Iced Vanilla Latte - SO GOOD! Lots of interesting books too and is bigger inside than you think! Lots to offer for ALL ages.

Nice little book store. My kids really enjoy it too.

Excellent latte, plenty of flavors, great music on Saturdays and of course...many books to be read

We always look forward to a trip to Books on First! The selection is eclectic and the atmosphere is cozy. The only problem we have is getting our kids to leave when it’s time to go. The children’s area is filled with so many great books, games, and toys for all ages... we really can’t blame them for wanting to live there!

Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 7:09 AMBooks on FirstDixon IllinoisNoticed that Lee Murdoch planned a concert at this bookstore in Dixons downtown. Ive followed Murdoch since I heard him at a house concert in Muskegon Michigan. Thats thirteen years ago, 2008, when I heard him. The owner, a member of the lumber families of Muskegon, gave tours on the theme of Great Lakes shipwrecks. She lodged travelers in her mansion of many rooms. Her library contained many volumes that belonged in a rare book room.Thats where Murdoch would stay when he performed in the drawing room. The library had been set apart from the first floor by a wall. The drawing room connected to the dining room without a wall. She could seat thirty people on comfortable chairs, winged arm chairs with refreshed upholstery. At intermission, she served Bundt cake drizzled with orange frosting. We drank coffee afterwards in the drawing room, hearing the second set. Murdoch told stories between the songs, drawn from the lore of the Third Coast.The owner lost the house before the next season. I asked her sister why I didnt see any signs advertising a follow up season. The owner moved with her dog into the senior citizen apartments built on Western near the Frauenthal Theater. She continued to perform roles on the Beardsley Stage for the Muskegon Civic Theater.Murdoch sang the song of the Christmas Tree ship at the house concert. He didnt sing it when he entertained on the Badger, a steamship that crossed between Ludington and Manitowoc. Maybe the year was 2012. He sang to pay passage for his family and his car, a pretty good deal. Tradition requires troubadours to never sing a song on a ship about a sinking ship. The ship doesnt want to hear it. No one wants to dishonor the ship as it faithfully carries out its duty. I asked, Will you sing the Christmas Tree Shop song? Its the only one that made any progress in the market. He answered with a folklorist grin. Ah, the ship is listening.Thus, as I figured out what to do this evening, I chose to go see Murdoch. Hes singing on the sidewalk to an audience that brought bag chairs. People sit on both sides of the street. Cars drive through. Im a few storefronts west of the bookstore, sitting at a Thai cafe. I can hear him singing just fine. I caught a few pictures of him singing Great Lakes Chanties. I caught a few pictures of him playing along on his guitars. Im was tempted to say hello to him. But Ill let a few new audience members experience him one on one. He has compact disks to sell.I wonder how he arrived here. Hes promoting a book, so that explains his choice of a bookstore. He told the story of his discovery of the nearby Rock River as a young man. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and explored the Illinois countryside as a Boy Scout. His hikes with his troop on the Blackhawk Trail and the Great Sauk Trails gave him plenty of time to connect with the Rock River.He sang a song about the Keweenaw Light. I wonder if the locals think hes singing about the town of Kewanee, named for the Prairie Chicken. I know hes talking about the peninsula of land extending into Lake Superior. Kewanee doesnt have a bay. Murdoch has traveled where I have traveled along the Great Lakes. He causes me to want to travel on a bag of songs.

Great small bookstore. I appreciate the history section.

Nice quaint bookstore!

I have been there before. I love that store. The people always are so friendly.

Wonderful bookstore with a cute lil coffee shop in it. If you are looking for presents for children, this is your store. They have a ton of Melissa & Doug along with tons of other great things. They also have cloth kites!!

Hands down one of my favorite places in that city, its a book lovers paradise! Ive seen similar bookstores, but that was in Seattle near Queen Anne. So that makes Books On First, a one of a kind book store in Dixon Illinois and a must visit for any lover of books.

Really nice people, good book selection and great coffee

Friendly little place to work and sip a coffee. Great selection of Melissa and Doug toys, books on local history and all the perks of a small-town book shop.

Great friendly place to just relax. Great staff.

Great selection of books and toys. Perfect place to go for holiday shopping.

Great coffee, music, and selection of books! Highly recommend

Great place, visit almost daily. Great coffee and baked goods, great source for books, childrens toys, the coolest stuffed animals, like I said just a great place!

Coffee is great, book selection is great! Highly recommend

Great hometown bookshop atmosphere! Friendly! Highly recommended!

Great place for finding what your looking for. From books, puzzles, crafts, and children play items. Will definitely go back. Very helpful. 😊😊📚📚

Always love this wonderful little book store. Friendly, helpful people behind the counter and it always smells like coffee. My child loves their childrens room! Stop in and see this lovely little shop if you get the chance!

Wonderful book store! We always find great books for the entire family. Nice selection of childrens books and toys as well. Make sure you get one of their delicious coffees while youre there.

Lots of interesting books, great coffee and capacity to order any book not there now.

Hidden gem, a most see

Great place...for books and coffee ..tea... cool stuff. Saturday music is so much fun!

Quaint charming little book store with really good gourmet coffee. Calm relaxing atmosphere and light background music. Great find in the downtown community.

1st rate! Friendly coffee service-comfortable atmosphere. And They will Order you Any Book you want! I took my kid there our 1st outing after he was born. 1 mile stroller walk. 18+ yrs ago. Yeah. Its That Great a place.

Friendly locally owned business. Always helpful.

Best local bookstore! Has great beverages and snacks! Amazing entertainment! Brilliant books! And the nicest staff!

Books On First is a lovely independent bookstore. I love browsing in there and usually end up with a couple seasonal fiction books for me and usually a few for gifts!

Awesome beverages. Great customer service. I love style of cafe meets book store at Books On First. Its a great place to do some reading, writing or research.

Love Larry and the staff. All friendly and the coffee and goodies are really good. The only problem is there are too many books and other items to choose from. But they have a wish list available for the customers. Ask at the counter. Love all the toys, decorations and the music.

Great shop. I can always find a fun gift for the kids birthdays and I usually walk out with a treat for myself too.

Larry and staff are wonderful. If you need a book and dont see it they will order it for you. The coffee and goodies are very good. Love the toy selection and the toy room

Didnt have the books I was looking for but never know they might have urs

Excellent place for coffee and a new book. Very nice area.

Best, most intimate music performance spot in Dixon on a Saturday night. Great Coffee and great Conversation. Center for the intelligentsia (or even people who just think they are smart) in our small part of the world.

Cute little bookshop and the only legitimate coffee shop in town. They make a good espresso! Its totally worth stopping in just for the vibe.

Books & coffee. Very cute place. I stopped in here to read and relax while I was staying in town for a training. Staff was great - I only had a dollar on me and I would have had to buy more to reach the $5 minimum to use my card. Barista told me not to worry about it. Calm music and cozy.

Proprietors know their books! Tell them what you like and theyll have several recommendations right off the bat.

Every time I visit My family in Dixon I love to stop in here. It seems rare to see those independent bookstores where you can fin a nice little little selection of books, talk with the staff and drink coffee outside with the locals. I really love this place.

Went in for a coffee for the first time. Man was very friendly and courteous. I just was not a fan of the coffee.

Such a beautiful, quaint book store with a very nice childrens section and great coffee and pastries!

Books on First is an amazing book store. I feel like it is the cornerstore business of modern downtown Dixon. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The coffees and treats for sale are an extra bonus. This is a must stop for anyone visiting our city.

Good selection of books and good toys for kids. Delicious coffee

Nice coffee, good friendly chat, bonus that he had almond milk, fabulous book selection and the baked goods looked amazing.

Always have just what were looking for, courteous, and it always smells so good in there!

I have never had a bad experience in books on first. The staff is friendly, happy to see you, and will remember your name after meeting you once. Dixon is lucky to have an establishment as warm as books on first.

The owners were very friendly and helpful. Great selection of books. We went in for a gift and they had just what we were looking for.

Great little shop for a book and a coffee.

The woman who helped me was super rude and when she put the receipt down for me to sign, she practically threw my copy at me. She seemed very uninterested in helping me and proceeded to be super friendly to the girl behind me as I was trying to pick up my receipt and coffee. Definitely wont go back!

Wonderful bookstore I love this place. Owner and staff are so nice and friendly. Great coffee.

Great coffee and book shop with live music. Wonderful evening Im looking forward to the next one.

This the best place to get coffee in town! Not to mention its in a bookstore! What can be better than coffee and books!?

OK book selection nothing spectacular. Owner doesnt believe in the second amendment and seems to only hire liberal snowflakes. Has coffee but never tastes very good

Definitely will not be going back. I went in with my daughter. The lady was talking to a guy at a table and saw us come in. I walked up and down every section, walked to the kids section with the toys, and I even went to the stairs were I dont think I was suppose to be to get some help. We walked from the back to the front looking everywhere for the 5 books I wanted. Not one time did anyone acknowledge we were in the store at all but said hi to the other 3 people that came in. I put my wallet back into my purse and we just walked out the door. Obviously there is no need for customers unless you get coffee. Ill go to another store or go online for the books. So much for buying locally.

They have some large stuffed animals and some cool gift ideas

Good people, good books, good coffee. Books On First is a gem and, although there arent many quality small book stores around these days, Dixon is lucky to have this one.

Friendly staff, live music on Sat nights, great coffee and pastries. Excellent location

Very laid bad setting, have an interesting variety of books and I enjoyed my pastry! Will come back!

Great coffee. Good book selection. Im still curious as to how an adorable little bookstore like this has succeeded in a town like Dixon, but I like it.

Cozy book store with coffee. You are welcome to sit and enjoy entertainment when offered.

Ive loved this bookstore since I was little

In addition to good books, treats, coffee and the amazing smells when you come in; they also sell Melissa and Doug toys among others.

I love this bookstore!!! It is unique with a great selection. The owners are friendly.

I love I been going there since the age of 5 I am 16 now. 🤣😃😄😎😍🤗🤔😉😁😀😆😛🤣

Great book store. Owners and staff are always willing to order any book and give a personal touch to each experience.

Always friendly there and I can order any of my books from here.

Nice to have a bookstore, and good coffee!

Overall have had good shopping experiences here. If the book youre looking for is not on the shelf, they are willing to order it for you.

Beautiful small bookstore. Terrific coffee!

Cute location, good coffee, and a nice book selection

Wonderful store, great selection of kids and adult books, and awesome coffee and pastries! Larry’s bookstore is a must stop for anyone in Dixon.

Probably the best place to get a chocolate raspberry ice coffee 😍😍😍

Best coffee around! Excellent employees and teriffic owners!

Very nice place with entertainment and great coffee

Good books, great coffee, friendly staff. This place is worth it

The best coffee I town and always good conversation

Anchor of downtown Dixon, great place for coffee, snacks, and conversation.

Neat books, excellent coffee, pleasant and welcoming vibe.

Great local coffee shop and book store!

Love this nifty little coffee/bookstore

Super friendly staff, unique merchandise and delicious coffee!!!

Wonderful neighborhood bookstore!

This review is just to negate Nicholas Garmans review. Get over yourself.

A wiser gentleman here was very stern with new when he asked me to go to the back room to work on the computer and stop all of my work in the front.

Great coffee and nice selection of books

Best little coffee shop in town.

Bookstore is unorganized and out dated. I try to spend locally, but this store infringes on my 2nd amendment rights, NO GUN=NO MONEY. I bought books else where.

Favorite place for coffee in Dixon.

Great place to buy books!

Good coffee Good people!

Lots to look at and great clerks

The cultural and intellectual heart of town!

Friendly intelligent people.

Its just okay. Nothing special about it.

Love this Store.. !!

Great atmosphere

Great coffee

Vvery small shop

Great Bookstore!