When Millennials and Gen X gather and reminisce about summers past, there's almost one common element -- They miss Pizza Hut's summer reading program. Well, the pizza giant was listening because Book It! is back for summer 2026!
The new version of the iconic program is run through an app, available in every app store, and opens for enrollment May 1. Set a reading goal, record progress in the app, and then settle in for free, sizzling hot pizza in your own iron pan.
"Get ready to turn reading time into pizza time! 🎉 This summer, keep your kids' reading, learning, and loving books… all while earning FREE pizza. 🙌."
Here are the rules: Readers who hit their milestones will be provided digital Reading Award Certificates, which are redeemable for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut. Students may redeem one Reading Award Certificate per month, and the certificate must be used to reward the student who earned it. The student must be present. When a child redeems their certificate with Pizza Hut, they are celebrated. This program is free.
The main difference between this iteration and the BOOK IT! program from the 1980s and 1990s is the app, a "new digital tool empowers families to track progress of their child’s reading, set goals and earn pizza rewards all while preventing the 'Summer Slide,'" Pizza Hut said in a statement.
To participate, families can download the BOOK IT! app from their preferred app store, set their child’s June reading goal by June 1 and kick off their child’s “BOOK IT! Summer of Stories” reading adventure.
Specifically, the app lets users record the time spent reading, number of pages, and more. And, as Pizza Hut promises, "Every page turned brings children closer to earning their monthly pizza reward, helping to establish a lifelong love of reading."
Book It App
Pizza Hut
