.Cultivating Character with Memoria Press’ Myself & Others Book One Core Set

As homeschoolers, we have the unique privilege of shaping not only our children’s minds—but also their hearts. That’s why I was so excited to find Memoria Press’ Myself & Others Book One Core Set. It’s a beautiful, open-and-go resource designed to help young children learn essential habits, manners, and virtues through short daily lessons and classic children’s literature.

Let’s take a closer look at why I love this curriculum!

What Is Myself & Others Book One?

This 14-week program was developed by Cheryl Swope, M.Ed., the author of the Simply Classical Curriculum. It’s designed for ages 4–8 and is especially helpful for both typically developing children and those with learning or behavioral challenges.

The goal? To help children learn:

• Social rules and routines

• Good hygiene and health habits

• Manners and respectful behavior

• Basic safety guidelines

• How to listen, reflect, and grow in virtue

All of this is taught through brief daily lessons that are easy to implement and packed with meaning.

What’s Included in the Core Set?

The Myself & Others Book One Core Set comes with:

• Myself & Others Book One by Cheryl Swope

  • Includes teaching tips, a readiness assessment, and 14 weeks of lessons (4 per week).

• Four Required Read-Alouds:

  • F is for Feelings by Goldie Millar, Lisa Berger 

  • Richard Scarry’s Polite Elephant by Richard Scarry

  • Listen and Learn by Cheri J. Meiners

  • Know and Follow Rules by Cheri J. Meiners

Each lesson gently walks your child through a topic using engaging stories, memory work, and simple activities that reinforce what they’re learning.

You can buy the whole set on their website, or if you’re thrifty (like me), you can purchase the books second hand or borrow them from the library! I love this curriculum so much and plan on using it for years to come, so I purchased the used books to have on our bookshelf.

Why We Love It

Here are a few reasons this has become a treasured part of our homeschool:

📚 Literature-Based Learning

The stories selected are warm, classic, and relatable. They give children concrete examples of good behavior and virtuous living in action.

🧠 Easy to Use

Lessons are short and simple—perfect for busy homeschool days or little attention spans. The layout is clear and open-and-go.

🧒 Supports All Learners

It’s designed with flexibility in mind. Whether your child is neurotypical or has special needs, this program can meet them where they are.

💛 Character Formation

It focuses on habit training and virtue development—not just behavior management. As a Christian homeschooler, I love how easy it is to tie the weekly themes into Scripture and faith-based conversations.

Want to Go Deeper?

Memoria Press also offers a Read-Aloud Set to accompany this program, which includes timeless stories. These living books add even more richness and help your child connect with the lessons on a deeper level.

• Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters
• The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
• The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
• The Monkey and the Crocodile by Joanna C. Galdone
• One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
• Cinderella by Marcia Brown
• Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
• The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

Some of these books we love and others we aren’t crazy about. So, we just borrowed the ones we didn’t want on our bookshelf and bought the others! That’s the fun part about building your curriculum.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a gentle way to guide your young child in habits, manners, and moral imagination, Myself & Others Book One is a wonderful resource. It’s rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness—and it’s one of those rare finds that builds both heart and habit.

Have you tried this resource in your homeschool? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below!