Urbana Elementary Brings Reading to Life with New Book Vending Machine

Addi McCoy is on the left (in the pink) from Mrs. Robison's 2nd-grade class. Kendrix Dudley is the one at the machine from Mrs. Shelpman's 2nd-grade class

Urbana Elementary School has found a creative and exciting way to promote a love of reading among its elementary students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade—by turning books into rewards through a newly installed book vending machine.
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Thanks to the school’s successful Scholastic Book Fairs over the past several years, Urbana Elementary staff and students were able to save enough Scholastic dollars to purchase the unique machine. The initiative reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to literacy and celebrating the joy of reading in students’ early school years.

“This has been something we’ve been working toward for a while,” said principal Melanie Anders. “Our families have been incredibly supportive of our book fairs, and it’s rewarding to see those efforts come back to students in such a meaningful way.”

Students were already involved in the process before the machine even arrived. They met with Mrs. Anders to share their favorite titles and suggest books they would be excited to read. During recent book fairs, students also created wish lists, helping guide the selection of books that would eventually fill the vending machine.

The vending machine officially launched during the first week of March, aligning with Read Across America activities and the kickoff of the school’s Read-a-Thon fundraiser, which ran from March 1–31. The timing helped build excitement around reading while giving students an immediate incentive to engage.

Now that the machine is stocked and ready, students in kindergarten through fifth grade have the opportunity to earn special “gold coins” they can use to select a book of their choice. These coins are awarded in a variety of ways, including meeting reading goals, demonstrating perseverance during challenging lessons, or even being “caught reading” during free-choice times.

Beyond the excitement, the initiative is also helping to address a deeper need.

“For students whose families can’t always afford books at the Book Fair or may not have many books at home to practice reading, this is truly a win-win for everyone,” Anders shared.

She recalled a moment shortly after the machine was stocked that reinforced the importance of the effort. “I had one student come to me and say she wanted to earn a book to take home to read to her little brother because she didn’t have any books of her own at home. It really made me stop and think about how many of our kids truly want to read more or share what they’re learning at school, but simply don’t have the resources at home.”

The initiative not only rewards positive behavior but also ensures that more students have access to books they can call their own—building both skills and confidence.

“Our goal is to build lifelong readers,” Anders said. “This gives students something to work toward while also putting great books directly into their hands.”

Students’ excitement has been evident since the machine’s arrival, with many eager to earn their first coin and choose a book to take home and keep.

With this innovative approach, Urbana Elementary continues to strengthen a culture where reading is celebrated—and where every student has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and fall in love with reading...one book at a time.

Businesses, organizations, or individuals interested in providing financial assistance for this program can contact Urbana Elementary Principal Melanie Anders, at [email protected] or 937-653-1453.