Pizza Hut Celebrates Book It! Program with 1M Free Pizzas

A sign is seen at a Pizza Hut restaurant

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Pizza lovers and bookworms, rejoice! Pizza Hut is throwing a big celebration for its Book It! program. To mark the 40th anniversary of this beloved reading initiative, the pizza chain is giving away one million pizzas. Don’t worry, there’s no need to finish a book first this time.

To join in on the fun, simply use the promo code “BOOKIT40” when ordering online or via the Pizza Hut app to grab a free 6-inch pizza with any purchase of $8 or more. This deal will be available throughout October or until all one million pizzas are claimed.

The chain is also rolling out a Book It! bundle online and in the app, featuring two large, one-topping pizzas and breadsticks. A portion of the proceeds from each bundle sold will support the program.

Fans are buzzing with excitement over the announcement on social media. One person wrote, "Dreams come true [heart emoji]," while another said they "can’t wait to partake [two pizza emojis]." Yet another chimed in, “Pizza & books and a match made in nostalgia heaven [pizza emoji].”

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“As we celebrate 40 years, we’re thrilled to invite readers of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading—one book (and pizza) at a time,” shared Carl Loredo, Pizza Hut U.S. president.

Launched in 1984, the Book It! program encourages young readers in the U.S. by rewarding them with personal pan pizzas.

Many people have taken to Reddit to reminisce about their childhood experiences with the program. “I finally finished enough books to get a single free pizza, and I was so excited that I rode my bike all the way across town to get it. I was 12—never did it again,” one person recalled. Another added, “Man, I swear this program was a huge reason I became a reader and, eventually, a literature major and teacher.”

According to a press release from the chain, Pizza Hut has given away over 56 million personal pan pizzas through Book It! between 2013 and 2023, enough to stretch coast to coast in the United States twice. Since its start, the program has distributed an estimated 1.5 billion pizzas.

In recent years, Pizza Hut has updated the Book It! program to meet modern educational needs, offering digital reading logs and virtual classrooms, making it easier for schools and families to get involved. The program remains completely free, encouraging parents and educators to sign up for their students at www.bookitprogram.com to ensure the tradition of reading and the rewards that come with it continues for generations to come.

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Kayla MorganAuthor

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.