Pizza Hut Unveils New BOOK IT! App for Enhanced Summer Reading Initiative

Pizza Hut Launches BOOK IT! App to Promote Summer Reading Among Children

In a historic first for the 40-year-old BOOK IT! program, Pizza Hut, LLC has unveiled the BOOK IT! app, now accessible across all major app stores. This innovative application, launched this month, aims to support parents in keeping their children actively engaged in reading throughout the summer break.

This new digital tool enables families to monitor their child’s reading progress, set personalized goals, and earn pizza rewards as a motivation strategy to combat the “Summer Slide.” The Summer Slide refers to the educational decline that many students experience during extended breaks from school, particularly during the summer months. Research has shown that by the time children reach middle school, they may have lost up to two years of academic progress due to this phenomenon, further underscoring the importance of year-round learning initiatives.

The BOOK IT! app is a key component of Pizza Hut’s revamped summer reading initiative, aptly titled “BOOK IT! Summer of Stories,” which officially commences on June 1. This campaign encourages parental involvement in their children’s literacy development by establishing reading goals tailored for children ranging from Pre-K to 6th grade. Such personalization ensures that each child’s unique reading abilities are acknowledged and nurtured, thereby promoting a more effective learning environment.

As part of this program, young readers can earn a complimentary Personal Pan Pizza® each month during June, July, and August by achieving the reading targets set by their parents. This rewarding approach not only incentivizes children to read but also associates the joy of learning with gratifying rewards, creating lasting memories for families.

Lucila Cuello, Chief People and Culture Officer at Pizza Hut U.S., expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “BOOK IT! has inspired a love for reading in millions of children since 1984. Now, with the launch of the BOOK IT! app, we’re making it even easier for parents to connect with their kids, set meaningful reading goals, and inspire plenty of fun pizza-filled memories with their families. This new platform will help keep reading goals top of mind this summer—and turn progress into pizza!”

Families interested in participating can download the BOOK IT! app from their choice of app store, establish their child’s reading goal for June by the first of the month, and embark on an enriching reading adventure through the “BOOK IT! Summer of Stories” program. Each page turned not only brings children closer to earning their monthly pizza reward but also fosters a lifelong passion for reading.

The BOOK IT! app represents a significant evolution in Pizza Hut’s commitment to childhood literacy, reinforcing the vital role that reading plays in a child’s academic and personal development.