Illinois Parents: Pizza Hut Brings Back Nostalgic BOOK IT! Reading Program

A childhood favorite is making a return just in time for summer!  It also comes with a very delicious reward.

Have you ever heard of The BOOK IT! Program?  It's teaming up once again with Pizza Hut to encourage kids to keep reading while school is out.  And yes, it still includes the best motivation ever: FREE PIZZA.

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When I was a kid, this is what we lived for.  We loved, loved, loved getting free stuff for reading books.  I made an effort every summer to read as many books in grade school as I could so I could earn as many prizes as possible when the programs were over.  If it was free pizza back then, I'd totally work for it!

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Pizza Hut Brings Back Nostalgic BOOK IT! Reading Program

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Enrollment for the program opens on May 1st, 2026.  The official reading period runs from June 1st through August 31st, and it's designed for children in pre-K all the way through 6th grade.  It's the perfect way for younger readers to stay engaged during summer break and less time on their phones and iPads.

Getting started is so easy, too.  Parents can just sign up using the BOOK IT! App, where they'll be able to create individual profiles for each child.  From there, you can set personalized monthly reading goals based on your child's age or reading level!  Once June 1st rolls around, kids can begin tracking their progress and if they hit their monthly goal, they'll earn a FREE personal pan pizza from select Pizza Hut locations.  It's a fun way to keep kids involved and motivated to reading all summer long.

Even if you've participated in the past, keep in mind that families will need to sign up again for this summer's program.