Sonlight vs BookShark Level C Homeschool Curriculum Comparison

It’s time for another Sonlight vs BookShark Homeschool Curriculum Comparison! What started as a way for me to figure out which program to choose, developed into a post series that has been incredibly popular. I guess I’m not the only one wondering about the differences between these literature-based homeschool curriculum. Let’s take a look at Sonlight level C and BookShark level C.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure.

This post was updated in 2021 according to their online catalog information released in the spring of the year.

What’s the Difference between BookShark and Sonlight?

When BookShark first came on the market, many people assumed that it was a secular version of its sister company Sonlight. Many people had been customizing Sonlight’s programs to meet their secular homeschool needs so it was a relief to see BookShark’s offerings.

However, BookShark is actually a neutral homeschool curriculum. Yes, there is a difference between secular and neutral although sometimes it’s not always clear. BookShark didn’t just remove the religious books from Sonlight’s programs. Taking a closer look at their book lists shows us that there are other differences.

Sonlight offers their programs in 5 day and 4 day a week options. BookShark only comes with a 4 day schedule. However, you can easily customize the schedules to move faster or slower as your family needs. Since the Sonlight 5 day program has the most books, I will list the books that are missing from Sonlight’s 4 day and/or BookShark’s program. I will also note BookShark books that Sonlight doesn’t offer.

Sonlight vs BookShark Level C History Books

Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky – not in Sonlight 4 day curriculum
Peter the Great – not in Sonlight 4 day curriculum
Good Queen Bess – not in Sonlight 4 day curriculum
Michelangelo – not in Sonlight 4 day curriculum
Sing the Word CD – not in BookShark, religious
Window on the World – not in BookShark, religious
Gladys Aylward – not in BookShark, religious
With Two Hands – not in BookShark, religious
A Child’s History of the World – no longer offered by BookShark, it was replaced with the following 2 books
You Wouldn’t Want to be Sick in the 16th Century! – not in either Sonlight program
You Wouldn’t Want to Explore with Marco Polo! – not in either Sonlight program
Castle Diary – not in either Sonlight program

Take an adventure through the 50 states with these notebooking pages!

product image for An Adventure Through the 50 States

Sonlight vs BookShark Level C Read Aloud Books

And the Word Came with Power – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs, religious
About Average – is a level 4 reader for BookShark
Strawberry Girl – not in Sonlight 4 day program
The Apprentice – not in Sonlight 4 day program
The Minstrel in the Tower – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Encyclopedia Cracks the Case – not in either Sonlight program
Word of Mouse – is a Sonlight B read aloud

Sonlight vs BookShark Readers

The lower levels of these programs offer several different levels of readers. At this age, kids are still learning to read and are all over the place in reader level.

Level 2 Readers

The Beginner’s Bible – not in BookShark, religious
Hill of Fire – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Wagon Wheels – not in Sonlight 4 day program
The Big Balloon Race – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Daniel’s Duck – not in Sonlight 4 day program
The Fire Cat – not in Sonlight 4 day program
The Sword in the Tree – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Surprises – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs
Riding the Pony Express – only in BookShark
Third Grade Detectives #1 and #2 – Sonlight level 3 reader
Prairie School – Sonlight level 3 reader
The Long Way Westward – Sonlight level 3 reader
The Long Way to a New Land – Sonlight level 3 reader
Clara and the Bookwagon – Sonlight level 3 reader

Level 3 Readers

A Question of Yams – not in BookShark
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie – not in BookShark
Third Grade Detectives #4 – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Third Grade Detectives #10 – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Tippy Lemmey – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Tornado – not in Sonlight 4 day program
Lumber Camp Library – not in either Sonlight program
Encyclopedia Brown – not in either Sonlight program
Marco Polo – not in either Sonlight program
Third Grade Detectives #1 and #2 – BookShark level 2 reader
Prairie School – BookShark level 2 reader
The Long Way Westward – BookShark level 2 reader
The Long Way to a New Land – BookShark level 2 reader
Clara and the Bookwagon – BookShark level 2 reader

Level 4 Readers

Ginger Pye – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs
The King’s Equal – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs
B is for Betsy – not in Sonlight 4 day program
More Stories from Grandma’s Attic– not in BookShark, religious
Lumber Camp Library – BookShark level 3 reader
Marco Polo – BookShark level 3 reader
King of the Mound – not in either Sonlight
Doctor Like Papa – not in either Sonlight
About Average – read aloud book for Sonlight level C

Level 5 Readers

This level of readers is not offered through BookShark. These are the books in the Sonlight 5 day program that are not in the 4 day option.

Sonlight B vs BookShark Level C Science

Both companies made major updates to their Science programs this year, but they weren’t the same updates. BookShark C now corresponds to Sonlight B. Since they have similar book lists, this comparison is between those 2 levels.

See How it’s Made – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs
Coding for Beginners Using Scratch – not in Sonlight 4 day or BookShark programs

Whew! That’s a huge pile of books, and just a small part of what’s in these programs since I only highlight the differences in these curriculum comparison posts. No matter which version of these programs you choose, you’ll be surrounding your kids with a wide variety of quality books. Many people love to use these posts as a way to add books that aren’t found in the program they’re using.

Which books are you must excited to share with your kids this year?!