Naperville Native Opens 'The Fox and the Fable' Mobile Bookstore

Amanda Klousnitzer-Hutchens brings her lifelong love of reading to the community with a new traveling bookshop.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 5:34pm

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Amanda Klousnitzer-Hutchens, a 37-year-old Yorkville resident, has opened a new mobile bookstore called 'The Fox and the Fable'. Born out of her passion for teaching and bringing communities together through books, the store will host its first event on Thursday in Naperville, where Klousnitzer-Hutchens grew up and first discovered her love of reading at the local library. After struggling with reading as a child, Klousnitzer-Hutchens went on to become an elementary school teacher, but left the profession during the pandemic. Now, she's pursuing her dream of sharing her love of books with others through the mobile bookstore.

Why it matters

The Fox and the Fable represents a unique approach to community-based bookselling, providing a fun, interactive way for people to discover new books and connect with each other. In an era where many independent bookstores have struggled, Klousnitzer-Hutchens' mobile model offers a fresh take on bringing the joy of reading to local neighborhoods.

The details

The Fox and the Fable will feature a curated selection of new and used books, as well as bookish gifts. Thursday's launch event at Solemn Oath Brewing in Naperville will include a book swap, allowing customers to trade books with each other. Klousnitzer-Hutchens chose the name as an homage to the Fox River and the many fables featuring foxes. She plans to donate a portion of the store's monthly proceeds to local charities, with March's beneficiary being The Lifespring Center in Aurora.

  • Klousnitzer-Hutchens first discovered her love of reading at the Naper Blvd. Library in Naperville as a child in the 1990s.
  • She began her teaching career in 2011 in Urbana, where she shared her passion for reading with her elementary school students.
  • Klousnitzer-Hutchens left her teaching job in 2023 to spend more time with her 8-year-old daughter and moved to Yorkville in 2024.
  • In spring 2025, Klousnitzer-Hutchens saw a mobile bookstore for the first time during a book retreat in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which inspired her to start her own.
  • The Fox and the Fable will host its first event on Thursday, March 13, 2026 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Solemn Oath Brewing in Naperville.

The players

Amanda Klousnitzer-Hutchens

A 37-year-old Yorkville resident who has opened a new mobile bookstore called 'The Fox and the Fable' to share her lifelong love of reading with the community.

Mrs. Steinberger

Klousnitzer-Hutchens' first-grade teacher at Scott Elementary School, who inspired her to become a teacher by providing the one-on-one attention she needed to learn how to read.

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What they’re saying

“I have such a special place in my heart for (that library), I think because they had so many great programs there. But I also specifically remember growing up — I grew up in the '90s — they had a huge bookcase full of all of 'The Baby-Sitters Club' (books), and I just boom, boom, boom, went through all of them.”

— Amanda Klousnitzer-Hutchens

“We're focusing on community events. It's a mix of curated new and used books, bookish gifts, so it's more of like a fun browsing experience. It's kind of designed to be surrounded by discovery, connection.”

— Amanda Klousnitzer-Hutchens

What’s next

The Fox and the Fable will continue hosting community events and pop-ups in the Naperville area, with plans to expand to other locations in the future.

The takeaway

Klousnitzer-Hutchens' mobile bookstore represents a creative way to share the joy of reading and bring people together around books. Her personal journey from struggling reader to passionate educator highlights the transformative power of literature and the importance of fostering a love of reading in communities.