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Two all-in-one homeschool curricula, compared on what actually decides the fit: subjects and math included, faith content, teaching style and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
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Compare for my child| BJU Press Homeschool | Master Books | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | PreK–12th | PreK–12th |
| Subjects | Bible, language arts, spelling, reading, handwriting, heritage studies (history), science, math — all included by grade level | Separate packs for science, history/Bible/apologetics and language arts, plus its own math line (K-6 living math, high school algebra/geometry) — no single all-subjects box |
| Math | Included | Sold as an add-on by the same publisher |
| Faith | Christian worldview throughout | Christian worldview throughout |
| Approach | Traditional textbooks/worktexts with explicit Christian worldview integration | Charlotte-Mason-flavored, story-driven curriculum packs per subject; young-earth Christian worldview throughout |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches from a scripted guide | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | High (teacher's editions script every lesson, but parent must actively teach) | Low (open-and-go daily schedule built into each curriculum pack) |
| Screen time | A mix of screen and paper | A mix of screen and paper |
| Video lessons | Available: video courses available for many subjects but books/kits work without them | Available: master Books Academy offers supplemental videos for some courses, not required |
| Cost | $1,044.60: BJU Press Complete Grade 4 homeschool kit, all subjects incl. math (25% off Christianbook.com list price; a Grade 3 kit was not listed at time of research, so nearest verified grade shown) | $170 est.: Grade 3 Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 3, plus one science pack and one history pack — bought separately, no single all-subjects price |
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Parents generally praise BJU Press for covering every subject with strong academics and a clear Christian worldview built into each lesson, and many like the optional video courses that essentially do the teaching for them. The most common complaint is the sheer size and density of the teacher's editions -- families teaching multiple grade levels say it's hard to get through all the material, and some end up skipping parts of the teacher's guide, which undercuts the program. A few reviewers also flag the price and the amount of active daily parent instruction it demands, especially for math and science.
Independent reviewers are clear that Master Books is not a single boxed curriculum: science, history/Bible, apologetics and language arts are each sold as their own self-contained 'curriculum pack,' and math comes from a separate living-math line rather than being bundled in. Parents like the open-and-go daily schedules, full-color presentation and consistent young-earth Christian voice across every pack, and most describe layering two or three packs together plus math to build a full year rather than buying one box. The most common criticisms are a fixed 180-day schedule with no built-in flex days and occasional answer-key errors.
Neither is better for every child. BJU Press Homeschool is the stronger fit for traditional textbooks and workbooks; one child at a time; plenty. Master Books is the stronger fit for no, we'll add our own; literature-based read-alouds; charlotte mason.
BJU Press Homeschool: included. Master Books: sold as an add-on by the same publisher.
BJU Press Homeschool: $1,044.60: BJU Press Complete Grade 4 homeschool kit, all subjects incl. math (25% off Christianbook.com list price; a Grade 3 kit was not listed at time of research, so nearest verified grade shown). Master Books: $170 est.: Grade 3 Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 3, plus one science pack and one history pack — bought separately, no single all-subjects price.
Summaries are in our own words.