Poppy Alan Book Boutique brings mobile bookstore to Owensboro.

Content originally published by Ava Hyland in The Owensboro Times, July 2025. Story sponsored by Independence Bank. 

A new mobile bookstore is making its way across Daviess County this summer. Poppy Alan Book Boutique, launched by Owensboro resident and high school teacher Kayla Altman, offers a curated selection of books and gift items from a renovated trailer that sets up at farmers’ markets, festivals, and local businesses.

“I’ve always been a bookworm,” Altman said. “I dreamed of having a bookstore, but I never imagined it would be mobile. Then I had this Pinterest board full of ideas, and one day my husband said, ‘Why don’t we just do it?’ So we did.”

That simple encouragement launched a family-powered endeavor that has become one of the most charming new additions to Owensboro’s small business scene. With her husband, two uncles, and extended family all pitching in – from designing the interior to stocking shelves and sewing cushions – Altman brought her literary vision to life.

The name Poppy Alan carries a deep personal meaning.

“My dad used to take me to the library and wait while I spent hours picking out books,” she said. “He passed away in 2017, and I knew I wanted to honor him. His middle name was Alan. And ‘Poppy’ is what the kids call my father-in-law – he’s been like a second father to me. So we combined both names. It just felt right.”

Launched earlier this summer, the book boutique made its debut at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market Thursday Night Market, where Altman plans to continue setting up weekly through the end of July. The mobile shop also makes appearances at local businesses like Red Swing Coffee and festivals including the Strawberry Festival, with more events lined up for the fall.

The flexibility of the mobile format has been key for Altman, who balances the business with teaching high school business classes and raising two young children.

“Having a brick-and-mortar just doesn’t fit our lifestyle right now,” she said. “This lets us follow the dream and involve our kids, too. Caroline, my five-year-old, helps me pick out the kids’ books and even makes handmade bookmarks to sell.”

The boutique stocks a bit of everything: children’s board books, fiction across genres, classic novels, cookbooks, Bibles, and devotionals.

“We’re still figuring out what people want most, so we started with a variety,” Altman said.

The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, something that Altman says has made the experience even more meaningful.

“It’s been so heartwarming,” she said. “People have been incredibly supportive. A lot of them have said it reminds them of the old bookmobiles, which I love – because one used to come to my town growing up. That sense of nostalgia has been really special.”

As Poppy Alan continues to roll across Daviess County, Altman hopes her mobile bookstore will not only spread the joy of reading but also honor the men who helped shape her love of books in the first place.