Does the thought of Book It! take you straight back to the glorious 1980s and ‘90s, when a simple task like reading a few books could earn you a Personal Pan Pizza complete with that iconic red cup of soda? For millions, Pizza Hut’s Book It! program was more than a reading incentive; it was a cherished childhood memory.
Now, this treasured tradition has been reimagined for the digital age. Introducing the Book It! app – a fresh, tech-savvy way to inspire a love for reading while still rewarding every milestone with an irresistible pizza treat.
Whether you’re a parent eager to recreate the magic with your children or simply curious about how this beloved program has evolved, here’s everything you need to know.
Bonus: Click here for your chance to claim a Pizza Hut gift card.
A Brief Stroll Down Nostalgia Lane
Launched in 1984, Pizza Hut’s Book It! program partnered with schools across the United States to encourage children in grades Pre-K through 6 to develop a lifelong love of reading. Flashback to those gold and silver star stickers adorning your progress chart, the thrill of meeting your monthly goal, and triumphantly cashing in your reward at your local Pizza Hut. By combining midweek library runs with family pizza nights, Book It! turned reading into an unforgettable event for over 70 million kids.
Fast Forward to 2025: Book It! Goes Digital
Times have changed, and so have the tools to motivate young readers. This summer, Pizza Hut brought the Book It! experience into the 21st century with its very first Book It! mobile app. Think of it as your childhood favorite, but with a modern, tech-infused upgrade.
Here are the standout features of the app:
1. Reading Progress Tracker
Parents can now log and track their child’s reading progress directly on the app. Forget paper goals, manual entries, or misplaced stickers: this platform does it all digitally, creating a seamless way to celebrate your little one’s milestones.
2. Customizable Goals
Every child’s reading pace is unique, and the Book It! app embraces that individuality. Parents can set tailored monthly goals based on their child’s reading level, ensuring both challenge and success.
3. Exciting Rewards
True to its roots, the app incentivizes readers to keep turning pages with the ultimate reward — a free Personal Pan Pizza! Once a goal is met, families receive a redemption code for the much-loved cheesy prize.
4. Preventing the Summer Slide
Research shows that kids can lose up to two months of academic progress during summer breaks. By motivating children to engage with books during the long summer months, the Book It! app is tackling the dreaded “summer slide” head-on, one page at a time.
5. Parent-Child Connection
The app isn’t just a tool for tracking progress, it’s a way for families to connect over stories, setting goals, and creating cherished memories together. Reading time becomes shared time, amplifying those moments of joy and pride.
Staying True to Its Mission
At its heart, the Book It! program hasn’t wavered from its original mission: to inspire a lifelong love of reading. With over 1.5 billion free pizzas distributed since 1984, Pizza Hut understands that combining something as educational as reading with a tangible reward can create a ripple effect that lasts throughout life.
The new app extends this mission by making reading goals easier to set, track, and achieve. It’s a nostalgic bridge from one generation to the next, allowing adults to nurture and relive their Book It! memories while sharing the joy with their own kids.
Bringing Back Pizza-Filled Fun
Chief People and Culture Officer for Pizza Hut U.S., Lucila Cuello, describes the updated program best. “BOOK IT! has inspired a love for reading in millions of children since 1984,” she says. “Now, with the launch of the app, we’re making it easier for parents to connect with their kids, set meaningful reading goals, and inspire plenty of fun pizza-filled memories.”
That means every story read, every goal achieved, and every pizza dinner brings your family closer together — just like it did all those years ago.
How to Get Started
If you’re ready to join the renewed Book It! tradition, setting it up is as easy as pie (or pizza):
- Download the Book It! App
Head to your app store and search for “Book It!” by Pizza Hut. It’s free and available for all devices.
- Set Your First Monthly Goal
Once the app is downloaded, you can create personalized reading goals for your child.
- Start Reading
Grab some books, curl up together, and get lost in the magic of stories.
- Claim Your Rewards
Achieve the monthly goal, and your child will be rewarded with their free Personal Pan Pizza. Cue the smiles and happy tummies!
One Memory at a Time
Whether you’re helping your child explore the worlds of Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, or their favorite graphic novels, the new Pizza Hut Book It! app ensures that the joys of reading (and eating pizza) never go out of style.
Download the app today, and help your family create new memories while drawing from an old favorite. It’s more than reading, more than pizza; it’s a legacy of learning and love that keeps giving, one slice at a time.