Pizza Hut Gives Kids Free Personal Pan Pizza

If you grew up reading books for free pizza, your childhood was good. The Pizza Hut Book It! program started during my early childhood. I am convinced it helped shape my lifelong love of reading.

The program was so simple and so much fun for kids. Read a book, record the title on your list, and give it to your teacher. Students got a certificate for a personal pan pizza. Simple as that.

The bus ride home from school was an excruciating eight minutes when I had one of those certificates in my backpack. I earned it, and I wanted my yummy pizza. My parents were proud of how many books I read, all  (initially) for the love of pizza.

I felt so cool walking into my local Pizza Hut with one of those certificates.  The workers gave us buttons, coloring sheets, and other cool stuff, along with that free pizza. 

And, yes, if you’re wondering, I was one of the nerdy kids who read and recorded my books honestly.

My teacher always asked a question about the book if the title was familiar to her. When asked, I never got the answer wrong. I’m still proud of that perfect score.

It all started in 1984. Reading was not always popular with kids. Many children hated opening a book and reading. Often, kids felt like reading was homework, some big chore they were forced into. It was never viewed as fun or exciting. Literacy rates were at all-time highs. Frustrated teachers needed help with ideas to motivate students. Arthur Gunter, ceo at Pizza Hut at the time, hatched a brilliant plan.

If kids love any food, it's pizza. Well, and pickles, but that’s another story.

Gunter brought the program to life, and the rest is history.

The program was an instant success. No competition or pressure; every child could read books of their choice at their own pace, and still snag a pizza. It was achievable, exciting, and motivational.

Sure, some kids scribbled book titles down on their sheet a nd pretended to read them. Kids know how to game the system.

But even more, they discovered a love of reading they carried with them into adulthood. Children learned that books could take them to exciting places. It expanded their world to new ideas and concepts. For many, it created vivid imaginations.

I’m one of them. It all started as a way to get my free pizza, but soon I discovered that reading truly was a hobby I enjoyed. I went from Charlotte's Web to Stephen King, but dont read as many books these days. Blame poor eyesight and a never-ending work routine. But I am fortunate. Books have immersed me in so many new solo adventures.

The Book It! program is still going strong today. Enrollment is still free for students in Pre-K - 6. Teachers can (and should) enroll their classrooms. Parents who homeschool their children can sign up. There’s also a special summer program designed for parents. Every kid out there can literally score free pizza! 

Free pizza is cool, but so is reading.  With Pizza Hut, kids get the best of both worlds.

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