All About Reading vs BJU Press Reading
The sharpest difference is faith content: All About Reading is None, BJU Press Reading is Integrated. Eight more separate them, so very little here lines up.
At a glance
All About Reading
Grades PreK-4
Owners report it suits
Struggling learnersHands-on learnersDyslexiaBJU Press Reading
Grades 1-6
Owners report it suits
Advanced/giftedIndependent workersWhere they differ
| Attribute | All About Reading | BJU Press Reading |
|---|---|---|
Rigor
?How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Parent involvement
?How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Prep load
?How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Screen time
?How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Time commitment
?How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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| Faith content | None | Integrated |
| Approach | Mastery | Spiral |
| Format | Workbook | Textbook |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Struggling learnersHands-on learnersDyslexia | Advanced/giftedIndependent workers |
| Method | TraditionalEclecticOrton-GillinghamSynthetic phonics | TraditionalEclecticSynthetic phonicsLiterature-based |
| Grades | PreK-4 | 1-6 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
All About Reading
Grades PreK-4
Most families finish about one level a year, and many stop after Level 3 or 4 once a child reads fluently.
BJU Press Reading
Grades 1-6
Reading 1 and 2 carry the heaviest phonics and teacher-presentation load. From Reading 3 up the course moves toward independent silent reading and literary analysis.
Cost
| Cost item | All About Reading | BJU Press Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95-159.95/level | $150-230/grade kit |
| Consumable | Partial | Partial |
| Per child / year | ~$120-160 first child, ~$40-50 after | ~$150-230 first child, ~$25-45 after |
What parents report
All About Reading
Consistently praised
- Scripted lessons make it open and go
- Gorgeous hardcover readers kids enjoy
- Multisensory tiles keep little ones engaged
- Reusable with younger siblings
- It works even for reluctant or dyslexic kids
Reported as challenges
- Upfront cost per level stings
- Lots of cards and tiles to cut and store
- Pace can drag through Level 2
- Fully parent-led, nothing done alone
BJU Press Reading
Consistently praised
- Beautiful high-quality readers
- Wide variety of genres and real literature
- Strong systematic phonics
- Thoughtful comprehension and discussion questions
- Video option makes it easy for working parents
Reported as challenges
- Heavy teacher prep, especially grades 1 and 2
- Thick scripted teacher manuals to wade through
- Pricey kits
- More setup than a simple open-and-go reader
Who All About Reading fits
A gentle, scripted, hands-on phonics program taught one-on-one, and a longtime favorite for struggling and dyslexic readers. Parents who need a child working independently, or who have an early reader racing ahead, aren't the audience for it.
Read the full All About Reading entry Check price All About Learning PressWho BJU Press Reading fits
Literature-rich, academically solid Christian reading for families who don't mind teacher-led lessons or a video track. Parents wanting something quick and low-prep, or a bare phonics-only tool, should keep looking.
Read the full BJU Press Reading entry Check price BJU PressSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
All About Reading compared with
- Abeka Language Arts
- Explode the Code
- First Start Reading
- Hooked on Phonics
- Logic of English Foundations
- PRIDE Reading Program
BJU Press Reading compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed July 2026.