Book Vending Machine Promotes a Love of Reading

JFK students who are celebrating a birthday or half-birthday line up to get a book from the Bear-thday Book Vending Machine.

Students at JFK Elementary School in Brewster hear a special announcement come over the PA system Friday afternoons: “Students who are celebrating their birthday or half-birthday, please go to the cafeteria for your bear-thday book!”

The Bear-thday Book Vending Machine will eventually allow every student in the school to choose a birthday book to keep forever. Last week, 24 students lined up next to the shiny new machine and received a gold coin from a treasure chest to use as currency in return for a book.

“My birthday isn’t until July, so I’m celebrating my half-birthday,” said Gwendolyn Danko.

The machine is like a regular vending machine for snacks or drinks, except that it holds rows of books with titles like “Going to the Sea Park” by Mercer Mayer, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” by Eric Carle, “Biscuit” by Alyssa Satin Capuccilli, and “Roll Thunder Hear My Cry” by Mildred Taylor.

“I am going to pick ‘Biscuit’ because the author just came to JFK,” said Chloe Gold.

“I want the ‘Bad Guys’ book because it’s a chapter book,” added Jack Miller.

“I already read ‘Roll Thunder Hear My Cry’ but my copy was ruined, and I love the book,” said Ella Richardson.

The book vending machine was purchased with grant money from the Little John Foundation in honor of the late Victoria Lowry, intended to transform lives and empower students with literacy. By putting high-quality literature directly into the hands of children during a most celebrated moment – their birthday – JFK is working to build personal home libraries, promote reading for pleasure, and create lasting, positive memories associated with books.