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The Green Soap Girl and the Itchy Allergy

The Green Soap Girl and the Itchy Allergy
Contributors
Joan Tu
Medical Literacy Developer | Edgewood College
girl sitting in bath tub with a rubber duck
Summary
Alice tries to use medication and home remedies, but nothing works on her itchy skin. Then she learns a very long word called "methylisothiazolinone". This resource is a 32-page picture book for 4-8 year-olds.

The Green Soap Girl and the Itchy Allergy is the story of a lovable girl named Alice who struggles with eczema until she discovers that she has methylisothiazolinone allergy. Loosely based on the author's personal story of misdiagnosis and healing, The Green Soap Girl and the Itchy Allergy raises awareness about chemical contact allergies and contact dermatitis. Discussion questions are unconventionally found in the middle of the book to promote learning. In the second part of the book, Alice embarks on a green soap adventure!
Keyword Tags
Chemical Allergies
Contact Allergies
Contact Dermatitis
Eczema
Saponification
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
the-green-soap-girl-and-the-itchy-allergy-isbn-978-1-0688102-3-7_0.pdf
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
Learn what a chemical/contact allergy and contact dermatitis are.
Learn what a preservative is and name one preservative (e.g., Methylisothiazolinone).
Learn about the physical and social impacts of chemical / contact allergies and dermatitis.
Learn about allergen avoidance and supporting individuals with allergies.
Learn about packaging (e.g. plastic bottles vs. bar soap).
Object Type
Books
Audience
Elementary School
Common pedagogies covered
Distance learning/self-instruction
Problem-based learning
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Designing Safer Chemicals
Design for Degradation
Real-Time Pollution Prevention
Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Responsible Consumption and Production
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
This resource is a storybook and does not require the handling of chemicals. However, if it is used with other activities or learning modalities, then safety precautions, hazards, or risks must be assessed.

Teachers unfamiliar with chemical or contact allergies may feel uncomfortable teaching with this resource or answering questions from students or parents about this book. Furthermore, the scientific literature on contact allergies and contact dermatitis continues to evolve. As the author and a person who lives with contact allergies, I believe it is important to recognize that there are many diverse stories among people who live with this allergy and not everyone who lives with this allergy identifies with the storyline in this book. To my knowledge, this is the first children's storybook on methylisothiazolinone allergy or any chemical allergy of this nature.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
N/A
NGSS Standards, if applicable
K-ESS3-3
Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

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Submitted by

Joan Tu
Reviewed by
Sarah Kennedy
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Other notes/information
URLs will be available for the book, however I have provided a digital file for the purpose of this review and may allow the book to be downloaded from the GCTLC Library.

Author/Submitter is also the publisher of this book.