Itch! Explains the mystery of what causes a person to experience the sensation of the itch and to follow up that sensation with a scratch. Sanchez starts off with a chapter explaining skin – its parts, its purpose, and its reaction to irritants. The bulk of the remaining chapters focus on specific irritants: Lice, fleas, plants, mosquitoes, tarantulas, fungi, bed bugs. The final chapter examines the positive side of itching.

Illustrations are fun to look at and complement the text. Page format is interesting, with traditional text block, chapter heading, subheadings and balanced with a creative multimedia approach mimicking a bulletin board and scrapbook. Chapters start with a scenario that introduces the irritant, provides history and then jumps into the itch explanation and human reaction to scratch. It also has great tips for dealing with irritants that are environmentally friendly.

Itch! Is a fun and informative addition that sheds light on the physiological reaction to things that make us itch. Highly recommended.