Women & Children First Bookstore

Fall is the most magical time of year for bookish folks like us! Our latest seasonal newsletter is full of preorders and staff recommendations!

Women & Children First Presents: Intersections Upcoming Releases, Book Recommendations, and News at the Corner of Feminist Literature and Politics Intersections Fall 2024 Dear Friends of Women & Children First, Every fall, we pack the store shelv

Have you heard? We are hosting the legendary Louise Erdrich in conversation with Luis Alberto Urrrea on October 16! Get your tickets before we’re sold out: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/off-site-an-evening-with-louise-erdrich-tickets-957615031337?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

We had an incredible time at our event with Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson on Sunday! Thank you so much to Valerie Jarrett, Chicago Humanities Festival, Justice Jackson, and her whole team for making this event possible.

We have a few SIGNED COPIES of “Lovely One” remaining available for purchase. They make great gifts! Order today: https://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com/book/9780593729908

Photo credit: David Kindler

This Friday the 13th, we’re kicking off spooky season early with this fantastic le***an vampire novel by one of our favorite writers, Kiersten White! Join us tonight for this free event!

In-Person: Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel by Kiersten White A vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love in this epic & seductive goth fantasy

Migrant Support Collective invites you to a day of community, food, and art at Haymarket House on September 29. During this event, MSC will spread the word about the new programs and services that they provide detained migrants in the United States, all of which center affirming the human right to autonomy, community, and creative expression!

Migrant Support Collective: Launch Party Join us for a day of community, food, and art as we celebrate our new programs and services for detained migrants.

We're looking forward to hosting the Birth Monologues event on September 26th with our friends at the Sokana Collective! Sokana is a group of birth workers and educators that provide support for abortion journeys, labor & lactation & postpartum support, birth justice doula certification, and more!

Events — Birth Justice Doula Agency and Training Academy Birth and....Monologues Get ready for a heartwarming exchange of love and support at Sokana Collective's highly anticipated annual Birth and… Monologues event on September 26th, from 7-8:30pm!Immerse yourself in the spirit of community and connection as the excitement builds for this special eveni...

Our September Newsletter is live---packed with exciting events with Bill Ayers, Jo-Ann Finkelstein & a fundraiser for the Migrant Support Collective!

September Events at Women & Children First! Supreme Court Justice Jackson, Bill Ayers, Daisy Hernandez, and more! September 2024 Dear Friends of Women & Children First, The back-to-school buzz is in the air! We had our first class visits this w

Thrilled to be hosting Michele Weldon & Arlene Malinowski this Wednesday! At a time when so many are dealing with collective and personal grief, award-winning author and journalist Michele Weldon’s new collection of essays navigates the revelatory and upending nature of this extraordinary pandemic era through a lens of love and connection.

In-person Book Launch: THE TIME WE HAVE by Michele Weldon A candid and cathartic exploration of pandemic life, from family to pop culture to healthcare—and beyond

We’re deeply honored to partner with the Chicago Humanities Festival to host Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson! With an unflinching account, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson welcomes the public into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on the highest court within the span of one generation. Join us as she discusses her groundbreaking memoir, Lovely One. Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known. Don't miss this inspiring opportunity to hear her personal reflections on breaking barriers and shaping history. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/ketanji-brown-jackson/

Come help W&CF raise funds for the Women's Voices Fund, with our wildly popular "Basement Clean-Out" Sale! This fundraiser (part of Andersonville's Sidewalk Sale weekend) invites book lovers and bargain hunters to treasure hunt through the stacks for great deals on novels, children's books, cookbooks, art books, Advanced Reader Copies, and much more--all at a suggested donation of $4 to $10! Although we always prefer cash, we now can accept credit card via Square!

The Women's Voices Fund, the non-profit arm of the store, supports all of our public-facing events as well as internal programming and support for staff.

July is here & we are hosting another fabulous month of events! Plus, our wildly popular Clean Out Our Basement sale is back!

July Events at Your Local Feminist Bookstore! The Clean Out the Basement Sale is Back! July 2024 Dear Friends of Women & Children First, All the signs of summer are here—beach read buying, Farmers Markets, and street festivals! Plus Friends of An

Summer has arrived with a bit of vengeance, bringing a heat dome with scorching temps. While we’re hiding away in (hopefully) cooler buildings, why not read a little? We’re nostalgic for the days of reading to win personal pan pizzas and library challenges, so we are happy to introduce Women & Children First’s Summer Bingo!

Fill in the squares with corresponding books and interpret the categories as you wish! For every BINGO, enter to win prizes 🌟 You can find the entry form: https://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com/wcf-summer-reading-bingo-2024

We’d love to see y’all tag us as you fill in squares! Bingo runs from June 20th to September 6th. Happy reading! 💖📚

Our Seasonal Newsletter is all about summer reads! (Please note: W&CF is closed for Juneteenth. We'll back open on Thursday, June 20 at 11 a.m.)

Women & Children First Presents: Intersections: Summer Reads What books are in our Beach Bag? Find out inside! Intersections SUMMER 2024 Dear Friends of Women & Children First, Like it or not, it's hot! Time to head to the beach slathered in sunscreen and arm

We can't wait for this annual storytelling event! This year, we're taking the show on the road to Whiskey Girl! Get your tickets today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youre-being-ridiculous-pride-show-tickets-912846206577?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3U0xo9JlDNh5VTrqvGYZTfZrtc1QtPnEqGYmMkfBOpODG7-_m5wROqQUU_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Join us virtually on Thursday, May 2 to celebrate the release of “Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire” edited by Alice Wong! We’re partnering with Access Living to bring you a fantastic panel with Alice Wong, Akemi Nishida, Ashley Volion, and Moya Bailey 💫

This panel will be held on zoom webinar at 7PM CT. ASL & CART will be provided! You can register on our website via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-disability-intimacy-essays-on-love-care-and-desire-panel-tickets-882004799097?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us! Atavia Reed will interview Arionne Nettles about her new book WE ARE THE CULTURE at 7 p.m. on April 22! This event is the latest edition of the Block Club Book Club.

‘We Are The Culture’ Explores The History And Magic Of Black Chicago The debut book from journalist, lecturer and author Arionne Nettles celebrates the legacy of Black pop culture worldwide: "This is a love letter to us, for us, about us."

Store hours update:

We will now be open on Mondays, from 12PM to 6PM! Curbside pick up will still be available on Mondays 💜

Tuesday through Sundays will remain the same, we’ll be open 11 AM to 6PM ✨

Indie Bookstore Day is just around the corner! Everyone’s favorite day! 😉

For the bookstore crawl this year, we’re going back to passports for collecting stamps and there are now three bus routes available! You can find the map of all participating stores, general information, and links to bus tickets on chilovebooks.com

At W&CF, you can expect exclusive IBD merch & a bake sale with 💜

We spy lots of event books releasing today 👀

This month’s events will bring you poetry, YA, fiction, and non-fiction…& Indie Bookstore Day to top it all off!

All information & registration links for events are live on our website ✨

READ ALL ABOUT IT! Our April Newsletter is here! Join events and start planning your route for Independent Bookstore Day!

This April, we're celebrating Independent Bookstore Day, National Poetry Month & more! We'll be open on Mondays starting April 15! April 2024 Dear Friends of Women & Children First, Mark your calendars! Start planning your route! The annual Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl returns on Saturda

Happy Trans Day of Visibility! Today we celebrate the lives and contributions of trans folks 🏳️‍⚧️🩷

Today, and every day, let’s continue to amplify and support trans voices and experiences ✨ We’ve gathered just a few of our favorite titles by trans,non-binary, & gender non-conforming authors to add to your reading list. We’d love to hear which books & authors are your favorites 💖

Join us to celebrate the life and legacy of Elise Malary with the unveiling of her honorary street sign!

"Elise Malary Way" Street Naming Ceremony & Celebration Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Elise Malary with the unveiling of her honorary street sign at Clark & Catalpa.

This weekend is Andersonville’s Insidewalk Sale! March 22-24, businesses in the neighborhood will have different sales going on for you to check out 🩵

At Women & Children First, you can get 10% off your order if you donate $5 or more to Chicago Books to Women in Prison!

As always, thank you for shopping and supporting small indie businesses ✨