Introducing

Chapter House

LITERACY STARTS AT HOME

Virtus et Miraculum

A Complete Children's Library.

Chapter House is a new publishing imprint created to serve the unmet needs of homeschool families and everyday parents.

We publish restored editions of classic children’s books in four Chapter House box sets, made with premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship.

We also curate a grade-by-grade bookstore from select publishers, giving families a complete reading curriculum for children at every stage.

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The Chapter House Series

I-IV

Literacy starts at home.

Each box set includes:

Three remastered classic books. A companion teaching guide. Optional curriculum bundles.

Æsop's Fables: A Version for Young Readers

A Child's Book of Myths & Enchantment Tales

Chapter I · Ages 5–8

Heroes & Wonders

Kindergarten–2nd grade · $99.50

The fables, myths, and legends that formed the bedrock of Western education for two thousand years. Read aloud at the dinner table or the bedside lamp.

Æsop's Fables: A Version for Young Readers
A Child's Book of Myths & Enchantment Tales
Fifty Famous Stories Retold
+ Companion teaching guide
Pairs with Kindergarten–1st Grade curriculum bundles

Shop Chapter I Box Set Shop Box Set + K-1 Bundle

Chapter II · Ages 7–10

Warriors & Giants

2nd–4th grade · $99.50

Ancient history from Abraham to Rome, Norse mythology with E. Boyd Smith's original illustrations restored, and the oldest epic in the English language.

On the Shores of the Great Sea
In the Days of Giants
Stories of Beowulf
+ Companion teaching guide
Pairs with 2nd-3rd Grade curriculum bundles

Shop Chapter II Box Set Shop Box Set + Grade 2–3 bundle

Chapter III · Ages 8–11

The Triumph of the West

3rd–5th grade · $99.50

Homer's Iliad, a thousand years of Western history, and natural science through the eyes of Jean-Henri Fabre, the incomparable modern naturalist.

The Story of the Iliad
The Discovery of New Worlds
The Storybook of Science
+ Companion teaching guide
Pairs with 4th-5th Grade curriculum bundles

Shop Chapter III Box Set Shop Box Set + Grade 4–5 bundle

Chapter IV · Ages 9–12

The Odyssey of Europe

4th–6th grade · $99.50

The capstone. Homer's Odyssey, the full sweep of British history told as a story, and Shakespeare's plays through Charles and Mary Lamb's prose retellings.

The Story of the Odyssey
Our Island Story
Tales from Shakespeare
+ Companion teaching guide
Pairs with 6th Grade curriculum bundles

Shop Chapter IV Box Set Shop Box Set + 6th grade bundle

Curriculum Builder

COMPLETE THE NARRATIVE

Shop from our full library of books, including our box sets, our pre-selected grade-by-grade reading bundles, or individual titles chosen to suit your child’s needs.

Shop the full Library

About Joshua & Hannah Centers

A family project, made for your family.

We did not set out to make books. We set out to educate our children.

The editorial vision for Chapter House began in the rural Tennessee home of Joshua and Hannah Centers. Hannah had spent 13 years teaching high school Spanish and history before leaving the classroom to educate their children at home. Josh brought to the endeavor 13 years of editorial work and the practical craft of turning good ideas into real books you can hold in your hands.

Chapter House was inspired by a simple desire to find the very best books for teaching children how to read. The classics from Æsop to Shakespeare, all in one place, in beautiful and affordable editions, original texts preserved, original illustrations restored, organized by age, with teaching guides that explain what you are reading and how to teach it well. When we could not find that, we made it.

— Joshua & Hannah Centers

Read our full story

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I buy for my child?

Start with the age-appropriate Chapter House Library. Each Library includes a Chapter House box set plus two grade levels of additional books, more than enough for a full year of reading and instruction.
If you prefer a more customized approach, begin with the age-appropriate box set, then browse our bookstore to add titles that fit your child’s pace and interests.
What age is this for?

The series spans ages 5 through 12 (K through 6th grade), across four box sets with overlapping age bands. Chapter I starts at 5–8, Chapter IV ends at 9–12. Start anywhere. Each chapter stands on its own.

Importantly, the Chapter House books are designed to be read aloud. So even a a five-year-old who does not yet read independently can enjoy these books. A child who hears Æsop's fables read aloud is receiving a richer literary education than a nine-year-old who reads summarized versions from a screen.
Is Chapter House a Charlotte Mason curriculum?

Short answer, no. However, our editorial vision is inspired by our own practice of Charlotte Mason education, and these books have a welcome home in any Charlotte Mason classroom or in any Charlotte Mason home library.

To read more about Charlotte Mason and how she fits into the Chapter House philosophy, you can do so here.
Is Chapter House a faith-based curriculum?

Not explicitly. Chapter House deals in the great works and stories of the Western Canon. This, of course, is heavily influenced by Christianity, but includes pre-Christian stories, from Beowulf to The Odyssey.

Chapter House books can and should be enjoyed by people of all faith traditions.

Our own faith is a core part of our teaching, but this will differ for each family. Our companion teaching guides offer tips and suggestions for parents concerned about navigating these books from a religious perspective.
What is included in each box set?

Three cloth-bound, illustrated classic books, plus a 60–80 page companion teaching guide with literary essays, a sample teaching day, narration guidance, and our founding essay Virtus et Miraculum. Every set is $99.50.
Do I need to homeschool to use these books?

No. The books are wonderful as bedtime read-alouds, supplements to a school curriculum, or starting points for a family's own reading journey. The pamphlets give context and confidence for parents to make the most use of these materials.
What are the curriculum bundles?

Each bundle pairs a chapter box set with ~12 grade-matched books that cover a complete curriculum: math, handwriting, nature study, music, art, and language arts. These are the books we use ourselves, chosen across decades of Charlotte Mason practice. Bundles run approximately $500 for a full year.
Can I purchase the individual titles in the box sets?

Not yet. You can only get these titles when you buy the corresponding set.