Sonlight
Christian, literature-based homeschool curriculum for preschool through 12th grade. Families read real books together, guided by Instructor's Guides with 36 weeks of daily plans, in History/Bible/Literature packages or All-Subjects packages.
What is Sonlight?
Sonlight is a Christian homeschool curriculum built on real books instead of textbooks. Each year centers on a History/Bible/Literature core, or HBL: a history spine, biographies, historical fiction, read-alouds, readers and daily Bible. The Instructor's Guide tells you exactly what to read and discuss each day for 36 weeks.
How it works
You open the guide, see what is scheduled and do it. Parents read the weightier books aloud and talk through them using the guide's questions and notes, so you do not need to pre-read everything. Children read their own readers at their level. Maps and timeline activities tie it together.
Guides come in 4-day or 5-day versions. The 4-day schedule leaves a free day for co-op or field trips. Skill subjects, like math and language arts, are placed by each child's ability. In kindergarten, Sonlight estimates about 1 to 1.5 hours of parent time and 1.5 to 2 hours for the child each day. High school students read on their own with separate guides.
What it covers
| Level | Grade guide | History focus |
|---|---|---|
| T, P | Preschool, Pre-K | Picture books and early learning |
| K | Kindergarten | World cultures |
| A | 1st | American history |
| B, C | 2nd, 3rd | World history, two years |
| D, E | 4th, 5th | American history, two years |
| F, G, H | 6th–8th | Eastern Hemisphere, world history |
| 100–400 | 9th–12th | American, church, 20th-century world, government |
Who it's best for
Sonlight fits book-loving Christian families who want a literature-based homeschool curriculum that is fully planned. It works especially well with siblings close in age, who can share one core.
It is a harder fit if money is tight, if your child prefers depth in a few books, or if you cannot read aloud most days.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, a Kindergarten All-Subjects Package lists at about $1,270, or about $1,016 with the advertised 20% off. History/Bible/Literature packages cost less, and books hold resale value. The 18-week money-back guarantee lowers the risk of trying it.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, in states with ESAs. Sonlight's ESA page says it sells through program marketplaces in states including Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. Your program still decides. Save Sonlight to your wishlist and apply once through Edulist scholarships.
How it compares
BookShark uses the same read-real-books model without a faith component. My Father's World is another Christian, book-rich option families compare. Build Your Library is a secular, literature-based plan. More traditional families compare it with Abeka. Browse more Christian homeschool curriculum or see the best homeschool curriculum.
Who Sonlight is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Families who love reading aloud and discussing books
- Parents who want a fully scheduled, open-and-go plan
- Siblings within about three years who can share one core
- Christian families who want Bible woven into history and literature
Look elsewhere if
- Families on a tight budget
- Children who want depth in fewer books rather than many short readings
- Parents without time for daily read-alouds
Sonlight pros and cons
Pros
- Outstanding book selections tied to the history being studied
- Instructor's Guides plan every day for 36 weeks
- Discussion questions mean you need not pre-read every book
- Generous 18-week money-back guarantee
- One core can serve several children close in age
Cons
- Expensive for a full package
- Heavy reading load can be hard to keep up with
- Short daily readings across many books frustrate some kids
- Large parent time commitment in the younger years
What’s included
- History/Bible/Literature (HBL) core with read-alouds, readers and history spines
- All-Subjects Packages that add language arts, science, math, handwriting and spelling
- Instructor's Guides with 36 weeks of daily plans, in 4-day or 5-day versions
- Siblings within about three years can share one HBL level
- Choice of math programs including Math-U-See, Horizons, Saxon, Singapore and RightStart
- Free placement tests and 3-week Instructor's Guide samples
- Money-back guarantee through the first 18 weeks
Sonlight levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Levels T and P | Pre-K | Preschool (ages 3–4) and Pre-K (ages 4–5) packages built around picture books. |
| Level K | Kindergarten | Intro to the World: Cultures, ages 5–7. |
| Levels A–C | 1–3 | American history (A) and a two-year world history (B and C), ages 6–10. B+C is a condensed one-year option. |
| Levels D–E | 4–5 | Two-year American history, ages 9–13. D+E is a condensed one-year option. |
| Levels F–H, J and W | 6–8 | Eastern Hemisphere (F), two-year world history (G and H), History of Science (J) and a condensed world history (W). |
| Levels 100–500 | 9–12 | American history (100), church history (200), 20th-century world history (300), American government (400) and worldview studies (500, HBL only). |
Sonlight offers free placement tests to help choose levels. Skill subjects like math and language arts are placed by each child's ability, while History/Bible/Literature levels are chosen by age, and siblings within about three years can share one.
Official Sonlight placement test ↗How much does Sonlight cost?
As of October 2026, the Kindergarten All-Subjects Package (4-day, with required resources) is $1,270.28 regular and $1,016.22 on sale at 20% off. The 5-day version is $1,329.19 regular, and leaving out one-time required resources (timeline book, map, manipulatives) drops the 4-day price to $1,060.40 regular. Sonlight advertises 20% off All-Subjects Packages and 15% off History/Bible/Literature packages.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Subjects Package K, 4-day (sale) | $1,016.22 | One-time | — |
| All-Subjects Package K, 4-day (regular) | $1,270.28 | One-time | — |
| All-Subjects Package K, 5-day (regular) | $1,329.19 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial. Free 3-week Instructor's Guide samples are available, and the guarantee lets you return the program if it is not a fit during the first 18 weeks.
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.
Families praise Sonlight's book lists, the way literature lines up with history, the discussion help in the guides and the complete box. The most common complaints are price and workload, and some families switch out language arts or science while keeping the HBL core.
Common praise
- Some of the best book lists available
- Literature coordinated with the history period
- Guides supply discussion questions
- Everything arrives in one box with a daily schedule
Common complaints
- High price for a full package
- A lot of reading to keep up with
- Many short readings rather than depth in a few books
Sonlight family reviews
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Sonlight FAQs
Is Sonlight Christian?
Yes. Sonlight promises a biblical perspective and builds Bible reading, memory verses and missionary biographies into every History/Bible/Literature level. Its secular-friendly counterpart in the same style is BookShark.
Is Sonlight accredited?
No. Sonlight is a curriculum publisher, not a school. Families who need accreditation pair it with an umbrella or accredited school that accepts outside curriculum.
How much does Sonlight cost?
As of October 2026, the Kindergarten All-Subjects Package lists at $1,270.28 regular and about $1,016 at the advertised 20% off. History/Bible/Literature packages alone cost less, and one core can be shared by siblings close in age.
Is there a Sonlight discount code?
Sonlight publishes its offers on its sale page, including 20% off All-Subjects Packages, 15% off HBL packages and free shipping over $250. Occasional product-specific codes appear on product pages; codes from other sites may not work.
What is Sonlight's guarantee?
You have up to a year to work through the first 18 weeks. If Sonlight is not a fit, return the complete package with later weeks unused for a full refund of the purchase price, minus return shipping. One partial return is allowed.
Does Sonlight work for multiple children?
Yes. Sonlight says siblings within about a three-year age range can share one History/Bible/Literature level and one science program. Math, language arts and readers are chosen per child.
Can an ESA pay for Sonlight?
Sonlight says it sells through marketplaces for programs in several states, including Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. Each program still decides what qualifies, so check your program first.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: