B.E.S. Publishing

B.E.S. Publishing is an American book publisher whose roots lie in college-entrance examination preparation. The company was established in 1939 as Barron's Educational Services, initially producing study materials intended to help students prepare for admissions tests and related academic examinations. Its early identity was therefore closely associated with supplementary education, test preparation, and concise instructional publishing. Over time, the business broadened considerably beyond examination preparation. Its catalog came to include educational reference works, self-teaching textbooks, foreign-language study aids, cookbooks, children's activity books, and other general-interest titles. The expansion gave the company a substantially wider publishing profile than its original test-preparation focus. Reference material describes a catalog of approximately 2,000 titles spanning numerous subject areas, although the exact size and composition of the list may have changed over time. The company's educational publishing has been organized around recognizable series. The E-Z Series presents self-directed textbooks designed to help readers learn or review a variety of subjects. Made Easy titles use a concise explanatory format for school and college topics. Painless books provide accessible review and reference coverage of academic subjects. Foreign-language materials include the 1001 Pitfalls grammar series, the companion 501 Verbs series, pocket grammars, verb tables, vocabulary books, and the Master the Basics self-instruction line. These series reflect a practical, study-oriented approach aimed at students, independent learners, and general readers seeking compact instructional resources. B.E.S. also developed nonacademic and children's publishing lines. Step-by-Step cookbooks cover ethnic cuisines and appliance-specific cooking. The MazeToons series, illustrated by Joe Wos, combines cartoon artwork with maze-solving activities and includes titles such as A-Maze-Ing Animals, Myths and Monsters, Maze-O-Zoic, A-Maze-Ing America, and Mega Maze Challenge. Other books associated with the catalog include The Food Lover's Companion and the book edition connected with the film Night at the Museum. A significant corporate change occurred in 2018, when the company sold the Barron's brand name and its test-preparation list to Kaplan Test Prep. Following that transaction, the remaining publishing company adopted the name B.E.S. Publishing. The change separated the historic Barron's test-preparation identity from the broader book-publishing operation while allowing B.E.S. to continue its educational and general-interest catalog under a different corporate name. B.E.S. Publishing was acquired by Peterson's Publishing in 2019. Peterson's later sold the company in 2021 to Sourcebooks, LLC, an Illinois-based independent publisher. Under Sourcebooks ownership, B.E.S. remains associated with practical educational, reference, language-learning, children's, and lifestyle books. Publicly available reference material does not provide enough information to establish a detailed current executive roster, current annual revenue, or a definitive worldwide operating footprint.

B.E.S. Publishing began in 1939 as Barron's Educational Services, an American publisher focused on materials for students preparing for college entrance examinations. Its initial business model placed it within the educational-support and test-preparation sector, supplying books intended to supplement classroom learning and help students prepare for standardized admissions tests. The company gradually expanded its publishing program beyond examination preparation. Its later catalog covered school and college subjects, language learning, reference, cooking, children's activities, and other general-interest categories. This diversification was expressed through branded series and recurring formats rather than a single narrow subject area. The E-Z Series offered self-teaching textbooks across multiple topics, while Made Easy books presented concise instructional coverage, particularly for secondary-school and college-level subjects. The Painless line used an accessible review and reference format for academic areas. Language learning became another important part of the catalog. The 1001 Pitfalls series addressed common errors and problem areas in foreign-language grammar. It was complemented by the 501 Verbs series, as well as shorter grammars, verb tables, vocabulary books, and other compact study aids. Master the Basics provided another self-instruction approach for foreign-language learners. These products extended the company's original educational mission into independent study and practical reference publishing. The list also included consumer and children's books. Step-by-Step cookbooks covered cuisines and cooking appliances. The MazeToons books, illustrated by Joe Wos, used cartoon-style artwork and maze puzzles for younger readers and families. Named examples include A-Maze-Ing Animals, Myths and Monsters, Maze-O-Zoic, A-Maze-Ing America, and Mega Maze Challenge. The catalog also included titles such as The Food Lover's Companion and the book associated with Night at the Museum, showing the breadth of the company's publishing interests. A major transition took place in 2018. The company sold the Barron's brand name and its test-preparation list to Kaplan Test Prep. The transaction changed the relationship between the historic Barron's name and the remaining publishing operation. After the sale, the company was renamed B.E.S. Publishing, using an identity that reflected its continuing book-publishing activities without retaining the Barron's brand as its principal name. In 2019, Peterson's Publishing acquired B.E.S. Publishing. The ownership change placed the educational and general-interest catalog within another publishing organization with an established connection to education-related content. In 2021, Peterson's sold B.E.S. Publishing to Sourcebooks, LLC, an Illinois-based publisher headquartered in the United States. The acquisition made B.E.S. part of Sourcebooks' broader publishing portfolio. The available reference material identifies Hauppauge, New York, as B.E.S. Publishing's headquarters and describes a catalog of roughly 2,000 titles in recent years. It does not establish a complete account of current imprints, individual title sales, current management, digital publishing strategy, or international distribution. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest on the company's founding purpose, catalog diversification, 2018 brand separation, and subsequent ownership changes.

• 2021

  Acquired by Sourcebooks

  [1]B.E.S. Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Peterson's Publishing sold B.E.S. Publishing to Illinois-based publisher Sourcebooks, LLC.

• 2019

  Acquired by Peterson's Publishing

  [1]B.E.S. Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Peterson's Publishing acquired B.E.S. Publishing.

• 2018

  Barron's identity separated from the remaining book publisher

  [1]B.E.S. Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  The Barron's brand name and test-preparation list were sold to Kaplan Test Prep, and the remaining company was renamed B.E.S. Publishing.

• 1939

  Founded as Barron's Educational Services

  [1]B.E.S. Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  The company was established as a publisher of materials designed to help students prepare for college entrance examinations.

Practical, accessible educational and general-interest publishing, combining concise academic support and language-learning materials with reference, cooking, and children's activity books.

• Educational self-study

  E-Z Series

  The E-Z Series consists of self-teaching textbooks intended to help readers learn, review, or reinforce knowledge in a range of subjects. Its defining proposition is independent study through structured explanations and accessible presentation rather than highly specialized academic treatment.

• Academic study guides

  Made Easy

  Made Easy titles provide concise instructional coverage of numerous school subjects, with particular relevance to high-school and college-level learners. The series is positioned as a practical aid for understanding essential concepts and reviewing course material in a compact format.

• Academic reference and review

  Painless

  The Painless line presents academic subjects in a reference-oriented review format. It is designed to make potentially difficult topics more approachable for students and general readers through simplified explanations and organized coverage.

• Foreign-language learning

  1001 Pitfalls

  The 1001 Pitfalls series focuses on common mistakes and recurring difficulties in foreign-language grammar. It is supported by related language-learning formats, including compact grammar books, vocabulary aids, and reference tools intended for students and independent learners.

• Foreign-language learning

  501 Verbs

  The 501 Verbs series provides companion-style support for foreign-language learners by organizing commonly used verbs and their forms for study and reference. Related abbreviated editions and verb tables extend the same practical approach to portable language learning.

• Foreign-language self-instruction

  Master the Basics

  Master the Basics is a foreign-language self-instruction line aimed at readers who want a foundational introduction or refresher without relying solely on classroom instruction. The series fits B.E.S.'s broader emphasis on accessible, independent learning.

• Cookbooks

  Step-by-Step cookbooks

  The Step-by-Step line includes cookbooks organized around clear procedural instruction. The catalog has covered both ethnic cuisines and cooking appliances, extending the publisher's practical, instructional format into food and lifestyle publishing.

• Children's activity books

  MazeToons Series

  MazeToons combines cartoon illustrations with maze-solving activities. Titles associated with the series include A-Maze-Ing Animals, Myths and Monsters, Maze-O-Zoic, A-Maze-Ing America, and Mega Maze Challenge. The books are designed as recreational activity products for children and families.

• 2021

  Sale to SourcebooksM&A

  Background

  Peterson's Publishing owned B.E.S. Publishing after the company's transition away from the Barron's brand.

  Action taken

  Peterson's Publishing sold B.E.S. Publishing to Sourcebooks, LLC, an Illinois-based publisher.

  Aftermath

  B.E.S. joined Sourcebooks' publishing portfolio. Public reference material does not specify the transaction value or detailed integration plans.

  Source

• 2019

  Acquisition by Peterson's PublishingM&A

  Background

  Following the 2018 separation of the Barron's brand and test-preparation list, B.E.S. Publishing continued as a diversified educational and general-interest book publisher.

  Action taken

  Peterson's Publishing acquired B.E.S. Publishing.

  Aftermath

  B.E.S. became part of Peterson's publishing holdings until its subsequent sale in 2021.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale of the Barron's brand and test-preparation listM&A

  Background

  The company had developed from a test-preparation publisher into a broader educational and general-interest book publisher, while the Barron's name remained strongly associated with examination materials.

  Action taken

  The Barron's brand name and the company's test-preparation list were sold to Kaplan Test Prep. The remaining operation changed its name to B.E.S. Publishing.

  Aftermath

  The transaction separated the historic Barron's identity and test-preparation business from the broader book catalog that continued under the B.E.S. name.

  Source

1. 1B.E.S. Publishingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2B.E.S. Publishing official websitebarronseduc.com