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Nostalgic Summer Program Returns, Giving Free Pizza to Kids Who Read
The long-running program will again reward Pre-K through 6th grade students with free personal pan pizzas for meeting monthly reading goals.
Pizza Hut officials announced the return of the 'BOOK IT: Summer of Stories' reading program this year, encouraging children in Pre-K through 6th grade to read by offering free personal pan pizzas.
Research shows students in grades 3 through 5 lost about 20% of reading and 27% of math gains during summer months, prompting Pizza Hut to combat the 'Summer Slide' through the program.
Parents can enroll children via the mobile app to set reading goals for June, July, and August, then present their digital Reading Award Certificate at participating Pizza Hut locations to redeem a free, single-topping personal pan pizza.
Launched in 1984, the program is the nation's longest-running corporate-sponsored reading initiative, remaining a nostalgic touchstone for many Gen X and millennial participants who earned rewards throughout the 1990s.
Maintaining a general schedule with ten minutes of daily reading or trying new activities helps children avoid the 'Summer Slide,' as research indicates they can lose up to two months of academic progress during the break.