Books on First

Books on First Books on First -
Premier Bookstore/Coffeeshop in the heart of Downtown Dixon, IL
Open 7 Days a Week! We are a bookseller/coffeehouse situated 2 hrs.
(288)

west of Chicago, 1 hr. south of Rockford and 1 hr. east of the Quad Cities. We have a good selection of Midwest history books (including nearly every available book on Dixon's own Ronald Reagan), which customers comment on quite often. We also carry fiction, poetry, young adult, biography, gardening, and current events to name a few, as well as a large selection of children's books and educational

toys. We believe in sourcing and supporting local and small businesses. Come in to see artwork by Sydni Reubin and Arjun Jaeger, cards with photographs of Dixon by Charlie Kerr, soaps by Lisa Wood’s Bare Body Beautiful, honey from Tim Benedict’s Orion Organics bees, inclusion chocolate bars by Ethereal Confectionery, book cover candles by Noble Objects and more!

Good news for your sweet tooth, we now have mini beignets filled with chocolate and hazelnut! These pair best with a lat...
06/04/2026

Good news for your sweet tooth, we now have mini beignets filled with chocolate and hazelnut! These pair best with a latte and a good book 😉☕📖

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Pride Month! Stop by to check out our selection of LGBTQ+ reads! 🌈
05/31/2026

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Pride Month! Stop by to check out our selection of LGBTQ+ reads! 🌈

Waldo will be returning to Dixon this July for "Find Waldo Local!"🔎Here's how to join the fun:- Pick up a “Find Waldo Lo...
05/28/2026

Waldo will be returning to Dixon this July for "Find Waldo Local!"🔎

Here's how to join the fun:
- Pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Dixon” stamp card at any of the participating stores Starting July 1st.
- With each miniature Waldo they spot, searchers get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop. (Eagle-eyed hunters can also look for Wizard Whitebeard hidden here at Books on First!)
- Collect stamps at 10 locations to be entered into a prize drawing.
- Collect stamps at 20 locations to be entered into a deluxe prize drawing.
- Complete the entire stamp card to be entered into the grand prize drawing!

All participants are welcome to attend the celebration party at Books on First on August 1st at 1pm for our prize drawings and to enjoy light snacks, refreshments, and games!

We are so excited to be hosting this event again! Keep an eye out for more details as we get closer to July. 👀

05/26/2026

Did you know that Books on First has a full service coffee bar? We offer everything from drip coffee to frappes! ☕️
We also have a full stock of honey from Orion Organics. We currently have regular and elderberry with cinnamon! 🐝🌸

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend! We will be open today until 5pm and then be closed for t...
05/23/2026

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend! We will be open today until 5pm and then be closed for the remainder of the weekend. 🇺🇸

Summer reads are arriving! Any book in our summer catalog is now 20% off. Stop by to find your next beach read or vacati...
05/20/2026

Summer reads are arriving! Any book in our summer catalog is now 20% off. Stop by to find your next beach read or vacation book! 🏖️📚

Do you have a grad in your life? Whether it's for a high school or college graduation, we have books and cards that are ...
05/16/2026

Do you have a grad in your life? Whether it's for a high school or college graduation, we have books and cards that are a wonderful way to celebrate their big milestone! We're here seven days a week for any last minute graduation shopping!

Keen eyes may have noticed that the pelicans have returned to the Rock River, but we're here to tell you that they have ...
05/14/2026

Keen eyes may have noticed that the pelicans have returned to the Rock River, but we're here to tell you that they have also arrived to the shelves at Books on First! We have a variety of Dixon postcards and plushies of Illinois fauna. 📬

Restock alert! We've gotten in more copies of "My First Trip to the Bleachers," illustrated by local artist Nora Reuter,...
05/13/2026

Restock alert! We've gotten in more copies of "My First Trip to the Bleachers," illustrated by local artist Nora Reuter, and John Plescia's "North Woods Adventures of Bob Baker."
Supplies are limited, so be sure to call or stop by soon to reserve your copy!

Happy Mother’s Day! Stop to snag a last minute gift,or bring mom by and spoil her with a new book and a latte!
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day! Stop to snag a last minute gift,
or bring mom by and spoil her with a new book and a latte!

Address

202 W 1st Street
Dixon, IL
61021

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(815) 285-2665

Website

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