Beautiful Feet Books is a literature-based history and geography curriculum using living books and Charlotte Mason methods to make learning engaging for K-12 homeschool students.
What are Beautiful Feet Books?
Beautiful Feet Books has been providing Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculum for over 40 years, founded in 1984 by former homeschooling mom and author Rea Berg. The company believes education should inspire rather than bore, replacing dry textbooks with "living books"—timeless, award-winning literature that captures imagination and encourages critical thinking. Their history curriculum teaches through stories written by brilliant authors, helping students understand the "why" of history rather than just memorizing dates and facts. The curriculum covers American history, world history, geography, and special topics like the history of science and classical music.
Key Takeaways
- Literature-based approach using living books rather than textbooks
- 24 courses covering history, geography, and special topics for K-12
- Flexible age groupings allow multi-age family learning
- Charlotte Mason philosophy emphasizing discussion and hands-on activities
How the Curriculum Works
Each Beautiful Feet course centers on carefully selected historical fiction and nonfiction books that engage students emotionally and intellectually. High-quality Teacher Guides provide discussion questions, hands-on activities, art appreciation, historical recipes, nature journaling ideas, and field trip suggestions. Lessons are numbered rather than labeled by day, allowing families to move at their own pace—completing 2-3 lessons weekly for a year, or stretching to 1-2 lessons for two years. The curriculum integrates multiple subjects; though labeled as history, lessons naturally incorporate literature, geography, art, and cultural education.
Course Offerings
Beautiful Feet offers 24 different courses spanning ancient civilizations through modern American history. Early American History (available in K-3 and 4-6 versions) covers 1000 AD through the mid-1800s with 94 lessons exploring Indigenous peoples, Vikings, colonial America, and the American founding. Around the World with Picture Books teaches geography through living books, recipes, and cultural education. Special topic courses address the History of Science, Classical Music, Character Development, and even the History of the Horse. Age groupings (K-3, 4-6, 7-8, high school) rather than specific grades allow flexibility for advanced students or families learning together.
Purchasing Options
Purchasing Options
- Complete Packs
All books included—most convenient option
- Teacher Guide Only
Purchase guide separately, source books from library
- À la Carte Selection
Choose specific books, supplement with library copies
- Digital Guides
Available for some courses
The Bottom Line
Beautiful Feet Books delivers what Charlotte Mason families seek: rich, engaging history through quality literature without requiring extensive parent preparation. The high-quality Teacher Guides and handpicked book selections save research time while providing enough structure for busy parents. While primarily Christian in origin, 96% of their 600+ titles are secular and easily adapted for any family. The curriculum works best for families who love reading together and value discussion-based learning. It's not an all-in-one solution—you'll need separate math, language arts, and science curricula—but for making history come alive, Beautiful Feet's 40 years of experience shows in every carefully curated course.
