Scritch Scratch

by Miriam Moss, Delphine Durand (Illustrator)

Miriam Moss and Delphine Durand tackle the uncomfortable issue of head lice in this straightforward and very silly picture book. Miss Calypso and her class become the unsuspecting hosts of a family of those pesky parasites, but fortunately, the principal knows how to handle them. In a surprise, romantic ending, the head lice end up being one of the best things to ever happen to Miss Calypso.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Miriam is an award winning author of 75 children's books, both information books and fiction. Her fiction includes picture books, novelty books and poetry, and recently short stories for the adult market. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages.

Miriam has had wide experience of working creatively both with children in schools and libraries, and with adults. She offers lively, innovative large group performances, talks, interactive storytelling sessions, readings, seminars, creative writing and poetry workshops.

She was born in England but also grew up in Africa, The Middle East and China. She taught English for eight years in the UK and Kenya before becoming a writer. She now lives in East Sussex.

Reviews

[JSou · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was wierd. My daughter brought it home and we didn't like it at all. Granted, it's about head lice*, so I wasn't expecting some magical children's literature out of this one, but still...

A whole classroom, including the teacher, comes down with head lice. The principal sends home a letter for the students on how to get rid of them. (The story reads like a pamphlet from a school nurse's office at this point). Everyone now is lice-free except for the teacher, since she didn't have anyone to help her comb the lice-shampoo through her hair.

The principal then offers to go to the teacher's house and help her, where they fall in love and eventually get married. Huh??? Did I mention the principal has this pedophile-looking moustache that makes the whole thing just creepy? Um, yeah. It was wierd.



*Just want to clarify that my children or myself DO NOT have head lice.

[skcocnaH · Rating 1 out of 5]

From a parent who has had lice in the home before, this book is low-key triggering. Also, the love story is a little sus. Just saying.

[Singhp5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very fun to read out loud, I think the way that it is read is very important in order to intrigue the children. This book can make children realise how important hygiene is as germs and nits can spread very quickly, if not careful. The pictures in this book are great too.

[Trey Veazey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can get behind a book about lice, but I can't get behind typos & adult love stories in picture books.

[Ellie Morland]

This book is a humorous take on Nits in the primary classroom which means the book is relateable to all children. The book includes lots of alliteration and a song the whole class could sing.

[Amy Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super relatable and hilarious book that all children would love. Incorporates lots of effective alliteration and rhyme, and I love the fact that there is a song in the text that a class could sing along with.

[Diamond Luster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scritch Scratch was a great read for my first graders. It was so entertaining that the class wanted to hear the story everyday! The story is narrated by a louse, and includes repeated sayings, funny mishaps, and even a little romance (which the kids found gross!). This story also teaches the importance of proper cleaning procedures.
I used this book to teach a very important writing skill: a clear beginning, middle, and end. There was such a clear beginning (introduction of character and setting, middle (the problem of the lice, and subsequent actions taken to eliminate them and the itching they caused), and end (the teacher and principal getting married, eradication of lice)in this book. Unfortunately, the song in the story was hard for the students to follow and emulate in their own writing. Otherwise, this is an awesome read, a phenomenal learning tool and a great addition to any school library.

[Chanae Wills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about head lice. The lice bug finds its way in the teacher’s hair where it has its babies, and the teacher unknowingly spreads it to her class. There is now an outbreak of head lice and everyone is sent home to wash their hair with the special shampoo. However, since the teacher doesn’t know she has lice she doesn’t wash her hair. When the lice come back to her class she realizes that she didn’t wash her hair so she might have it too. The principal volunteers to wash her hair, they fall in love and get married. This book is a little eccentric, but I think it would work for elementary aged children. I could use this book to teach about what head lice is and how easily it can be spread. This book can also be used if we discuss cleanliness.

[Joey Fong · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this would be a good book for students to read on leisure time, however, I do not think this would be a good teaching tool. The story is about a tiny head lice who started spreading ting head lice eggs on a class full of students through their teacher. It would be a book on personal hygiene but I'm not sure I can use it on anything else other than that.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this must have been writers therapy for a school administrator after an epidemic. I remember one of those in my elementary school education and I think the administrators may have needed a few sessions after the fact=). As for a children's picture book it's a little creepy crawly...literally.

[E]

“Scritch Scratch” is a fantastic picture book about a bug getting inside of classroom where students are learning and how distracted their learning environment gets interrupted. This is a great kid friendly book that students can relate to. I would use this book to show students an example of a text to self-connection.

[Drew Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives information about lice and how it can be treated and prevented. This would be a great book to use in cases where the school or classroom has had an outbreak of lice. Healthy habits are very important and children need to know the importance of staying clean.

[JoEllen Mccarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love it til the cheesy end, but... great read if lice is in your school. Those louse can go anywhere and spoiler alert---- the teacher gets lice. It will make others feel better if they have gotten the unwelcome guests. Yuck!

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever wonder why kids come home from school with head lice? Here's a plausible narrative where in the end the teacher falls for the principal's moustache.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can head lice really lead to romance?

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a school that is invaded with lice! It's a very funny book. I would definitely read it to my class, especially if there happened to be an outbreak of lice.