Side-by-side comparison
Sonlight vs Story of the World
A side-by-side from Sonlight Curriculum and Well-Trained Mind Press.
Story of the World and Sonlight are both literature-based history programs popular in homeschool circles, but they're not really competing for the same job. Story of the World is a history spine — a four-volume narrative series you read with your kids. Sonlight is a full curriculum that uses literature (including, often, Story of the World as part of the reading list) to deliver history, Bible, and language arts together. Families confusing the two often end up wishing they'd bought the other.
Story of the World, by Susan Wise Bauer (Well-Trained Mind Press), is a four-volume narrative history series that tells world history chronologically: Ancient Times, The Middle Ages, Early Modern Times, The Modern Age. The text is written for read-aloud in the elementary years (grades 1–4 first cycle, 5–8 second cycle). Companion Activity Books ($40.95 each) add maps, coloring pages, narration exercises, craft projects, and review questions. Audio versions are popular. Paperback volumes run $19.95 each, with a four-volume set around $83.80. The series is broadly neutral — religion is discussed as a historical force without promoting a particular worldview, though some families on either end find specific points to critique.
Sonlight uses a History / Bible / Literature (HBL) core as the backbone of a complete Christian curriculum. Each year's HBL package includes daily Instructor's Guide plans for history, Bible study, literature, and read-alouds — with Bible integrated throughout. All-Subjects Packages add science, language arts, and readers and run ~$700 per student per year. The Christian worldview is global and missions-aware. Sonlight covers PreK through 12.
The honest comparison: Story of the World is one book you read. Sonlight is an entire year of curriculum with daily plans, multiple subjects, and a Christian worldview.
At a glance
The specifics
| Sonlight | Story of the World | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Sonlight Curriculum | Well-Trained Mind Press |
| Established | 1990 | 1999 |
| Price | $250–$700/year | $20–$48 |
| Grades | PreK, K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 | K–2, 3–5, 6–8 |
| Subject | Language Arts, Science, History, Bible, Full Program | History |
| Method | Literature Based | Classical, Literature Based |
| Format | ||
| Worldview | Christian | Neutral |
The verdict
How to choose
Choose Story of the World if you want a history spine to add to your existing curriculum, you want a worldview-neutral narrative history (no religious framing), you have a tight budget and want to source other subjects separately, or you'd rather curate your own homeschool day with maximum flexibility. SOTW is one of the most-loved history series in homeschooling and works alongside almost any curriculum.
Choose Sonlight if you want a complete Christian curriculum with daily plans, you want history, Bible, and literature integrated and scheduled for you, or you don't want to assemble a curriculum from individual pieces. Sonlight uses SOTW within some of its programs, so you may end up using both anyway. SOTW is the right pick for à la carte families; Sonlight is the right pick for families who want a complete package.
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