About
Indy-minded all-around bookshop known for its feminist & kid focus, with regular author appearances.
For more info about this business, download The Gay Agenda app.
What People Say
“Women & Children First is a beloved independent bookstore in Chicago, praised for its diverse and inclusive selection of books, particularly in feminism, LGBTQ+ literature, and children's books. Reviewers highlight the friendly and helpful staff, as well as the welcoming community atmosphere fostered by regular author events and book clubs. Some customers noted that certain areas of the store can be tight for wheelchair access, but overall, the positive sentiment is strong.”
Location
Hours
Monday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PMToday
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Events at Women & Children First
3 upcoming · 60 in the past 90 days
Upcoming events
Past events (last 90 days)
March 2026
Mar
1
HY
Hybrid Event: Code Noir Book Club with Canisia Lubrin & Cynthia Okechukwu
05:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Mar
1
Hybrid Event: Code Noir Book Club with Canisia Lubrin & Black Girls Read Chicago
05:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Mar
4
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
4
How to Take Your Story From Idea to the Page
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
8
Offsite: Tayari Jones in conversation with Luvvie Ajayi Jones
06:00 PMWilson Abbey
Event
Mar
11
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
11
The Abortion Companion: An Affirming Handbook for Your Choice and Your Journey
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
11
TH
The Abortion Companion: An Affirming Handbook for Your Choice and Your Journey
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
15
HO
HOTBOX St. Patricks Day
04:00 PMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Party
Mar
18
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
19
MI
Missy by Raghav Rao
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Mar
21
Offsite Event: Lindy West
07:00 PMWilson Abbey
Event
Mar
25
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
Mar
27
BE
Beer Belly Open Mic
10:30 PMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Party
Mar
29
WO
Women Aging with Wisdom and Grace Salon/Discussion Group
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Community
April 2026
Apr
1
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
Apr
6
Raising Change Agents: Practicing Social Justice in Everyday Parenting
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
8
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
Apr
10
MEGA MILK by MEGAN MILKS
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
13
BA
Banned Books Book Group
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Apr
14
The Violence: My Family's Colombian War by Adriana E. Ramírez
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
14
TH
The Violence: My Family's Colombian War by Adriana E. Ramírez
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
15
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
16
Sober Speed Dating
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Dating
Apr
16
Sober Speed Dating with Hot Potato Hearts
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Dating
Apr
18
LI
Live Auction: Lot 7 - Sister I'm Pickled!
06:00 PMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Event
Apr
20
Classics of Women's Literature Book Group
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Apr
21
Women's Book Group
07:30 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Apr
21
PO
Pokémon Trivia
07:30 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Apr
22
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
22
The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
23
Kids First Book Group
04:30 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
23
The Collective Cure: Upstream Solutions for Better Public Health by Dr. Monica L. Wang
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
24
Body Weather: Notes on Chronic Illness in the Anthropocene
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
25
Independent Bookstore Day!!!!!
12:00 AMUnabridged Books, Inc.
Event
Apr
26
Pickleball (Sunday) - Spring 2026
10:00 AMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Event
Apr
26
PI
Pickleball (Sunday) - Spring 2026
10:00 AMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Event
Apr
29
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
29
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
29
HY
Hybrid Event: The Way Disabled People Love Each Other by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
Apr
30
EM
Emotional Support Animals: Anonymous Fuzzball Comics + Workbook
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
Apr
30
Emotional Support Animals: Anonymous Fuzzball Comics + Workbook by Nicole Georges
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May 2026
May
1
Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago Reading
06:30 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
3
ME
Memory Museum: Stories by M Lin
06:30 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
5
Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg
07:00 PMOffsite at Haymarket House
Event
May
6
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Event
May
10
Women Aging with Wisdom and Grace Salon/Discussion Group
10:30 AMWomen & Children First
Community
May
11
BA
Banned Books Book Group
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Community
May
12
Beloved Disciples by Mario Elías
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
13
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
May
13
We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel
07:00 PMDorothy
Event
May
18
Classics of Women's Literature Book Group
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
19
Women's Book Group
07:30 PMWomen & Children First
Community
May
20
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
May
21
CH
Chicago Food Festival
11:00 AMHalsted St. from Belmont to Addison
Event
May
21
UG
Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter by Stephanie Fairyington
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
27
WE
Weekly Morning Storytime!
10:30 AM
Event
May
27
DO
Don't Fight Back: And 10 Other Myths about Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence by M...
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
28
Kids First Book Group
04:30 PMWomen & Children First
Event
May
28
Plastic, Prism, Void: Part One by Violet Allen
07:00 PMWomen & Children First
Event
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