BookShark vs. Sonlight | Homeschool Curriculum Comparison

Two of the most popular literature-based curriculum choices available are BookShark and Sonlight. In this comparison, we’ll take a closer look at BookShark vs. Sonlight and answer some questions to help you decide which homeschool curriculum is the best fit for your family.

BookShark vs. Sonlight Curriculum Comparison

Choosing the right homeschool curriculum can feel overwhelming, especially with so many different options available. Both BookShark curriculum and Sonlight curriculum are excellent choices for families who love literature-based curriculum and an all-in one package.

Programs like BookShark and Sonlight use this literature-based approach to teach a wide range of subjects, while integrating reading with hands-on activities, science experiments, and historical fiction.

What is Literature Based Curriculum?

A literature-based curriculum is a homeschooling approach that uses great books—including historical fiction, chapter books, and plenty of read-aloud books.

These books are used as the primary method of teaching and they actually replace traditional textbooks to teach subjects like history, social studies, science, and language arts.

Just imagine not having to use big textbooks and workbooks for every subject, but instead learning through reading books! Literature based learning is a foundation for many homeschool families and encourages a love of books and a love of learning.

Why choose a Literature Based Curriculum for your Homeschool?

Many homeschool families choose a literature based curriculum over dry textbooks because it immerses students in engaging stories and good books that bring learning to life.

A literature heavy curriculum encourages the love of learning, improves reading comprehension, and fosters critical thinking through discussion questions and narration.

Our family used Sonlight for many years! We have so many sweet memories of our unboxing days, when the kids got to open the box full of so many books. Their eyes would just light up like it was Christmas morning, but it was for school!

Our homeschool mornings were full of cuddling up on the couch with our books and Bible time.. Afternoons would be doing hands-on activities, some Language Arts worksheets, and Math. My children and myself, learned so much during those years.

BookShark Homeschool Curriculum

BookShark curriculum is a secular homeschooling option that uses a literature-based approach to teach the main subjects. It is designed to provide a love of learning through engaging books rather than traditional textbooks.

What Age Range is BookShark?

BookShark offers programs for children 4 years of age through high school. They provide different levels, not strict grade levels, which allows families flexibility based on their child’s abilities.

What’s Included in BookShark?

The BookShark packages are customizable, which is nice! You can customize your readers level in levels A-C, when choosing your package. You can also add extra consumables for additional students.

If there are required resources that you already own, you can opt out of those as well to save money.

All-Subject Packages

The All-Subject Packages come with everything you need to get started with every subject for your homeschool! This is great for first time homeschooling families who need some extra guidance on what to do. It is also Open and Go and very easy to get started!

You will also save 20% when you purchase an All-Subject Package, which saves a lot of money vs. purchasing them individually.

Each All-Subject Package Comes With:

• Instructor Guides: Teaching guides and checklists for each subject
• Reading with History: Includes all the readers, chapter books, read-alouds and history books.
• Language Arts: You can customize the readers and Language Arts in levels A-C
• Handwriting: Levels A-D uses Handwriting Without Tears
• Spelling: Levels D- H
• Science: Includes experiment kits
• Math Program of Your Choice: Choose from Math-U-See, Singapore Math, Saxon Math, and RightStart Math
• D-Ring 3-Inch Binder With Tabs (to hold the instructor guides)
• Markable Map
• Markable Map Markers
• The Timeline Book

Reading With History

Reading with History packages include everything you need to for a literature rich History curriculum. You can save 15% when you purchase a History Package.

Each Reading With History Package Comes With:

Packages include a full year’s worth of History books, Readers, and Read-Alouds plus maps, markers, a binder and a Timeline Book. Students will enjoy reading books written from a variety of perspectives.

• A full year’s worth of History Books, Readers, and Read-Alouds
• D-Ring 3-Inch Binder With Tabs (to hold the instructor guide)
• Markable Map
• Markable Map Markers
• The Timeline Book

BookShark Science

The BookShark Science Packages include everything you need for a complete year of science curriculum.

Each Science Package includes:

• Instructors Guide and Science Experiments Book
• Science Readers
• Science Experiment Kit

Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum

Sonlight curriculum is a sister company of BookShark and one of the original literature based homeschool curriculum companies!

Sonlight teaches all of their subjects from a Christian Worldview and includes religious instruction throughout the curriculum. It encourages discussion questions and critical thinking, using historical fiction and missionary stories to teach history and social studies.

It also focuses on a love of reading with lots of family read alouds and chapter books scheduled into the lessons.

What Age Range is Sonlight?

Sonlight is available for age 4 through high school, with different levels to accommodate advanced or struggling students.

What’s Included in Sonlight?

Sonlight offers All-Subject packages that has everything that you need for every subject in your homeschool. This is great for new homeschoolers as all the lesson plans are already done for you, and it is truly an open and go curriculum.

You will also save 20% when you purchase an All-Subject Package.

They also offer History Bible Literature packages which covers those 3 subjects in one, as well as a Science package which includes experiments.

All-Subject Packages

An All-Subjects Package includes everything you need for one year of school for one student. Choose from a 4-Day or 5-Day Schedule

Each Package Comes With:

• Instructor’s Guide: Daily lesson plans, notes & teaching tips for the entire year.
• D-Ring 3-Inch Binder With Tabs: (to hold the instructor guide)
• History/Geography/Bible/Literature
• Read-Alouds, Readers
• Language Arts
• Spelling
• Handwriting: Choose from: Handwriting Without Tears, A Reason for Handwriting, Getty-Dubay Handwriting
• Math: Choose from: Math-U-See, Horizons Math, Singapore Math, Saxon Math, Miquon Math, and RightStart Math.
• Science

History Bible Literature Packages

The core of Sonlight’s Christian Curriculum is the History/Bible/Literature Program. Each program includes a year’s worth of history, geography and Bible with all of the required reading books and an Instructor’s Guide.

Each Package Comes With:

• Instructor’s Guide
• Bible Reading & Memorization
• History Studies
• Literature Read Alouds, Chapter Books and Readers
• Geography

Science Packages

Science Packages from Sonlight pairs the joy of reading with hands-on experiments to make Science engaging and interesting.

Sonlight marries the joy of reading with the excitement of hands-on experiments to bring you complete, high-interest science programs.

Each Package Comes With:

• Instructor’s Guide
• Collection of Science Related Books
• Hands-on Experiments

BookShark vs. Sonlight Teaching Approach Comparison

Both BookShark and Sonlight use a literature-based approach, focusing on read-aloud books, historical fiction, and chapter books rather than textbooks.

Each program encourages critical thinking with discussion questions. Both of their language arts programs tie into their history and social studies lessons.

Teaching Methods

You will notice that though the teaching approach is the same, there are some key differences in the teaching method of each curriculum.

• Secular: BookShark follows a secular version of Sonlight, making it a good fit for a secular homeschooler or families wanting a program without any religious instruction.
• Christian Worldview: Sonlight incorporates intelligent design and a Christian worldview, making it better suited for families looking for religious instruction.

BookShark vs. Sonlight Weekly Schedule Comparison

Both BookShark and Sonlight offer complete curriculum packages that follow a 9 month, 36 week homeschool schedule. The difference between the two is in their weekly schedule options, which is how many days a week you do school for.

Weekly Schedule Options:

• Bookshark: Offers a 4-day schedule, giving families flexibility for field trips, extracurricular activities, or catch-up days.
• Sonlight: Provides both a 4-day schedule and a 5-day option, allowing for a more traditional school week or additional learning time.

The 4-day schedules in both programs still cover all required material, but provide a lighter workload for families who want more breathing room in their homeschool routine.

When we used Sonlight, we absolutely loved using the 4-Day schedule! We either had a co-op or park day or field trips on Fridays. We also used Fridays to run errands, and just get a nice break from school.

A 4-Day school schedule has always been my favorite choice to help avoid homeschool burnout.

Homeschooling With Multiple Ages Comparison

Both BookShark and Sonlight give you the ability to easily teach multiple students at the same time as long as your children are within 3 years of each other. Let’s take a look at the comparison between the two.

Homeschooling Multiple Ages with BookShark

BookShark can be combined with multiple ages as long as they are within 3 years apart. You can use the core curriculum of History and Science together.

They have an option to add extra consumables for an additional student to your package. So you can order extra books for Language Arts, Math, and History and Science worksheets, timeline figures and Hands-on Activities for additional students.

Homeschooling Multiple Ages with Sonlight

Since Sonlight doesn’t use traditional textbooks, you don’t have to order a completely separate curriculum program for each student you are homeschooling. Sonlight divides their curriculum into two subject types:

• Couch Subjects: This is exactly what you think it is. It is subjects that you can do with your children cuddled up on the couch! This is my favorite part of this curriculum. You can combine your children together doing History, Bible, Literature and Science together.
• Table Subjects: These subjects are one that would be more age and grade specific. Subjects that need to be done at a table or desk like: Language Arts, Spelling, Handwriting and Math. These would need to be purchased separately for each child.

BookShark vs. Sonlight Pricing Comparison

Both BookShark and Sonlight offer full All-In-One Curriculum Packages which include books, book lists, lesson plans, binder and instructor guides.

The prices will vary depending on the grade level, which type of package you purchase and optional add-ons like science kits, or hands-on activities.

BookShark Pricing

BookShark is generally going to be more affordable, and a great fit for families who prefer a secular curriculum. The All-In-One Package is the most expensive, but you will receive a discount when purchasing a package and you can try BookShark for free!

Sonlight Pricing

Sonlight does have a slightly higher price because there are more books with an emphasis on religious instruction, as well as the additional missionary story books.

The All-In-One Package is also the most expensive, but you will receive 20% off when purchasing a package AND they come with a 100% Money Back Guarantee!

Final Thoughts on BookShark vs. Sonlight

Both BookShark and Sonlight offer rich, literature-based learning experiences that bring subjects to life through great books. If you want a secular option, BookShark is a great choice, while Sonlight is perfect for families wanting a Christian perspective.

Both of these programs make homeschooling easier with ready-to-go lesson plans, high-quality books, and engaging activities. They are both great options for first time homeschoolers who need some guidance and help with teaching.

Choosing between them comes down to your family’s needs, beliefs, and preferences. No matter which one you pick, your homeschool will be filled with meaningful stories and memorable learning moments!