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Two homeschool Bible programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: Christian tradition, teaching style, what you study, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Apologia Elementary Bible | Friends and Heroes | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–8th | 2nd–5th (ages 7–11) |
| Tradition | Protestant / broadly evangelical (no denomination-specific doctrine stated) | Nondenominational (denominationally neutral) |
| Translation | Any (Bible passages are in the textbook; read your own Bible alongside) | NLT for memory verses (use any Bible for reading) |
| Approach | Short video, illustrated textbook reading, hand motions, discussion and a notebooking journal | Watch an animated episode, then multi-week unit study with Bible lessons, discussion, history, science and crafts |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches | The program does the teaching |
| Parent prep | Low (open the weekly plan, watch a short video, read and discuss; printing pages is the main chore) | Moderate (print pages, gather supplies for experiments and crafts; many activities optional) |
| Screen time | A mix of screen and paper | A mix of screen and paper |
| Video lessons | Included: a 4-5 minute streaming video each week demonstrates the motions and key ideas | Included: each unit is built on an animated episode shown on DVD or streamed |
| Cost | $68: The Word in Motion Old Testament set (sale price; about one school year, grades K-6) | $100: Series 1 DVD set (episodes 1-13) plus 36 weeks of digital curriculum; digital-only options cost less |
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| Common complaints |
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Parents like the engaging magazine-style textbook, the short videos and the movement that helps kids remember the Bible timeline, with almost no prep. Common drawbacks are paying for a journal per child, needing about a year per volume, and printing weekly plans one page at a time. The What We Believe books are a separate family read-aloud series on worldview, and the last book runs older than the others.
Parents say kids love the animated adventures, and the unit studies cover Bible, history, science, writing and crafts in one package that is easy to pick and choose from. Complaints: older kids may find it young, the writing and experiments take time and supplies, one reviewer wished the gospel were presented more directly, and it can feel pricey.
Neither is better for every child. Apologia Elementary Bible is the stronger fit for read through the whole bible; worldview and apologetics; yes, siblings together. Friends and Heroes is the stronger fit for character and devotion; niv or nlt; plenty.
Apologia Elementary Bible: protestant / broadly evangelical (no denomination-specific doctrine stated). Friends and Heroes: nondenominational (denominationally neutral).
Apologia Elementary Bible: any (Bible passages are in the textbook; read your own Bible alongside). Friends and Heroes: nLT for memory verses (use any Bible for reading).
Apologia Elementary Bible: $68: The Word in Motion Old Testament set (sale price; about one school year, grades K-6). Friends and Heroes: $100: Series 1 DVD set (episodes 1-13) plus 36 weeks of digital curriculum; digital-only options cost less.
Summaries are in our own words.