from this excellent little book is that resilience and determination are key. Not only that of Helen herself, but also of her entire family, particularly her parents who have even made it possible for their daughter to have a dog as part of the home environment.

The second title has Danny as narrator. He has an allergy to peanuts – another, now common condition that many of us in schools have to know about, make provision for, and deal with on a day-to-day basis. Indeed, it is one that sometimes occurs in children with Eczema. Most schools now routinely have a total ban on any products that might possibly contain peanuts (or any nuts), certainly those with known sufferers on role and would also insist on staff training on what to do in an emergency.
The foreword, written by a father of a peanut allergy sufferer, says the essence of living well with the condition is ‘awareness and understanding, vigilance about what a child eats and total avoidance of nuts.’ The latter as Danny explains, is easy enough at home (although it necessitates careful reading of food labels), but eating out and going on holiday can be more tricky: He always carries his Epipen – or adrenaline pen – with him in case of anaphylaxis (information about this is given in the narrative).

Emergencies are rare but preparation is key.
Again, this book contains a wealth of helpful information – for parents, friends, those in schools; and like the companion title, should be read and discussed in all primary schools and nurseries.
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