Master Books is a faith-based, young-earth, open-and-go homeschool curriculum published by New Leaf Publishing. It is one of the most widely used Christian curriculums in Arizona for families who want a biblical worldview, low daily prep, and short-but-rich school days. This page covers what Master Books offers, who it fits, what it costs, and how Arizona ESA families typically purchase it.
For broader options, see our homeschool curriculum directory and our Arizona ESA homeschool guide.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Master Books (New Leaf Publishing Group) |
| Worldview | Christian, young-earth creation, biblical worldview |
| Grade levels | PreK through 12th grade |
| Format | Open-and-go printed workbooks with parent lesson plans |
| Teaching style | Charlotte Mason adjacent, narrative, Bible-integrated |
| Parent prep | Low - schedules are scripted |
| Student independence | Moderate from grade 4 up |
| Daily time | 1.5 to 3.5 hours, grade dependent |
| Arizona ESA eligible | Conditional - science and history reimbursed; Bible titles often parent-funded |
| Best for | Christian families who want a short school day, biblical worldview, and low planning |
Overview
Master Books is built around shorter, well-illustrated workbooks and full-color readers paired with a parent lesson plan that schedules everything out. The flagship series include God's Design for Science, America's Story, World's Story, Math Lessons for a Living Education, and the Language Lessons for a Living Education series (often called "the rainbow books" for their pastel covers).
The publisher is committed to a young-earth biblical worldview. That shows up most strongly in science and history, where creation, the global flood, and biblical timelines are presented as historical fact.
Who This Curriculum Is Best For
Master Books works well for:
- Christian families who want a short, focused school day (2-3 hours in elementary)
- Parents who want a young-earth, biblical-worldview science and history program
- Families with multiple children who need open-and-go plans
- Newer homeschoolers who don't want to assemble their own curriculum
- Families who like a Charlotte Mason feel without committing to the full method
Who Should Consider Something Else
Master Books may not fit if:
- You want a long, rigorous school day with daily quizzes - Abeka or BJU Press fit better
- You hold an old-earth or theistic-evolution view - Apologia is more flexible; secular options for science
- You want strict classical (Latin, logic, rhetoric) - Memoria Press or Classical Academic Press
- You want a video-led, self-paced format - Teaching Textbooks for math, Veritas Press for the rest
Subjects and What You Buy
Master Books sells subject by subject. Most popular series:
- Math Lessons for a Living Education (K-7) - story-based, gentle, Charlotte Mason flavor
- Language Lessons for a Living Education (K-7) - integrated grammar, copywork, narration, picture study
- God's Design for Science (K-5) - life, earth, heaven and earth, chemistry, physical world
- Elementary Science (Apologia-style young earth)
- America's Story (grades 3-6, 3-volume narrative)
- World's Story (grades 5-7, 3-volume narrative)
- Bible (multiple programs by grade)
- High school: Survey of Astronomy, Survey of Science, Government, Economics, Worldview
Most workbooks are non-reusable; readers are reusable across children.
Daily Schedule Example (Grade 3)
- Math Lessons for a Living Education 3 - 30 minutes
- Language Lessons 3 - 30 minutes
- God's Design for Science (Heaven and Earth) - 25 minutes (3x per week)
- America's Story Volume 1 - 25 minutes (alternating with science)
- Bible reading and devotional - 15 minutes
Total focused time: about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Pricing
Master Books is on the affordable end of full Christian curriculums. As of 2026 pricing:
- Math Lessons by level: ~$45 to $50 (student workbook plus teacher guide)
- Language Lessons by level: ~$45
- God's Design for Science full set: ~$80 to $100
- America's Story 3-volume set: ~$70 to $90
- Full grade total: typically $250 to $450 per child
Master Books also bundles affordable full-grade packages on masterbooks.com that often run cheaper than buying piecewise.
Arizona ESA Eligibility
Master Books is conditionally ESA-eligible under Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program. In practice:
- Math Lessons, Language Lessons, God's Design for Science, America's Story, and World's Story - typically reimbursable as standard academic curriculum, even though many include scripture references. The primary purpose is academic.
- Bible curriculum, devotionals, theology, and worldview studies - usually require parent funds. Arizona Department of Education ESA policy restricts direct funding of religious instruction.
- Bundled grade packages that include Bible - families often request the package without the Bible component, or buy the package and submit reimbursement only for the academic portion.
Master Books has at times been listed on ClassWallet Marketplace; verify current vendor status in your ESA portal. When buying off-platform, save itemized receipts and submit each title individually so reviewers can see what's academic and what's religious.
For the full picture, read our Arizona ESA homeschool guide and the homeschool vs. ESA explainer.
How It Compares
- vs. Apologia: Apologia is a deeper science program (esp. junior high and high school). Master Books elementary science is shorter and more open-and-go. Apologia is the better high school science; Master Books is the better elementary all-rounder.
- vs. The Good and the Beautiful: TGTB integrates subjects in one book; Master Books sells subjects separately. TGTB is more beautiful; Master Books is more biblically explicit.
- vs. My Father's World: Both unify subjects around a yearly theme. MFW is heavier on Bible and theology; Master Books is similar in worldview but lighter on integration.
- vs. Sonlight: Sonlight is literature-based with extensive read-alouds. Master Books is workbook-driven with shorter days.
Common Questions
Is Master Books young-earth creationist? Yes, explicitly. New Leaf Publishing (parent of Master Books) is closely affiliated with Answers in Genesis, and science and history materials present a young-earth, global-flood biblical timeline.
Can I buy Master Books with my Arizona ESA? Conditionally. Math, language arts, science, and history titles are typically reimbursed. Bible curriculum, devotionals, and explicit religious instruction usually require parent funds under ADE policy. When ordering bundled packages, unbundle the Bible component or submit reimbursement only for academic titles. Confirm in your ClassWallet portal.
Is Master Books a complete curriculum? Yes. The combination of Math Lessons, Language Lessons, God's Design for Science, America's Story / World's Story, and a Bible program covers a full year for elementary grades. High school is more mix-and-match.
How long does a Master Books day take? Shorter than most full curriculums. Elementary days run about 1.5 to 2 hours; middle school runs about 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
Is Master Books rigorous enough? For most families, yes through elementary. Some Arizona families pair Master Books language arts and science with a stronger math (Singapore, Beast Academy, Saxon, or Math-U-See) starting around grade 4 if their child needs deeper conceptual work.
Arizona Programs Using Master Books
The directory below lists every Arizona Christian co-op, microschool, and tutorial that uses Master Books. Tap any program for hours, location, and contact info.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Master Books ESA approved in Arizona? Partially. Math, language arts, science, and history titles are routinely reimbursed through the Arizona ESA. Bible curriculum, devotionals, and worldview titles typically require parent funds under ADE's religious-instruction restrictions. Confirm in your ClassWallet portal before buying.
Is Master Books a complete homeschool curriculum? Yes for elementary. The Math Lessons, Language Lessons, God's Design for Science, and America's Story / World's Story series together cover a full year. High school families typically combine Master Books courses with Apologia, BJU Press, or dual-enrollment college classes.
Is Master Books rigorous? Master Books is gentle and Charlotte Mason adjacent rather than rigorous in a traditional textbook sense. Its strength is mastery through narrative and short, focused lessons rather than drill and testing. For an advanced math student, pair with Singapore, Beast Academy, or Math-U-See starting in grade 4.
Is Master Books young-earth? Yes, explicitly. Science and history materials present a young-earth biblical timeline and a global flood as historical events.
What grades does Master Books cover? PreK through 12th grade. The strongest, most-used materials are elementary and middle school. High school students typically combine Master Books survey courses with Apologia sciences or dual-enrollment classes.