What's better than a vending machine full of snacks? One that's full of books. For free!

A bag of chips? Nah. This machine is full of something much better.

Imagine being able to walk up to a vending machine, press a few buttons, and have a book pop out.

Well, some kids in Washington, D.C., don't have to imagine, because they can actually do that.

Chips and candy bars? No thank you! This vending machine is full of books. All photos courtesy of JetBlue and used with permission.

As part of its Soar With Reading program, JetBlue is placing book vending machines in communities it calls "book deserts."

The machines are stocked with books, and the kids can take as many as they want, free of charge. To get started, they're putting three vending machines at different locations in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

The company came up with the idea after doing some research. Back in 2001, a study found that in underserved communities, there was only one age-appropriate book available for every 300 kids. After commissioning a study by a childhood literacy expert to look into that, they learned the situation today was even more dire.

"[I]n the shadow of our nation's capital, in 2015, there is access to only one-age appropriate book for every 830 children," the website notes. And that's what the company is calling a book desert.

Since 2011, through Soar With Reading, JetBlue has provided over $1.25 million in books to children.

Book vending machines aren't going to solve the book deserts in the United States, but they're a start.

'Cause here's the thing: You can't read without having something to read! And giving kids' access to books is the first step to opening up their minds to the possibilities of reading.

According to the National Education Association, having kids read a lot is one of the crucial components of becoming a good reader. Young readers need to become practiced at recognizing letters and sounds. The only way to get good at it is to practice.

So here's to more books, more practice, and more kids loving reading as much as they love vending machine snacks.

Check out the Soar With Reading website for more info or download the Soar With Reading app.