The Itch Monster - Eczema Book for Kids, A Bedtime Story for Little Ones with Itchy Skin (Paperback)

I started Bamboo Bubby in 2010, after eczema kept my own little boy awake at night. Bam began as the little panda on the Bamboo Bubby label. Over the years I watched so many families go through the same long, itchy nights, and I wanted their children to have a story of their own.

The Itch Monster is the book I wished I'd had at the end of my son's bed. Itch is funny, not scary. Nobody is told off for scratching. And Mum says the words every parent needs to hear: big nights are nobody's fault.

If your family knows those nights too, you're not alone.

Kelly x
Certified Postpartum Nutrition Professional, Founder of Nella Vosk

This is for:
→ Toddlers and preschoolers aged 2 to 5 who live with itchy, eczema-prone skin
→ Parents looking for a kids book about eczema that comforts instead of lectures
→ Families who want a calm bedtime story for preschoolers with a breathing rhyme to share
→ Grandparents, aunts and friends looking for a thoughtful gift for a little one with eczema
→ Kindy teachers, child health nurses and clinics who want a gentle story to share with families

Paperback, 21.6 x 21.6 cm (8.5 x 8.5 in)
34 pages, full colour
Ages 2 to 5
ISBN 978-0-6459424-7-7
Published by Bamboo Bubby, 2026

My son asks why he's the only one who itches at night. Is there a picture book about eczema for him?

Yes. The Itch Monster is a children's book about eczema made for exactly this. Ollie has itchy nights too, and a tiny purple Itch Monster turns up at bedtime. Seeing a child like him in a story helps your son feel less alone, and gives you both words for the hard nights.

Will this book make my daughter more worried about her skin?

The Itch Monster is funny, not scary. Itch wriggles, giggles and hops, then settles down small and light by the end. The story never shows sore skin or creams. Itch is there to be laughed at, not feared, and a little laughter makes bedtime feel lighter.

Does the story tell kids to stop scratching?

No. Nobody tells Ollie off in The Itch Monster. Mum says, "It's nobody's fault, love." The story shows comfort instead: a warm lamp, soft sleeves, a cuddle and slow breaths. Children with eczema hear "stop scratching" all day. This book gives them something kinder.

What age is The Itch Monster for?

The Itch Monster is written for children aged 2 to 5. The rhyming text reads aloud easily, and the pictures carry the story for toddlers. Older siblings aged 6 and 7 often enjoy reading it to a younger brother or sister.

What is the breathing rhyme, and how do we use it at bedtime?

"Breathe in... two... three. Breathe out... Bam and me." Say it together as you read, then use it at lights out or on a big night. Little ones remember the rhyme quickly, and it gives them something to do with their body when the itch feels big.

What happens in the story?

Ollie loves his days with Bam, his soft panda best friend. At bedtime, a tiny Itch Monster pops up, and the later the night gets, the bigger he grows. With Mum and Bam beside him, Ollie finds a calmer way through the night. We'll leave the ending for you to read together.

How long does The Itch Monster take to read?

Around 5 to 10 minutes at a gentle bedtime pace. The book has 34 pages with short rhyming lines, so it fits easily into a bedtime routine, even on a tired night.

Is this a medical book?

No. The Itch Monster is a bedtime story about feelings and comfort, not a treatment guide. It doesn't mention creams, medicines or diagnoses. For advice about your child's skin, talk to your GP, pharmacist or child health nurse. If skin is weeping, bleeding or getting worse, see your GP.

My child doesn't have eczema. Will they still enjoy it?

Yes. Any child who has had a big night, an itchy bite or a worry at bedtime will understand Ollie. The Itch Monster also helps brothers, sisters and classmates understand a child who lives with itchy skin.

Who is Bam?

Bam is Ollie's soft panda best friend. He began as the little panda on the Bamboo Bubby label, the eczema clothing brand Kelly Northey started in 2010. Bam stars in every book in the Big to Me: A Bam Story series, there for every big feeling, big change and big first.

What are the blue sleeves Ollie wears in the story?

Ollie folds his blue sleeves over his hands and calls them panda paws. They're drawn from Bamboo Bubby Eczema Mitten Sleeves, designed for eczema-prone skin. The book never names a brand, so the story stands on its own.

Who wrote The Itch Monster?

Kelly Northey wrote and illustrated The Itch Monster. Kelly founded Bamboo Bubby in 2010 after eczema kept her own son awake at night, and she studied children's literature at university. The book is published in Australia by Bamboo Bubby.

Is there a colouring book to go with the story?

Yes. The Itch Monster Colouring Book holds the whole story with 12 big, simple pictures to colour. Choose the paperback or the printable PDF. Many families read the storybook at bedtime and colour the next afternoon.

Is there an ebook version?

Yes. The Itch Monster ebook is a PDF download for A$7.99, ready straight after checkout, and the Kindle edition is on Amazon Australia. The Itch Monster Digital Bundle includes the ebook and the printable colouring book together.

Is The Itch Monster a good gift for a child with eczema?

Yes. The Itch Monster makes a thoughtful gift because it says something kind without fuss. Pair it with the colouring book for a reading and colouring set, or with Bamboo Bubby Eczema Mitten Sleeves for a bedtime gift.

Can I order copies for a kindy, clinic or library?

Yes. Email info@nellavosk.com.au with how many copies you need and where they're going, and we'll send you a quote. A copy in a waiting room or book corner gives families a gentle way into the conversation.

Where do the free colouring pages come from?

Scan the QR code at the back of The Itch Monster, or visit nellavosk.com.au/pages/big-to-me-free, for 5 free printable colouring pages. Sign up there for 10 bonus pages by email.

How big is the book?

The Itch Monster is a square paperback, 21.6 x 21.6 cm, with 34 full-colour pages. The size suits small hands and sits nicely on a bedside table or in a nappy bag.

How long does delivery take, and what does it cost?

Delivery within Australia is a flat $12, and free on orders over $99. Each paperback is printed to order, so please allow up to 3 weeks. Paperbacks ship to Australian addresses only. If your copy arrives damaged or misprinted, email info@nellavosk.com.au within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.