Catholic Textbook Project brings history alive through narrative-driven textbooks that illuminate historical events with Catholic perspective, showing how Christ and the Church transformed civilization rather than treating faith and history as separate subjects. The curriculum partners with Novare Science to offer faith-integrated science textbooks for middle and high school that emphasize mastery learning over the typical "cram-pass-forget" cycle. These beautifully illustrated hardcover books appeal to Catholic homeschooling families seeking rigorous content that strengthens Catholic identity while providing academically excellent materials that integrate saints' lives, salvation history, and a Christian worldview throughout.
Currently available for grades four through high school, history textbooks include full-color narrative texts with chapter reviews, activity suggestions, and comprehensive teacher manuals featuring vocabulary, quizzes, tests, and optional activities. Science offerings from Novare cover earth science, life science, physical science, chemistry, biology, and physics with conversational prose, integrated math concepts, and cumulative assessments requiring 80% mastery. Digital resources provide weekly quizzes, semester exams, experiment manuals, and sample schedules. Parents appreciate the substantial teacher support without overwhelming detail, though the mastery approach requires more consistent daily work from students than typical science programs, and science courses include moderate parent involvement for grading labs and overseeing experiments.
The history writing flows well enough for Charlotte Mason-style narration despite the "textbook" name, and science texts teach from an old earth creation perspective that acknowledges mainstream scientific views while maintaining Christian worldview. Some families find the books expensive at seventy-five to ninety-five dollars per textbook, and history content complexity may challenge younger students at recommended grade levels. The curriculum works best for families comfortable with classical or traditional approaches who want mastery-based learning and can commit to daily study habits, particularly when history books serve as a spine paired with additional living literature for a complete program.
