CLP Readers

The folks at Christian Liberty Press firmly believe good stories exist not only to entertain us, but also to instruct us in virtuous living (a concept originally articulated by Aristotle in his book Poetics). While their reading program isn’t so much a cohesive, systematic curriculum as a collection of readers for different grade levels, this standard is adhered to in each text making for a series of books for students that is informative, challenging, and character-building.

How Do These Work?

As a guide to teaching reading comprehension and basic story analysis, How to Teach Reading Successfully is for parents. This is not a phonics instruction guide; it simply helps you improve your kids’ reading abilities, vocabularies, and helps you know what to have them look for when they read. More along the phonics line, Noah Webster’s Reading Handbook for grades 1-2 is a revision of the classic and contains word lists and charts grouped according to phonics rules for students to study and memorize.

While this isn’t a systematic reading program, there are options available for each grade from K-6. For the most part students read a section and then write answers to comprehension questions. The texts are illustrated, either in color or black and white. Most of them have accompanying teacher guides/answer keys for the comprehension questions.

For grades K-2 there are the Phonics Readers. There are four, and range between 27-59 pages. Color cartoon drawings by Vic Lockman make the texts appealing for young kids. Stories are short and simple (two pages long apiece), with a list of vocabulary words at the beginning relating to a specific phonics rule or principle. The next is Trottino’s Tale (formerly Lessons from the Farmyard) for K-3 graders. This contains a series of stories about a young rabbit and his friends who learn important character lessons in a number of fantasy adventures.

Most popular at Exodus, the Nature Readers are a series of six readers for grades K-5, each covering one year. 2nd edition texts are illustrated with old fashioned two-tone drawings, while the 3rd editions feature full-color art. Stories are excursions in nature study, often with a moral or virtue attached. For each there is an accompanying answer key with answers to all in-text questions. While you could have your kids write their answers, it would probably be better at this stage to just have them discuss the answers with you.

Meeting New Friends is for first grade, and contains 95 two-page lessons with vocabulary words, a story to read, and comprehension questions, all illustrated with color photographs. There is a series of word charts for further study in the back. For second grade there is Beautiful Stories for Children and The Robinson Crusoe Reader. Both are illustrated with color drawings; the first contains character-building stories and vocabulary words, the second is simply an abridgment of the classic novel.

Stories of the Pilgrims covers grades 2-4; stories are longer and comprehension questions more challenging. Illustrations are in color, and there is an answer key. History Stories for Children and The Story of the Wright Brothers and Their Sister are both for third grade. History Stories is a series of biographical sketches of famous (usually Christian) historical figures with vocabulary words and comprehension questions; a teacher’s manual includes answers to written exercises as well as information and resources for further study. Wright Brothers is a biography with lots of black and white drawings.

The emphasis in Boys and Girls of Colonial Days for grade four is on comprehension, with several questions at the end of each story. There is an accompanying answer key. Pinocchio’s Quest for grades 4-6 is a retelling of Pinocchio narrated by the puppet himself; a coloring book accompanies.

For grade 6 The Story of Inventions offers a series of narratives concerning famous scientific inventions and progresses with black and white illustrations; there is an answer key and test packet as well. Children of the Covered Wagon is a novel about the Oregon Trail for grades 3-5; Iron Scouts of the Confederacy is a novel about the Civil War for students grades 6-8.

Our Honest Opinion:

For the most part these are excellent readers. The comprehension questions are genuinely challenging, and the reading level is higher than in many comparable readers. The newer editions of the books are engaging with colorful artwork. Beautiful Stories for Children and Pinocchio’s Quest are the weak links in the series; Beautiful Stories is very stilted and the moral lessons seem contrived, while Pinocchio’s Quest is basically just a retelling of the original novel at the same reading level but not as well written. Other than those two (which are the two least popular among Exodus customers), these volumes represent quality reading material from a consciously Christian perspective.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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55 Items found Print
Beautiful Stories for Children
by Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$14.50 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days (old)
by Carolyn Bailey
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
$9.50
Building a New Nation - Reader
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Building a New Nation - Set
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$28.70
Building a New Nation - Student Exercises
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.75 (1 in stock)
Building a New Nation - Teacher's Manual
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Building a New Nation - Test Packet
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Children of the Covered Wagon
by Mary Jane Carr
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$16.75
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1
by Florence Bass & Julie McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1 - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$4.20
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 2
by Julia McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 2 - Answer Key
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$4.20
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 3
by Julie McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 3 - Answer Key
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$4.20
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4
by Paul Lindstrom & Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4 - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 5
by Wendy Kramer
4th edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 5 - Answer Key
4th edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book K
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$8.90
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book K - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$3.00
Christian Liberty Nature Reader set
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$62.28
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature - Answer Key
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$6.45
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature - Set
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$31.61
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature - Student Exercises
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$6.45
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature - Test Packet
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$6.45
Fighting with Whales
by Michael McHugh
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Finding a New Land
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Finding a New Land - Answer Key
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (2 in stock)
Finding a New Land - Set
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Readers (Location: REA-CLP)
$24.19
Finding a New Land - Test Packet
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (1 in stock)
History Stories for Children
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children (old)
by Dr. John Wayland
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
$6.00 (1 in stock)
History Stories for Children (old)
by Dr. John Wayland
from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Set
3rd edition
for 3rd grade
in CLP Readers (Location: REA-CLP)
$28.70
History Stories for Children - Student Exercises
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $3.00 (3 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Teacher Manual
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.75 (1 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Tests
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Iron Scouts of the Confederacy
by Lee McGiffin
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.50
Kindergarten Phonics Readers - Set
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$26.80
Meeting New Friends
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.15
Pinocchio's Quest
by Robert Rogland
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$16.75 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Pinocchio's Quest - Coloring Book
by Vic Lockman
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$4.20
Robinson Crusoe Reader
by Julia Cowles
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Stories of the Pilgrims
by Margaret Pumphrey
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$14.50
Stories of the Pilgrims (old)
by Margaret Pumphrey
Revised Edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Stories of the Pilgrims - Answer Key
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Story of Inventions
by Frank Bachman & Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$14.50 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Inventions (old)
by Frank Bachman & Michael McHugh
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in Clearance: Readers (Location: ZCLE-READ)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Story of Inventions - Answer Key
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Story of Inventions - Set
by Frank Bachman & Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$21.35
Story of Inventions - Tests
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Story of the Wright Brothers and Their Sister
by Lois Mills
from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$11.75 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Time at Home
Christian Liberty Phonics Reader #3
by Florence Lindstrom
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$6.50
Trottino's Tale
by Madam J. Colomb
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in CLP Preschool (Location: PRE-CLP)
$15.60