Third grade teacher Sarah Gendron applied for a grant from the district’s Zanardi Family Trust to purchase the machine through the Book Nook. It holds both paperback and hardcover books and comes with 200 vending tokens.

“The school is gracious enough to give an allotted amount that teachers can apply for. I had heard about them and saw them online,” she said. “I thought, ‘What a good way to get books to kids.'”

Gendron came in on spring break to set up the machine, which holds about 200 books for reading levels kindergarten through fifth grade. It has the Woodland logo on the sides, and there were several decorative wraps to choose from.

“It was amazing. She got it all set up. She took the time to organize all the books through there. Our kids are really excited,” Woodland Elementary Principal Kristina Brazeau said. “When we had our kindergarten and early five open house, kids were actually coming to school with money.”

First grader Callan Connors attempts to get a book from the new book vending machine at Woodland Elementary School on Monday using a special token, with the help of third grade teacher Sarah Gendron. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

Gendron said she had to put a piece of tape over the slot so students wouldn’t try to purchase books using “real” money.

Through D.R.I.V.E. — which stands for Dependable, Respectful, Integrity, Value self and Empathy — students in each classroom receive tickets during the week for showing positive behavior. The seven or eight students selected from each grade level pod are awarded a certificate and a pencil.

From those students they selected two from every grade level to receive a book from the machine using special tokens. Brazeau said the kids are “highly motivated” to turn in their tickets. “They really want the books,” she added.

On Monday the first books were distributed to students. Unfortunately the coins didn’t work, so the books had to be distributed by hand. Gendron said they tried to select books that were popular with students.

First grader Callan Connors was the first to select a book. His choice was “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” the first of a popular children’s book series by Jeff Kinney that follows the humorous middle school experiences of protagonist Greg Heffley through journal entries and cartoons, chronicling his struggles with family, friends like Rowley Jefferson, and school life. The series, which began in 2007, has grown to more than 20 books.

Third grade teacher Sarah Gendron points out the Woodland logo on the side of the new book vending machine at Woodland Elementary School in Kingsford. She applied for a grant for the vending machine through the district’s Zanardi Family Trust and set it up during spring break. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“The kids were great. They were showing E for empathy,” Gendron said of the response to the token glitch.

Even though they didn’t get to use the tokens, as Callan said, “The fun part is getting the books.”

Brazeau said the hallway where the machine is located is a great spot because all the classes walk by and they are always getting to see what books are available next.

They plan to distribute books each Monday for the rest of the school year.

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From left, Woodland Elementary students Gia Landsford, Sophia Helgren and Gia Glanville with the books they received Monday from the school’s new vending machine. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.