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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
These two are close: the differences are small, so price, grade range and what parents say below may decide it.
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Build Your Library | Torchlight Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12th | PreK–5th |
| Subjects | History, literature, science, language arts, art (math, spelling, grammar, phonics sourced separately) | Literature, history, science, art, philosophy/critical-thinking, poetry (math and handwriting sourced separately) |
| Math | Not included: add your own math | Not included: add your own math |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Approach | Literature-based: living books drive history, science and language arts (Charlotte Mason-style) | Literature-based, eclectic: Socratic discussion, hands-on projects and multi-sensory learning |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches from a scripted guide | The parent teaches from a scripted guide |
| Parent prep | Moderate (guide plans lessons; parent sources or borrows the books) | Moderate (guide provided; parent gathers/borrows books and preps hands-on activities) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | None: no video instruction; parent-led discussion and narration | None: no video instruction; parent-led reading and discussion |
| Cost | $39.95: Level 3 lesson-plan guide (36 weeks); book list is separate, most titles are available at the library | $47: Level 3 PDF guide (36 weeks); book list and math are separate, many titles available at the library |
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Secular homeschoolers often pick Build Your Library because it pairs a Charlotte Mason-style approach (narration, copywork, real books) with an explicitly non-religious book list, and reviewers like that most of the reading list can come straight from the library instead of a box of purchased books. The main complaint is that composition/writing instruction is thin and needs a separate program, and because you're sourcing the books yourself, the real cost and time depend on what your library has.
Secular families drawn to Torchlight like its literature-and-discussion approach: real books paired with Socratic questions, hands-on art and science, and a stated focus on empathy and critical thinking. The most common caution, including from Cathy Duffy, is that it leans into a secular humanist perspective of its own rather than being religiously neutral, on top of the usual DIY-curriculum tradeoff of gathering or buying a lot of books and running the hands-on activities yourself.
Neither is better for every child. Build Your Library is the stronger fit for charlotte mason; one child at a time. Torchlight Curriculum is the stronger fit for classical; hands-on unit studies; yes, siblings together.
Build Your Library: not included: add your own math. Torchlight Curriculum: not included: add your own math.
Build Your Library: $39.95: Level 3 lesson-plan guide (36 weeks); book list is separate, most titles are available at the library. Torchlight Curriculum: $47: Level 3 PDF guide (36 weeks); book list and math are separate, many titles available at the library.
Summaries are in our own words.