Inside book homes: Women & Children First, Chicago

I wanted to see the Women & Children First bookstore for a long time because it’s one of the most frequently mentioned when it comes to independent bookstores in Chicago. I finally had a chance to visit it on my recent trip to the city.

Women & Children First is a bookstore with a mission and a history. Founded in 1979 by two UIC alumni, it has given voice to the underrepresented, including of women and the LGBTQIA+ community.

The book collection has been carefully compiled to include female authors and books about women, and a variety of children’s books. I particularly liked their selection of graphic novels.

I enjoyed being surrounded by women, both staff and clients, as well as celebrating the talent of female authors in an environment that values diversity and individuality.

Among my finds was a copy of Mari Andrew’s My Inner Sky: On Embracing Day, Night, and All the Times in Between that I picked up enticed by the watercolor illustrations inside.