Kinsley Garrett, 7, first grade; Jace Nation, Rilynn Shaw and Kazoey Dillow, all age 9 and third grade students at LaCroft Elementary, have had the opportunity to select a free book from the Potter Book Nook. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL –March is Reading Month and North and LaCroft elementary schools are celebrating it with the unveiling of their Potter Book Nooks vending machines.

The machines are filled with books instead of snacks which students can select by earning tokens through positive behavior and goal achievements.

LaCroft Elementary has the PAX PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) called the Swag Tag, so the book vending machines will be used for student’s goals that are set by teachers and met by students, Lacroft Principal Susan Cook said. The academic/achievement goals will be set in the classrooms for students to work toward. Once a student meets their goal, they can go to Book Nook and get a book. Every student has the opportunity to meet the goals set and can achieve multiple goals to get more books.

Example goals listed by Cook include possibly getting 500 points on an achievement game on the computer, learning their multiplication tables. The teachers also have the option of choosing one student a month to act as the leader in the classroom based on academics, improvements and attendance and that student will be able to get a token to get a book. Each grade level and teacher will set goals for their own classrooms.

The book vending machines are a fun literacy initiative designed to encourage a love of reading, a media release from East Liverpool City School said.

The machines have been stocked and are in use by students at both schools.

Kinsley Garrett, 7, first grade; Jace Nation, Rilynn Shaw and Kazoey Dillow, all age 9 and third grade students at LaCroft Elementary have all had the opportunity to select books and were excited to get them.

Kinsley, who selected “What Would You Do with A Tail Like this” as her book pick, said she thinks the book machine is cool.

Jace, who selected “The Giant Squid,” said he likes to read, and he has already read his book and has his eyes set on “The Sky Tree” as his next selection.

Rilynn, who is a Nancy Drew fan, selected one of the Nancy Drew books and is looking forward to getting another book from the series. Rilynn said she likes reading and working toward meeting her next goal so she can get another book.

Kazoey, who selected “The Class Trip,” is not able to read all the words in the book she selected but she is excited to learn to read more so she can read her book by herself. She was excited to show off the book she selected. She also said she loves being able to get free books and is hoping to get “The Magic School Bus-The Missing Bones” next.

North PTA used money raised from their Fall Book Fair to purchase 250 books at a variety of reading levels so there is something for all grades at the school. The LaCroft Principal Fund funded the books for LaCroft.

The books cost $5 each.

The schools are seeking community partners to help keep the machines stocked all year long. Any business or individual interested in helping can do so through sponsorship. Sponsorships include the classroom level at $80 for 16 books, which is one for every student; grade level sponsorship at $700, which will purchase 140 books, one for each student in that grade; and building sponsorship at $2,250, which will purchase 450 books and stock the entire school.

The schools welcome any donation, noting that large or small, every donation helps keep the vending machines stocked and ensures the students have access to books that will inspire and engage them.

Donations can be dropped off at the North Elementary or LaCroft Elementary main offices between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and can be made by cash, check or PayPal (East Liverpool City District with booking vending machine noted in the memo line).

According to Megan Hernandez, East Liverpool schools public relations, Caren Miller of the Way Station in East Liverpool is allowing the schools to purchase gently used books for 20 cents.

“Your generosity will directly impact the literacy journey of our students, encouraging them to explore new worlds through reading,” a media release from Cook and Jenna Cope, principals of LaCroft and North elementary schools, said. “Thank you for supporting this important initiative.”

For additional information contact LaCroft at 330-386-8774 or North at 330-386-8772.