I thought I would list all the literature-based programs and guides that I have found useful over the years. These are more than just book lists but actual helps or even unit study lessons that worked for us at some point in our homeschool endeavor over the years.
I have found that many of these types of programs are overkill; trying to wring out every single educational drop in terms of product. I have always thought that book reports pretty much kill the love of reading. If you make your kid do worksheet after worksheet for reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling etc you will be sure to kill any love of reading and learning (unless your kid is a nerd that way! And then if that is true, go for it! But 99% of kids are not that way!). So take whatever works. Feel free to pick and choose. You do not have to do every single suggestion. You can choose to skip everything but the actual reading! Or you can choose whatever seems to suit your student's learning style, whatever appeals to him or whatever you think he might have to practice a bit to master. Even in the case of something as sweet and gentle as Five in a Row, if your kid does not want to read a book five times in a row, don't do it! Do it twice maybe. You can rearrange the program to suit your own needs. You are the captain of your homeschooling ship, not the program or curriculum.
I am roughly starting with helps for the youngest student up through high school, but a lot of these span different age groups.
Peak with Books - no one ever talks about this fantastic early learning guide that has been around for forever. I loved it. I don't know where my copy is anymore. Maybe I gave it away?
Five in a Row - Christian, gentle, fun. Pre-school through about age 12.
Catholic Mosaic - lovely, lovely, lovely! Pre-school through early/middle elementary.
For the Love of Literature - written by a Catholic homeschooling mom; a treasure trove kind of resource for all ages.
Geography through Literature - we didn't do a lot of formal unit studies but this one was fun. Early elementary through junior high.
P.A.C.E. This stands for: Program Achieving Character Education. We did the early version of this loosely one year. Lovely!
Kolbe Academy Elementary Literature program (we actually didn't do this one but we liked the Jr High one so much that I am recommending this one on the strength of the other, plus I like the fact that books on the saints are included).
Kolbe Academy Jr. High Literature program - we did this in 8th grade with one of my sons and it was the highlight of that year.
Teaching the Classics - this helped my struggling daughter 'get' literature. It also set her up for her interest in great books and classical education. She went on to attend a Great Books college which she deeply enjoyed.
Lightning Literature guides for high schoolers - Christian; I have only ever used some of the ones at high school level. I found them very useful but a little uneven. Some were to me at college level (reading Canterbury Tales in Old English? Too much for my 10th grader).
Questions for a Thinker series (Greek, Roman, Old Europe) by Fran Rutherford These are treasures! They are worth the money if your oldest is a teen and you've got younger siblings who will come after him. If you get these books you are set for Greek, Roman and Old World lit. They mostly are comprehension questions which we found useful to read before we tackled whatever classic we were about to delve into. Then, after reading, we'd go back to the questions and just orally discuss the answers. I also liked the essay prompts.
The Reader's Odyssey - this book is a guide for how to set up a reading program mostly for your high schooler. This is more unschoolish in approach - sort of teaching you how to take the reading the student has done and turn it into something more formal sounding. Unfortunately, it seems the book got published before its final proofreading as there are a lot of errors. However, it is so full of practical advice, I still recommend it.
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