Compared in depth
Both are literature-based programs built around real books, read-alouds, and an Instructor's Guide that plans the year. BookShark's own history says it was created from the existing Sonlight program with the faith-based materials and references removed. The main difference is faith: Sonlight says an evangelical Christian missions worldview has shaped it from the start, while BookShark says it does not espouse or oppose any faith.
Written by the Homebuilt team from both publishers’ own materials, checked September 2026. This is a description of the differences, not a recommendation of either program.
| Fact | Sonlight | BookShark |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | PreK-12 | PreK-high school |
| Faith | Christian | Secular |
| Format | Print, Open-and-go teacher guide | Print, Online, Open-and-go teacher guide |
| Who teaches | Parent-taught | Not listed |
An all-subjects package covers a full school year: Instructor's Guides, the History/Bible/Literature program, Language Arts, Handwriting (K to 3rd grade), Phonics and Spelling (K to 6th grade), Science, and a math program the family chooses. The 4th grade package includes daily Bible reading and memorization through a Sing the Word! download. It can be bought with or without required resources, which for 4th grade means a Timeline Book, a markable map with markers, and a Math-U-See block kit.
The Level D all-subject package includes Instructor's Guides, history and geography, eleven read-alouds, Level D readers, Language Arts, Spelling You See, a Handwriting Without Tears cursive workbook, science, and Math-U-See Gamma. Saxon or Singapore math can be swapped in. BookShark lists a Timeline Book, a markable map with markers, and a 3-inch binder as required but sold separately. An Advanced Readers option, a lap book kit, and Wordly Wise are optional extras. There is no Bible component.
Sources: www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.bookshark.com
The parent teaches. Sonlight says its Instructor's Guides include complete 36-week lesson plans and notes, with daily and weekly schedules, discussion questions for nearly every book, and teaching tips. Families pick a 4-day or 5-day schedule; the 4-day version is a 144-day schedule with fewer books. Sonlight states that it requires significant parental involvement. For 4th grade it estimates 3.5 to 4.5 hours a day for the child and 2 to 3 hours for the parent.
BookShark uses a 36-week, 4-day schedule, which it says is designed to leave one day a week free for sports, field trips, or other activities. It says all planning and preparation is done in the Instructor's Guides, and that many parents open and go on Monday morning with no Sunday night prep. Families can download three weeks of any Instructor's Guide as a free sample. BookShark does not publish a daily hours estimate on the pages we checked.
Sources: www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com
Sonlight sells packages by grade, from preschool through 12th grade, with lettered levels through 8th grade and numbered levels 100 to 400 in high school. Some grades offer condensed packages, such as a 3rd grade B+C option. Preschool and Pre-K packages get 15% off retail rather than the 20% all-subjects discount. From 9th grade, courses are designed for more independent study, with separate parent and student guides, and the 9th grade page estimates 5 to 7 hours a day for the student.
BookShark uses levels based on age ranges instead of grades. Level A is ages 5 to 7, and Level D is ages 8 to 11. It suggests combining children within a three-year age range in one Reading with History level, choosing the lowest level that suits the oldest child. BookShark says that starting in Level D, students move from learning to read to reading to learn. Level D also has an Advanced all-subject package. BookShark has recently added high school courses, including government, economics, and history of science.
Sources: www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com
Basis: one all-subjects package for a 4th grader on a 4-day schedule, as seen on the publisher's site in September 2026. Sonlight's 4th Grade All-Subjects Package D, 4-day with required resources, lists at $1,419.69 and was shown at $1,135.75 with its 20% package discount. That price includes the Timeline Book, map, and math block kit, plus the Bible materials. Its math is Math-U-See Delta, while BookShark's Level D package uses Math-U-See Gamma, so the two packages do not include the same math level. A 5-day version costs more. Prices change, so check the publisher for the current figure.
Same basis: BookShark's Level D All-Subject Package (ages 8 to 11, which covers 4th grade) runs on a 4-day schedule. It listed at $1,203.47 and was shown at $962.78, marked 20% off, in September 2026. That price does not include the Timeline Book, map, or binder, which BookShark lists as required but sold separately. The Advanced version listed at $1,324.36 and was shown at $1,059.49. Prices change, so check the publisher for the current figure.
Sources: www.sonlight.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com
Sonlight describes itself as Christ-centered and says an evangelical Christian missions worldview has shaped it from the start, with a combined History/Bible/Literature program in its all-subjects packages. It tends to fit families who want that Christian worldview woven into history and literature, and who want to stay closely involved, since Sonlight says it requires significant parental involvement. Its site also speaks to parents who have never homeschooled before and want fully planned lessons.
BookShark says it "does not espouse or oppose any faith." It describes itself as suited to religious and non-religious families who prefer that parents teach the origins of life and matters of spirituality, including religious families who want to teach faith separately from academics. It tends to fit families who want a literature-based, fully planned program on a 4-day week, and those teaching several children within a three-year age range together.
Sources: www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.sonlight.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com · www.bookshark.com
| Fact | SonlightSonlight Curriculum | BookSharkBookShark |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | PreK-12 | PreK-high school |
| Faith | Christian | Secular |
| Format | Print, Open-and-go teacher guide | Print, Online, Open-and-go teacher guide |
| Prep for the parent | Open-and-go | Open-and-go |
| Who teaches | Parent-taught | Not listed |
| Price | Grade 4 all-subjects package: $1,270.80 (4-day, without required resources) to $1,585.47 (5-day, with required resources) before the 20% package discount; one grade level per package, varies by grade and options. | Level A all-subject package: $1,100.31 list, $880.25 on sale (Sept 2026); priced per level package, other levels vary. See publisher for current levels. |
| Subjects | Full curriculum, History, Bible, Reading, Language arts, Science, Math, Handwriting, Spelling, Geography | Full curriculum, History, Reading, Language arts, Handwriting, Spelling, Science, Math |
| Style | Literature-based | Literature-based |
| What it is | A literature-based program built around a combined History/Bible/Literature core, with read-alouds, readers, and real books in place of most textbooks. Instructor's Guides lay out 36 weeks of daily plans, and families choose a 4-day or 5-day schedule and a math program. Subjects can be bought as an all-subjects package or one at a time. | A literature-based program that states it does not espouse or oppose any faith. Levels are sold by age, and each all-subject package pairs a reading-with-history core with language arts, science, and math on a planned 36-week, 4-day-a-week schedule. It began as a secular offshoot of Sonlight, built on the Sonlight program with the faith-based materials removed. |
| Checked | September 2026 · From the publisher | September 2026 · From the publisher |
| Publisher | Visit the publisher ↗︎ | Visit the publisher ↗︎ |
Photography by Bryndle Photo