Curated guide

Best Literature-Based Homeschool Curriculum

6 curricula in this guide

Literature-based homeschool curricula teach history, geography, character, and worldview through carefully chosen living books rather than textbooks. The reading list itself is the curriculum, supported by teacher's guides that schedule readings, discussion questions, and projects.

Sonlight is the granddaddy of the category — Christian, literature-based, full curriculum spanning PreK through high school. BookShark is the secular spinoff. Build Your Library offers a leaner, more affordable secular Charlotte Mason approach. These programs require a lot of read-aloud time with younger children, so factor your bandwidth into the decision.

Editor's selection

Our picks

Sonlight

Sonlight Curriculum

Literature-based Christian curriculum built around parent-led read-alouds and high-quality living books. All-Subjects Packages provide a full year of instruction across multiple subjects.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$250–$700/year

BookShark

Secular literature-based curriculum adapted from the Sonlight model. One of the few non-religious, book-rich options for families who love reading together.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$500–$1045/year

Build Your Library

Secular, literature-based curriculum following a historical timeline with Charlotte Mason methods. Teacher's guide PDFs are affordable; books purchased separately.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$30–$60/grade

The full list

All options

Sonlight

Sonlight Curriculum

Literature-based Christian curriculum built around parent-led read-alouds and high-quality living books. All-Subjects Packages provide a full year of instruction across multiple subjects.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$250–$700/year

Story of the World

Well-Trained Mind Press

Featured

Narrative world history told chronologically across four volumes, designed for read-aloud family learning. The standard elementary history spine for classical and literature-based homeschoolers.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$20–$48

Build Your Library

Secular, literature-based curriculum following a historical timeline with Charlotte Mason methods. Teacher's guide PDFs are affordable; books purchased separately.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$30–$60/grade

Epic!

Byju's

Digital library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and learning videos for ages 2-12. Strong supplement for literature-based homeschools and voracious readers.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8

$80–$144/year

BookShark

Secular literature-based curriculum adapted from the Sonlight model. One of the few non-religious, book-rich options for families who love reading together.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$500–$1045/year

Life of Fred

Polka Dot Publishing

Story-driven math curriculum following a five-year-old math professor named Fred through humorous adventures. Teaches math concepts embedded in narrative fiction rather than through traditional instruction.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$19–$57

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