Instead of chips and candy bars, students will find "Charlotte's Web," "Captain Underpants" and other children's books inside a vending machine at Wea Ridge Elementary School.

The machine operates on special gold coins. Teachers give out one coin a week to students who demonstrate positive behavior and work hard. The students can take the coin to the office to use in the vending machine filled with several Scholastic books.

Fifth grade teacher Sara Wright says the Bookworm Vending Machine was funded by an anonymous donor, a former Wea Ridge family. 

“This is another way to encourage students to read and create their own library at home,” says Wright. “The response has been very positive. We see students skip to the office and very eager to select a book from the vending machine.” 

The goal is to give each student at least one book before the end of the school year.