books and books

What books and books does

Books and Books LTDA is a Colombian educational products distribution and digital learning company founded in 1993 in Bogotá. The company distributes more than 5,000 educational products sourced from international publishers including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Helbling, Cambridge University Press, and Junior Learning. Its customer base spans K-12 institutions, universities, language schools, government education bodies, and retail consumers served through four physical stores across Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín, alongside an e-commerce channel.

The firm has built proprietary digital learning platforms — B-Kids, B-English, B-Francais, and BBB — that bundle publisher content with structured curricula, and has layered an AI-powered language tutor (with voice recognition and generative AI practice) onto its language-learning offerings. Strategic alliances with International House Bogotá and International House Barranquilla integrate this content into established language-school operations, and a partnership with the Secretaría de Educación de Soacha extends reach into public-sector K-12 procurement. With 51-200 employees and three decades of operating history, the company functions as a hybrid distribution-and-platform business anchored in the Colombian education market.

Revenue mechanics combine wholesale distribution margins on physical products, retail margins across physical and online channels, institutional B2B contracts, and (likely) subscription or licensing fees for the proprietary platforms. No funding rounds or revenue figures are disclosed, and the company is privately held.

Name

books and books

Legal name

BOOKS AND BOOKS LTDA

Website

https://booksandbooks.com.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Books and Books is a Colombian educational distributor and digital platform developer, founded in 1993, that distributes 5,000+ products from international publishers and operates proprietary B-Kids, B-English, B-Francais, and BBB learning platforms for K-12, language schools, government, and retail customers across four Colombian cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Materials Distribution

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum) (MPAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF), Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE), Educational & Academic Publishing Distribution (Textbooks) (CRAOALAC)

Keywords

• Bilingual educational materials
• Language learning platforms
• Educational content distribution
• Digital learning solutions
• Academic publishing distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Educational Materials Distribution: Distribution of physical educational materials including books, readers, flashcards, games, posters, and teaching resources from international publishers. The company distributes over 5,000 products from leading worldwide publishers.
2. Digital Platform Licensing: Licensing of proprietary digital learning platforms (B-Kids, B-English, B-Francais) to educational institutions and individuals. Platforms offer courses aligned with CEFR with multimedia content and administrative tracking capabilities.
3. Teacher Training and Consulting: Training services for educators on如何使用 educational tools and resources, includingcapacitaciones for teachers on using BBB materials and digital platforms.
4. Custom Digital Content Development: Development of customized digital educational resources including software, virtual classrooms, simulations, 3D/360 content, AR/VR experiences, and virtual learning objects for institutional clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Books and Books produces and distributes educational content, language learning platforms, and academic materials for all education levels. Its portfolio combines proprietary CEFR-aligned digital learning platforms (B-Kids, B-English, B-Francais), the BBB bilingual library program, distribution of over 5,000 international publisher products, custom digital content development including AR/VR and AI tutoring, teacher training services, and physical retail and e-commerce storefronts across Colombia.

Product overview

Books and Books is an innovative Colombian educational company with over 30 years of experience producing and distributing educational content. The company operates a multi-platform ecosystem comprising three digital language learning platforms (B-Kids for children aged 8-14, B-English for adults, and B-Francais for French learners), the BBB (Biblioteca Básica Bilingüe) bilingual library program for preschool and primary schools, physical bookstore locations with event spaces, and an e-commerce store. The company's Innovation and Technological Development Department creates proprietary digital educational resources including software, virtual classrooms, simulators, 3D/360 content, augmented and virtual reality experiences, video games, and virtual learning objects. Books and Books distributes over 5,000 products from international publishers and specializes in English and French language education with international exam preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B-Kids Platform Digital language learning platform for children aged 8-14 offering five CEFR-aligned English courses with 12 modules per level, multimedia content (videos, audio, games, animations), Activities, Self Check, Phonics, and Test sections, totaling over 750 learning hours (150 hours per level).
• B-English Platform Adult English learning platform offering five CEFR-aligned courses (A1 Beginner through C1 Advanced), 12 modules per level with multimedia content, responsive design, administrative interface for student tracking, Activities, Self Check, and My Colombia cultural content sections.
• B-Francais Platform French language learning platform for adults with five CEFR-aligned courses, 60+ modules, 700+ work hours, and 2,100+ multimedia resources, including administrative reporting, language laboratory features with TV5 Monde videos, karaoke videos, voice recognition, and verb conjugation tools.
• BBB - Biblioteca Basica Bilingue Bilingual basic library solution for preschool and primary grades, including didactic materials, readers, big books, flashcards, games, posters, and digital/audio resources, with teacher training included.
• E-commerce Store Online retail storefront offering educational materials across multiple categories including literature, preschool/primary/secondary readings, dictionaries, teaching materials, exam preparation, and language learning materials, with home delivery options and prices in Colombian Pesos.
• Physical Bookstore Locations Four physical retail and event-space locations in Bogotá (headquarters), Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín providing educational resources, walk-in purchases, meeting spaces, trainings, workshops, conferences, and corporate events.
• Custom Digital Educational Content Development Bespoke development of digital educational resources for institutional clients, including educational software, virtual classrooms, simulators, 3D and 360 tours, augmented reality, virtual reality, video games, and virtual learning objects (OVA).
• Teacher Training and Consulting Services Professional development and training services for educators on the use of BBB bilingual materials, B-Kids/B-English/B-Francais platforms, and other educational tools deployed within institutional programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750+ learning hours available across B-Kids platform (150 hours per level)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International House BogotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic alliance for bilingual education initiatives. Books and Books and International House Bogota collaborate on educational events, international exam presentations, and professional development programs for teachers. The partnership combines content distribution with language teaching expertise to deliver comprehensive bilingual education solutions to Colombian institutions.
• International House BarranquillacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for presenting international exams and strengthening bilingualism processes at IED Sofia Camargo de Lleras and other institutions. International House Barranquilla conducts exam sessions while Books and Books provides supporting educational materials and platforms.
• Universidad Autonoma de ManizalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizers of the Future ELT Summit, an event focused on trends, measurement, and leadership in language teaching. The partnership brings together academic expertise and industry resources to advance English language education across Latin America.
• Houghton Mifflin HarcourtmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for importing and distributing educational materials from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, one of the leading educational publishers worldwide. Books and Books serves as authorized distributor of HMH content in Colombia.
• HelblingmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for Helbling educational materials and readers in Colombia. Helbling is a recognized publisher specializing in language learning resources, and Books and Books distributes their catalog including Helbling Readers series.
• Cambridge University PressmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership maintaining links with Cambridge University Press, a leading global publisher of academic and educational content. Books and Books distributes Cambridge materials including Think series and exam preparation resources.
• Secretaria de Educacion de SoachacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with the Education Secretariat of Soacha for the XUA TEACHER'S NET English Teacher Network initiative. Books and Books participates as exhibitor and educational resource provider, presenting teaching materials and solutions to participating teachers and educators.
• Fundacion MayaguezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally in the ELT Conference: Inside Out - Skills for Life event. The foundation collaborated on organizing a conference focused on English language teaching skills and life competencies for educators.
• Colegio Ana Julia Holguin de HurtadominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partnership for ELT Conference: Inside Out. The school participated as a strategic ally in organizing the professional development event for English teachers.
• Junior LearningminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for distributing Junior Learning educational materials and games in Colombia. Junior Learning specializes in multisensory educational games and resources for early childhood and primary education, aligning with Books and Books' focus on bilingual materials for young learners.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Duolingo: Global consumer and now institutional language-learning platform with massive scale and a freemium model. Comparable to Books and Books' B-English/B-Francais platforms as a digital language-learning solution, particularly competing for adult learner time and budget.
• Helbling: European publisher specializing in ELT readers and young-learner materials. Already a Books and Books distribution partner; comparable as a smaller, specialized ELT publisher whose content Books and Books brings to Colombian schools.

Regional players

• Grupo SM (Ediciones SM): Spanish-language educational publisher with significant presence across Spain and Latin America. Comparable to Books and Books as a regional peer offering K-12 textbooks and bilingual/religious educational content in Spanish-speaking markets.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson: Global education and assessment company with deep K-12, higher-ed and English-learning portfolios. Comparable to Books and Books as a broad incumbent offering textbooks, digital platforms, and standardized assessments across Latin America.
• Cambridge University Press: Global academic and English-language-teaching publisher. Books and Books is an authorized distributor of Cambridge's Think series and exam prep materials; comparable as a publisher of authoritative ELT content serving the same institutional buyers.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: One of the largest U.S. K-12 publishers and an existing distribution partner of Books and Books. Comparable as a global incumbent in K-12 curriculum and ELT content, though it does not specialize in the Colombian niche.
• McGraw-Hill Education: Major U.S. K-12 and higher-education publisher with bilingual and ELT offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying textbooks and digital learning tools to institutions, similar to Books and Books' distribution business.
• Oxford University Press (ELT): Global ELT publisher with strong K-12 and adult-learner English series competing for the same institutional buyers as Books and Books' B-English and B-Kids platforms.

Direct peers

• Santillana (PRISA): Largest Spanish-language K-12 educational publisher and distributor in Latin America, with a strong presence in Colombia. Directly comparable to Books and Books in textbook distribution, ELT materials, and digital solutions for schools.
• Editorial Norma (Grupo Norma): Colombian-rooted educational publisher with a wide K-12 catalog and school-channel distribution. Directly competes with Books and Books in textbook supply and bilingual education programs for Colombian institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/booksandbooksco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@booksandbookscolombia
• Facebookfacebook.com/booksandbooksco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/books-and-books-ltda.
• Instagraminstagram.com/booksandbooksco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about books and books