Sheila Booth-Alberstadt’s presentation at Oak Park on Friday April 26, 2013 was a unique experience for our students here. She used experiences from her own family to write funny, yet lesson learned personal hygiene stories about a young tomboy girl named Maggie McNair. The students loved the color pictures and the books done in rhyme. I was also impressed that she did her homework on different kinds of bugs that invade our bodies. I think the students will think twice now about keeping themselves clean.

Cathleen Morris

Sheila Booth-Alberstadt shared her children’s books with our school. Her passion for encouraging children through her writing was contagious. The children loved the silliness in her rhyming stories, and the teachers loved the message she sends to children to take care for themselves with daily personal hygiene. I loved her books!

Teresa Amacker Ward, 3rd Grade Teacher

Students loved the stories about Maggie McNair and her learning adventures. Sheila’s reading of the Maggie McNair series to our second and third graders was a very enjoyable time.

Cheryl Cosker

I read Maggie McNair to my kindergarten students at large group time a few weeks ago. The classroom was silent, except for the giggles at the appropriate moments! After I finished, it was a different story! “Did that really happen? How did spiders get in there?” There was a little girl who hurriedly had her friend search to make sure she didn’t have anything living on her head. This book should be in every kindergarten class...and every home where hygiene is an issue. We can’t wait for more books!

A. Rhodes

Maggie McNair has Spiders in Her Hair is a great read-aloud for the preschool and school age set. A clever story, both rhythmic and vibrant. Cute and colorful illustrations, and many funny details make this book a delight to look at. Readers will easily grasp the moral of the story- delivered with just the right touch of empathy and humor.

Library Lady

My students LOVE Maggie McNair! I use the Maggie McNair series to teach our classroom health objectives, but my students re-read them because they are so entertaining. Maggie is an adorable child that hates to brush her hair. The author also makes the children aware of why they should demonstrate good hygiene. The illustrations are hilarious and the rhyming text is very entertaining, but the message is very pointed and eye-opening for children. I highly suggest all elementary teachers add this series to their classroom libraries.

Terri, Teacher

Sheila Booth-Alberstadt and her Maggie McNair books delighted our Kindergarten and First Grade students at Foley Elementary School in Foley, Alabama. Our author visit was both fun and informative, with our students learning important ways to take care of themselves and keep themselves clean and healthy. Our students loved when Mrs. Booth-Alberstadt read her books aloud as the stories and pictures of Maggie McNair flashed on the screen. Foley Elementary loves Maggie McNair!

Susan Miles Loy, Ed. S., Library Media Specialist

Sheila Booth-Alberstadt recently visited our school and introduced our students to the star of her series “Maggie McNair”. Teachers and students both were immersed in the presentation made by Mrs. Alberstadt and kept wanting to hear more about the daily accounts of her fictional character. I believe teachers and parents can relate to the plot of these books and can use this literature as a tool to teach children about proper hygiene in a fun way!

Melanie Howell, 3rd Grade Teacher

Maggie McNair came alive to our preschoolers and kindergartener’s as author Sheila Booth- Alberstadt read to them from Maggie McNair Has Spiders in Her Hair, Maggie McNair Wears Stinky Underwear, and Maggie McNair Has Sugar Bugs in There. They were quick to identify with Maggie’s hygiene struggles which allowed them much verbal interaction. Written in rhyme with oh so fun illustrations, kept all forty eight children interested and most attentive. With important purpose behind each book, I would like to believe each of our students would be more cooperative during bath time, hair brushing, and brushing of their teeth. I’m certain our parents are most grateful for the help they have now received in these areas.

Debbie Trenchard, Director, First Baptist Early Education Center

It was a pleasure to have Mrs. Booth-Alberstadt present her series of Maggie McNair novels to our students. The students were so intrigued and excited about the books. Actually one of the students asked his teacher if she could call his mother so she will take him to the dentist. Such a cute statement! With the introduction of the Common Core Standards, literature such as hers can be used to not only support reading skills, but science skills as well. I would recommend her presentation to any school.

Dr. Jennifer Pope, Principal, Oak Park Elementary, 2013

Sheila Booth-Alberstadt was able to actively engage all of my students. We (students and teachers) loved the stories. My students stated that the stories were “hysterical” and “so cute.” Sheila Booth-Alberstadt was able to bring the stories to life through her animated story telling and inside stories about each page. As soon as we returned to class, several of my students were eager to try to draw their own spiders, sugar bugs and stink bugs. As an educator, to see my students so excited about literature is a wonderful thing. Their excitement led to many more extension/learning activities. We were able to compare and contrast and discuss the importance of good hygiene. Thank you for helping to excite and encourage my kindergarten students.

Maya Dudte, Oak Park Elementary, 2012 Teacher of the Year, 2013