Curriculum & Educator Resource Center
Adoption & Implementation Guide
This page exists to answer one clear question: How is The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise actually used—in real homes, real classrooms, and real support settings?
The book was intentionally created not as a one‑time story but as a repeatable tool that supports children through memory changes, family transitions, and emotionally complex moments.
This guide outlines how to implement the book with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
If you’re a parent wondering how to talk to your child about memory changes, visit:
If you’re specifically asking how to explain memory loss to a young child, start with:
“A story may begin the conversation, but a thoughtful approach helps it continue with care and confidence.”
When supporting children through change, it is not about finding perfect words. It is about creating a safe, steady way to return to the conversation over time.
This approach works because it is simple, repeatable, and grounded in emotional safety. Children are given space to notice, feel, and understand at their own pace.
The Memory Box becomes more than an activity. It offers a consistent, gentle routine that children can return to whenever questions or feelings arise.
Across homes, classrooms, and support settings, the same core principles apply. Calm language, small steps, and reassurance help children feel secure and supported.
Adults do not need to have all the answers at once. A steady presence, combined with simple, honest responses, is what children need most.
This guide provides a clear path for using the story and activity with confidence, whether in everyday moments or more structured environments.
Over time, these repeated, gentle experiences help children build understanding, emotional resilience, and a lasting sense of connection, even as circumstances change.
Homer L. Hartage
Author, Thought Leader, President & CEO
What makes this book adoptable
The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise is a picture book with curriculum‑based memory activities, designed for repeated use across settings.
It is adoptable because it:
Implementation Paths — Choose Your Setting
A five Day Curriculum
A One Day Curriculum
Adoption & Implementation
Core implementation principle: safety first
If a child feels safe, they can process hard things. If they do not feel safe, they cannot.
This approach does not aim to “teach” memory change. It aims to create a safe container where children can notice change, express emotion, and return to reassurance.
How to read the book (implementation standard)
The book should be read slowly and intentionally, not rushed. Implementation guidelines:
Recommended prompt: “What do you think Charlotte is feeling right now?”
Adult responses should be brief and validating:
Homer L. Hartage
Author, Thought Leader, President & CEO
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How the word “Alzheimer’s” is handled
The book includes one page that uses the word Alzheimer’s. This is intentional and carefully contained.
Recommended language: “In this story, we learn that some grown‑ups have a word for when remembering gets harder. That word is Alzheimer’s. It means remembering doesn’t always work the same way every day. But love doesn’t go away—even when remembering feels tricky.”
Follow with:
For more on why the book uses this word and how it’s handled safely for young readers, see:
For parent guidance on explaining Alzheimer’s to a young child, see:
Program Overview
The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise is a curriculum‑supported children’s book and instructional framework designed to help elementary students understand memory changes, emotions, and enduring family connection in developmentally appropriate, non‑clinical ways.
The program pairs a high‑quality picture book with structured, repeatable learning activities that support reading comprehension, social‑emotional learning (SEL), communication, and age‑appropriate writing. It is intentionally designed for flexible implementation across classrooms, counseling settings, libraries, and family engagement initiatives.
This resource is not a single‑use lesson. It is an enduring tool that can be revisited as students’ understanding and emotional literacy grow over time.
Intended Grade Levels: Grades 2–5
Activities are scaffold across grade levels to ensure: age‑appropriate language and discussion; increasing rigor in reading, writing, and reasoning; and emotional safety for all learners.
Instructional Design Strengths
Implementation Models
Summary Statement (For Board or Committee Review)
The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise offer districts a research‑aligned, developmentally appropriate, and flexible instructional resource that integrates literacy and social‑emotional learning.
Designed for repeated use rather than one‑time exposure, it supports students, educators, and families with a shared language for navigating memory changes and emotional growth in safe, meaningful ways.
Adoption Summary
The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise are repeatable, adaptable, and developmentally appropriate tool that helps adults support children through memory change with calm, clarity, and care.
A story opens the door. A Memory Box keeps it open.
This Adoption & Implementation Guide exists so families, educators, and counselors can use the book with confidence—again and again, whenever the next question arrives.
The story behind the work
Homer’s Story That Shaped All Other Stories
Years into Homer’s work as a professional guardian, he was assigned to an elderly woman with no close family. On paper, she was just another case number. But as Homer sat with her and listened, he noticed a small cardboard box tucked beneath her bed. Inside were a few photographs, old political flyers, handwritten recipe cards, and notes yellowed with time.
Most surprising, among this cluttered box was a financial record, her deceased husband had left an annuity, enough to care for her for the rest of her life. Alzheimer’s had nearly taken this from her.
"Please don't let me be forgotten. Care for me, remember me. This is the call of so many."
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What Readers Are Saying
“I read the book “Family & Professional Guardianship” by Homer L. Hartage and found it very helpful. He explains the complicated topic of guardianship in a clear way. He used real-life examples to illustrate different scenarios. I highly recommend this book.”
Grace Michael
“After reading this book, I have a full understanding of guardianship. This book broke down the steps for me to understand what I need to do to seek guardianship, and it provided resources on how to do it. Absolutely amazing.”
Shirley Simmons
“Homer Hartage is a man who cares about people. The book is written in clear, precise language that does not require legal knowledge. Organized in a logical, easy-to-follow format with case studies. If you need information about guardianship practices in Florida, this is the book for you.”
Naomi Cooper
“A good resource for those who want to gain a better understanding of the legal and practical issues concerning guardianship in Florida. The guide is direct and well-organized, with plenty of practical advice that should be helpful to families.”
Metauser
Library
Books By Homer
My writings ensure that no life is reduced to just paperwork, no story disappears without being told, and no family is left navigating responsibility alone.
Family & Professional Guardianship
Provides useful information for individuals, families, and professional guardians, so that they can make informed decisions about the guardianship and care of their loved ones.
Guidance for Guardians
Are you navigating the fog of guardianship responsibilities? This book offers practical solutions grounded in laws and factual insights, ensuring you are never caught off guard.
The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Surprise
A heartwarming story seen through the eyes of a child, exploring the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease, family bonds, and the profound impact of memory loss on young lives.
Story Blurb
When Charlotte’s beloved grandpa no longer recognizes her face, her world crumbles. Armed with a Memory Box filled with photographs, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of rediscovery.
Parentification: Caregivers In Crisis
Every day, countless children step into roles meant for adults. Behind that strength lies a hidden cost: the loss of childhood, unspoken stress, and emotional wounds that can last a lifetime.
When Children Carry Adult Responsibilities
This book shines an unflinching light on the emotional and psychological weight carried by children who are forced to grow up too soon.
Where To Buy
Partner Bookstores
Homer L. Hartage’s books are available through the AgedCare Guardian website and trusted bookstore partners across the United States and internationally, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, BAM (Books-A-Million), and ThriftBooks.
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We also encourage you to shop at your neighborhood bookstore.