Master Books
Christian homeschool curriculum publisher with open-and-go courses for kindergarten through 12th grade, including Math Lessons for a Living Education, Language Lessons for a Living Education and Foundations Phonics. Courses use short, Charlotte Mason influenced lessons and a biblical, young-earth creation worldview.
What is Master Books?
Master Books is a Christian publisher based in Green Forest, Arkansas, best known among homeschoolers for affordable, open-and-go curriculum. It sells courses one subject at a time for kindergarten through 12th grade, including math, language arts, phonics, science, history, geography and Bible-worldview electives.
Its most popular lines are Math Lessons for a Living Education, Language Lessons for a Living Education and Foundations Phonics. Many courses borrow from Charlotte Mason: short lessons, stories, narration and copywork instead of heavy drill. Faith runs through the content, and Master Books publishes a large young-earth creation line.
How it works
Most courses come with a teacher guide that lays out a daily schedule, often 180 days at five days a week. In many elementary books, the instruction is in the student book itself, so you can hand it to your child and check in.
Math Lessons for a Living Education is a good example. Each week opens with a two-page story about twins Charlie and Charlotte, then lessons teach one concept at a time with review built in. Through Level 5, narration and hands-on activities stand in for quizzes. Cathy Duffy notes students work largely on their own by Level 3.
High school courses, like Consumer Math or Geometry, look more like traditional textbooks with teacher guides and solutions manuals.
What it covers
| Stage | Example courses |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten–1st | Foundations Phonics (ages 5–7), Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 1 (ages 5–7) |
| Elementary | Math Lessons for a Living Education 1–6, Language Lessons 1–6, Elementary Science: Soil, Sea and Sky, Elementary Geography and Cultures |
| Middle and high school | Language Lessons 7–12, Elementary Algebra, Geometry, Consumer Math (grades 9–12), Introduction to Logic, American Literature, Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, Comparative Religions |
Because you buy by subject, you can mix Master Books math with another publisher's science, or the reverse.
Who it's best for
Master Books fits Christian families who want simple, affordable courses that are easy to teach. It works well for kids who find drill-heavy programs stressful and for families who like to mix publishers.
Look elsewhere if you want accelerated math, a neutral science perspective, or one box with every subject for a grade. For a more rigorous Christian textbook program, compare Abeka or BJU Press.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, most courses cost about $36 to $130, often on sale. Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 1 was $39.19, Foundations Phonics $35.99, and the Geometry Curriculum Pack $128.77. Plan your year subject by subject.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, as curriculum. Arizona's ESA law allows "curricula and supplementary materials," and Florida's PEP handbook lists curriculum and instructional materials as eligible. Core academic courses are the clearest fit. Learn more in our ESA and scholarship guide, or check Arizona and Florida.
Save Master Books to your wishlist on Edulist, then apply once to programs that may cover it.
How it compares
- Math Lessons for a Living Education has its own listing if you only need the math.
- The Good and the Beautiful is another affordable Christian, open-and-go option with family units.
- Alpha Omega LIFEPAC offers independent Christian worktexts in every core subject.
- Abeka is more traditional and faster-paced.
Browse Christian homeschool curriculum, open-and-go curriculum and math curriculum, or see the best homeschool curriculum.
Who Master Books is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Christian families who want low-prep, open-and-go courses
- Budget-minded families mixing subjects from different publishers
- Kids who do better with gentle, story-based lessons
- Families who want a young-earth creation perspective in science
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want accelerated or competition-level math
- Secular families or those wanting a neutral science perspective
- Parents who want one all-subjects box per grade
Master Books pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable courses, often on sale
- Lessons are in the student book, so many courses need no teacher manual
- Short, engaging, Charlotte Mason influenced lessons
- Full K–12 range across core subjects
- Print and e-book formats
Cons
- Math pace is gentler than many programs and skips some topics early
- Strong young-earth stance may not suit every Christian family
- Building a full year means coordinating many separate courses
- Some manipulatives and supplies must be supplied by you
What’s included
- Open-and-go teacher guides with daily schedules (often 180 days, 5 days a week)
- Math Lessons for a Living Education: story-based math, Levels 1–6
- Language Lessons for a Living Education through grade 12
- Foundations Phonics for kindergarten to 1st grade
- Elementary and high school science, history, geography and apologetics courses
- Curriculum packs that bundle student book and teacher guide
- Print, e-book and practice-workbook options
How much does Master Books cost?
As of October 2026, Master Books shows sale prices on most courses. Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 1 was $39.19, Foundations Phonics $35.99, the Language Lessons for a Living Education 12 Set $50.38 (list $62.98), the Consumer Math Set $81.58 (list $101.98), the Elementary Geography and Cultures Curriculum Pack $51.97 (list $64.97) and the Geometry Curriculum Pack $128.77 (list $160.97). A full year is assembled one subject at a time.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 1 (sale) | $39.19 | One-time | — |
| Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 1 Curriculum Pack | $79.16 | One-time | — |
| Foundations Phonics | $35.99 | One-time | — |
| Language Lessons for a Living Education 12 Set (sale) | $50.38 | One-time | — |
| Consumer Math Set (sale) | $81.58 | One-time | — |
| Geometry Curriculum Pack (sale) | $128.77 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial. Product pages include sample pages, and Master Books offers a free catalog.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Cathy Duffy's review of Math Lessons for a Living Education, Master Books' flagship math, praises its realistic stories, Charlotte Mason methods, independence by Level 3 and low cost. Her cautions are a gentler pace than many programs, less geometry and statistics, and flimsy included manipulatives.
Common praise
- Realistic, engaging stories frame each week
- Students work largely on their own by Level 3
- Very affordable
Common complaints
- Gentler pace than many math programs
- Little probability, statistics or geometry in elementary levels
- Some included manipulatives are flimsy
Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com · math lessons for a living education
Master Books family reviews
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Master Books FAQs
Is Master Books Christian?
Yes. Master Books describes its courses as Christian homeschool curriculum with a biblical worldview, and it publishes a large young-earth creation book line. Faith content appears in the stories, science and history.
What is Math Lessons for a Living Education?
It is Master Books' story-based math series for roughly grades 1–6. Each week opens with a story about twins Charlie and Charlotte, and lessons use narration, copywork and hands-on work. See our full listing for Math Lessons for a Living Education for details.
Is Master Books math behind grade level?
Cathy Duffy describes the pace as gentler than many math programs and notes it does not follow Common Core. Some topics, like carrying and fraction operations, come later than in other programs, so compare scope before switching.
Is Master Books open-and-go?
Most courses are. Teacher guides include daily schedules, and many elementary books put instruction right in the student book. Master Books calls Foundations Phonics an open-and-go curriculum.
Is Master Books Charlotte Mason?
Several courses are Charlotte Mason influenced, using short lessons, narration, copywork and real-life stories. It is not a pure Charlotte Mason program, and upper-level courses read more like traditional textbooks.
Can I use an ESA to buy Master Books?
Curriculum is commonly allowed, including under Arizona's ESA law and Florida's PEP rules. Programs may treat apologetics or devotional titles differently. Save Master Books to your Edulist wishlist and check programs in your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- masterbooks.com
- masterbooks.com · full year curriculum
- masterbooks.com · math lessons for a living education level 1
- masterbooks.com · foundations phonics
- masterbooks.com · language lessons for a living education 12 set
- masterbooks.com · consumer math set
- cathyduffyreviews.com · math lessons for a living education
- cathyduffyreviews.com · language lessons for a living education levels 3 through 6
- azleg.gov · 02402.htm
- stepupforstudents.org · pep family handbook