If you were a kid in the 1990s, chances are you remember the thrill of earning a shiny star sticker for your Pizza Hut BOOK IT! pin. Those holographic buttons, adorned with rainbows and open books, were more than just accessories; they were badges of honor for young readers. Now, four decades after its inception, Pizza Hut is bringing that cherished experience into the digital age with the launch of the first-ever BOOK IT! app.
From Pins to Pixels: A Digital Evolution
Launched this month, the BOOK IT! app is a modern twist on the classic reading incentive program that has inspired over 70 million children since 1984. Designed to combat the “Summer Slide,” the well documented dip in reading skills during school breaks, the app allows parents to set monthly reading goals for children from Pre-K through 6th grade, track their progress, and reward their achievements with a free Personal Pan Pizza each month in June, July, and August.
“BOOK IT! has inspired a love for reading in millions of children since 1984,” said Lucila Cuello, Chief People and Culture Officer, Pizza Hut U.S. “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!”
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. Every page turned brings children closer to earning their monthly pizza reward, helping to establish a lifelong love of reading.
A Nostalgic Nod to the ’90s BOOK IT
For those who grew up with the original program, the memories of collecting star stickers on a 3 inch pinback button are vivid. These buttons, featuring the iconic BOOK IT! logo and designated spaces for stickers, were tangible symbols of reading accomplishments. Each gold star represented a book read, and filling all five meant a free pizza, a delicious reward for literary dedication.
Today, these vintage pins have become collector’s items, fetching prices on platforms like eBay and Etsy. The resurgence of interest in these nostalgic artifacts underscores the lasting impact of the BOOK IT! program on generations of readers.
By integrating the beloved elements of the past with the convenience of modern technology, Pizza Hut’s new app ensures that the joy of reading and the satisfaction of earning that coveted pizza reward continues to inspire young readers today.
