Where to Get Books & Curriculum

There are endless possibilities of places and sites to shop for homeschool curriculum. It can be overwhelming. On the other hand, I’m delighted that homeschooling families have increased, thereby increasing the demand for curriculum. For this reason, there are so many great books and great companies out there!

Here are the FIVE MAIN places that I sourced out curriculum and books during our homeschooling years:

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My Five Favorites Places to Get Books & Curriculum

Rainbow Resource

Rainbow Resource doesn’t have an affiliate program, so you can be assured that putting them at the top of my list is heartfelt. (All of my recommendations are heartfelt, but you may not know that about me if you’re new around here…) I can’t say enough good things about this company. They started as homeschoolers themselves, with a used book sale business, I believe. They have grown, and their catalog is legendary in homeschool circles! It’s so huge that they ended up dividing it into two parts, and I think they have re-vamped it again. I used to look through it and write in it and even flag the pages with colored flags – I considered their catalog to be a trusted friend, full of curriculum descriptions. 

It can be overwhelming, so brace yourself for lots of options.

Another good thing about this company is their willingness to help if you give them a call. For example, if you are unsure if a particular program or book or curriculum is the right choice for one of your children, they are willing to discuss it with you and give you their recommendation.

Amazon

Because, well, it’s Amazon. They have all that and another fleece bed for the dog.

When my daughters were in high school and we were diving into geography continent by continent with lots of books, Amazon’s list-making option was great. I could look for books and add to one of their lists; they could do the same. Then we would look over the list and narrow it down before ordering.

Christian Book Distributors

Christian Book Distributors is another easy company to work with, in my experience. I loved their little homeschooling catalogs as well, and they often come with free shipping codes. If you sign up for their emails, they keep you updated on sales, often specific to certain curriculums. They have a very wide selection of homeschooling supplies. I have always found their customer service to be efficient and helpful, too.

I bought a lot from each of these three companies, and I never had any problems at all. 

To be honest, I often checked prices with all of these companies when purchasing because I was a homeschool mom on a budget, and I had to save money when I could.

Abebooks

I found Abebooks a little later in our journey, when my kids were in high school. It was recommended by a mother on a homeschool forum, and I had never heard of Abebooks! If you’re searching for a book, try Abebooks for a really great deal. Also, they will email you when a book you want becomes available.

We found it to be particularly helpful when looking for a book that we were having trouble finding anywhere else.

I have purchased several books from this site and each time I was satisfied with my purchase.

Your local library

Talk about affordable! I know this isn’t a place to purchase books (unless they are having a used book sale – I love the library’s used book sales!), but I had to add it to my top five, because we used the library A LOT.

On a slim budget year, the library can be the source of most of your school books. As a matter of fact, even without considering budget constraints, there are innumerable reasons to access your local library.

I own a lot of books. A LOT. But we still frequented the libraries in nearby towns. If your children are young, there is something about the magic of endless reading possibilities. On our visits to the library, my kids used to compile a stack of books too big to carry home on their own.

The library is valuable for more than just books: often there are programs being held there that your children may want to participate in. Also, the bulletin/message board at the library usually contains information about upcoming local events that your family may enjoy. Homeschooling groups often post information at the library as well.

Lots of Homeschool Curriculum Options

There are numerous reputable companies, not to mention homeschool families, that have curriculum, books, planners, and various other supplies for sale. Don’t disregard these options. My above list is my “top five” because I used them the most, due to the wide selection. Also, my experiences over the years purchasing from them have been excellent.  Other smaller companies I’ve bought directly from and can recommend include:

Tops

I love Tops Science. We purchased and used many of their books and kits. I love the simplicity of the experiments and supplies. I love that you can buy the kits and supplies directly from them and not have to guess whether or not you have what you need for science. I love that it’s not expensive. There’s a lot to love here!

These units can be completed alone, but are more fun in a group – even if it’s the parent participating. Electricity was a hit at our house and was actually used by my son, alone, and thoroughly enjoyed. When I bought these books, I bought directly from their website, but Rainbow Resource now carries some of their curriculum as well.

Times Tales

I have shouted my love for Times Tales loudly over the years. I bought directly from their site. Rainbow Resource and Christian Book Distributors offer some of their products, but it appears not all. And currently there is a free download (of 9×6 through 9×9) at their site if you’d like to try it. If you want to know how significant this little program was for us, head over to this article and read our story!

Lightning Literature

Offered through their site or Rainbow Resource, Madison used their British Literature, Early – Mid 19^th Century, for her 8^th grade literature program. We loved it and planned to use others, but ended up choosing various other options for her. She’s a fast and advanced reader. This is a nice option if you would like a literature class all planned out – the selections are excellent, and questions about the readings and assignment suggestions are included. Two tentative schedules (semester and year-long) are also included.

She doesn’t regret this class at all, even though it was ambitious at the time. As a matter of fact, she feels that it empowered her through high school to push herself and have confidence in her ability to tackle advanced literature choices.

Just a few more great sites for curriculum and books…while I’m on a roll…

A few other companies that might work well for your family are:

• Konos for hands-on learning (I honestly never got a chance to use any of these, because I found them a little late in our journey, but I was always intrigued, especially for my kinesthetic learner).
• Diana Waring – I do have one of her history CDs, which is incredible for your auditory learners! There is a free sample unit on her site.
• Beautiful Feet Books – although I didn’t order directly from their site, we have enjoyed several of the books that they publish.
• Master Books – I love lots of their books, and if you want to teach science from a creation perspective, you will love them, too! (They offer more subjects than science, by the way.) Many of their books are offered through the companies listed in the top five above.
• Math U See – a very interesting, hands-on approach to math that my kinesthetic and auditory learner enjoyed. Math U See is offered through the other companies as well, but I’m adding the link here so that you can choose to order directly from them if you want (I did), and also so you can read more information about this curriculum.

There are too many great options for curriculum and books to offer a comprehensive overview in one article. Hopefully, these suggestions will give you a place to start and some catalogs to peruse!

A Bit of Advice about Books & Curriculum Choices

Have fun exploring all the many book and curriculum options for homeschooling. Christian Book and Rainbow Resource are great companies to call if you have a question about something they sell. Homeschool blogs, forums, and local homeschooling parents are usually delighted to share their favorite suggestions with you.

Some words of advice that I had to repeat to myself more than a few times over the years:

• Books are a tool in your school. Not a master. Remember to master them and not let them master you.
• You don’t have to finish a book just because you started it. Sometimes, hanging in there until the end is worth it. Sometimes, it’s a waste of your time and there’s no benefit to ‘finish it just to finish it.’
• Most likely, you will spend some money that you will regret and buy some curriculum that’s not a very good fit. Don’t be afraid to change! Even if you spent a lot on it. Curriculum serves a purpose – if it’s not working, don’t hesitate to find another option that serves you and your child better.
• Your school will not and should not look like everyone else’s. If the lady down the road raised rocket scientists with Saxon Math and sings its praises from morning ‘til midnight, that’s great. If you try it and your kids hate it and you hate it, then find something else that works for your family and don’t give it another thought…love the journey you’re on and make the choices that are right for you. (P.S. There’s nothing wrong with Saxon math and many families love it, so don’t hold anything against it because I used it as my example!)

In the end, we are aiming to educate our children, and the books are just a means to an end.

You might also enjoy:

• Our homeschool story, how it all began.
• Information and reassurance that you can legally homeschool, as well as helpful links to clarify the laws in your state.
• Feeling like what you have to offer isn’t quite enough? Homeschooling moms, you’re not only enough, you’re brilliant.
• Our story of how our son learned those pesky upper multiplication tables in a little over an hour – after struggling for over a year!