Seriously! In terms of corporate do-goodery, it seems like basically a perfect play. They get a write-off, AND the parents are going to buy themselves a pizza, AND they get to build future...
Seriously! In terms of corporate do-goodery, it seems like basically a perfect play. They get a write-off, AND the parents are going to buy themselves a pizza, AND they get to build future customers without the normal "ick" around indoctrinating children!
Exactly! I still am nostalgic for those pizza hut visit, and it's certainly not because they're high-quality pizza. I wonder if the program got reinstated because nostalgic people like me are...
Exactly! I still am nostalgic for those pizza hut visit, and it's certainly not because they're high-quality pizza. I wonder if the program got reinstated because nostalgic people like me are parents now.
My parents absolutely never bought an additional pizza and that was part of the motivation because you got to eat that amazing little pizza in front of your siblings. Of course the roles would be...
My parents absolutely never bought an additional pizza and that was part of the motivation because you got to eat that amazing little pizza in front of your siblings. Of course the roles would be reversed later but you don't think of that stuff as a kid.
I don't think they did. I've seen teachers online say they've continued to use it over the years and the reviews on the mobile app go back 10+ years with consistent (mostly negative) reviews...
I don't think they did. I've seen teachers online say they've continued to use it over the years and the reviews on the mobile app go back 10+ years with consistent (mostly negative) reviews throughout. Maybe pizza hut just stopped promoting it so heavily until this year?
Just signed my kids up. We're hoping to make extra use of the library this summer, so a little pizza motivation may help encourage that :) This is also the first summer where my kids are old...
Just signed my kids up. We're hoping to make extra use of the library this summer, so a little pizza motivation may help encourage that :) This is also the first summer where my kids are old enough to handle reading on their own, so that's both exciting an devastating that they don't need me to read all the time!
I always loved Book it! as a kid and read way more books than I would have without it, but I'm concerned that a modern day iteration will just be used to siphon up personal data from kids. I can't...
I always loved Book it! as a kid and read way more books than I would have without it, but I'm concerned that a modern day iteration will just be used to siphon up personal data from kids. I can't imagine that data won't be monetized in some way that most people would find off putting with regards to their children.
I was worried about that as well. I did sign up and had to give it my name, email, and zipcode (for store location, I assume). And then for adding my kids it was first name, grade, and reading...
I was worried about that as well. I did sign up and had to give it my name, email, and zipcode (for store location, I assume). And then for adding my kids it was first name, grade, and reading goal.
I used initials for everything, iCloud's relay service for email, and my actual zipcode. That's not that much data. But it really comes down to what's collected when it's time to start logging reading (it doesn't start 'til June). If I have to do much more than check a box swearing my kid read for X minutes on Y date, then that's crossing the line and that'll be the end of that...and the beginning of Dad's Book-It, where I just buy my kids pizza for reading.
When my kids were younger I did implement a "Dad's version" of some things like this that I either didn't want to include them in or that were actually rather disappointing in the official form....
When my kids were younger I did implement a "Dad's version" of some things like this that I either didn't want to include them in or that were actually rather disappointing in the official form. It was pretty successful. That being said, free stuff is great if there isn't an underhanded penalty.
Every time I won a free pizza from Book It! when I was a kid, my mom would take me out to Pizza Hut and we'd have lunch, just the two of us. I was in a big family with lots of brothers and...
Every time I won a free pizza from Book It! when I was a kid, my mom would take me out to Pizza Hut and we'd have lunch, just the two of us.
I was in a big family with lots of brothers and sisters, so alone time with a parent was genuinely rare. My mom and I would just sit and chat, sometimes about the book, sometimes about life. As a shy, nervous kid who, whether at home or at school, always had to share space with other kids, it was genuinely relaxing and wonderful for me to be able to spend time one-on-one with her.
I know the point of the program is to make pizza the reward, and I'm sure my kid brain was highly motivated by that, but looking back as an adult, I'm grateful that it helped me connect with my mom and associate the act of reading with the ability to take up some of my own space in an otherwise crowded (and often suffocating) world.
It's probably no coincidence that, to this day, I still prefer Pizza Hut to all the other chain pizza places (though it seems like they are much harder to come by). I certainly have more negative feelings about the idea of promoting brand loyalty among children, but I think there are far worse ways to do it than by encouraging reading.
Also, as a teacher who sees first hand just how difficult it is for reading to compete with other demands for kids' attention, well, I'm cheering for reading to get all the help it can get.
Fwiw I think the "branding" would have been less successful without those meaningful memories. Your mom is as responsible for your fondness for Pizza hut as Book It! is, probably a good deal more....
Fwiw I think the "branding" would have been less successful without those meaningful memories. Your mom is as responsible for your fondness for Pizza hut as Book It! is, probably a good deal more.
from someone who recently bought red plastic tumblers because they're a nostalgic pizza hut aesthetic ( ◜‿◝ )♡
I can't imagine why they cancelled it before! The program was a highlight of my elementary school years.
Seriously! In terms of corporate do-goodery, it seems like basically a perfect play. They get a write-off, AND the parents are going to buy themselves a pizza, AND they get to build future customers without the normal "ick" around indoctrinating children!
Exactly! I still am nostalgic for those pizza hut visit, and it's certainly not because they're high-quality pizza. I wonder if the program got reinstated because nostalgic people like me are parents now.
My parents absolutely never bought an additional pizza and that was part of the motivation because you got to eat that amazing little pizza in front of your siblings. Of course the roles would be reversed later but you don't think of that stuff as a kid.
I worked at Pizza Hut and I don't remember seeing anyone order anything extra beyond the free personal pan pizza.
I don't think they did. I've seen teachers online say they've continued to use it over the years and the reviews on the mobile app go back 10+ years with consistent (mostly negative) reviews throughout. Maybe pizza hut just stopped promoting it so heavily until this year?
Just signed my kids up. We're hoping to make extra use of the library this summer, so a little pizza motivation may help encourage that :) This is also the first summer where my kids are old enough to handle reading on their own, so that's both exciting an devastating that they don't need me to read all the time!
Related: Check out kidsbowlfree.com. Basically hand over your kids PII and then they can bowl free at many alleys.
I always loved Book it! as a kid and read way more books than I would have without it, but I'm concerned that a modern day iteration will just be used to siphon up personal data from kids. I can't imagine that data won't be monetized in some way that most people would find off putting with regards to their children.
I was worried about that as well. I did sign up and had to give it my name, email, and zipcode (for store location, I assume). And then for adding my kids it was first name, grade, and reading goal.
I used initials for everything, iCloud's relay service for email, and my actual zipcode. That's not that much data. But it really comes down to what's collected when it's time to start logging reading (it doesn't start 'til June). If I have to do much more than check a box swearing my kid read for X minutes on Y date, then that's crossing the line and that'll be the end of that...and the beginning of Dad's Book-It, where I just buy my kids pizza for reading.
When my kids were younger I did implement a "Dad's version" of some things like this that I either didn't want to include them in or that were actually rather disappointing in the official form. It was pretty successful. That being said, free stuff is great if there isn't an underhanded penalty.
Every time I won a free pizza from Book It! when I was a kid, my mom would take me out to Pizza Hut and we'd have lunch, just the two of us.
I was in a big family with lots of brothers and sisters, so alone time with a parent was genuinely rare. My mom and I would just sit and chat, sometimes about the book, sometimes about life. As a shy, nervous kid who, whether at home or at school, always had to share space with other kids, it was genuinely relaxing and wonderful for me to be able to spend time one-on-one with her.
I know the point of the program is to make pizza the reward, and I'm sure my kid brain was highly motivated by that, but looking back as an adult, I'm grateful that it helped me connect with my mom and associate the act of reading with the ability to take up some of my own space in an otherwise crowded (and often suffocating) world.
It's probably no coincidence that, to this day, I still prefer Pizza Hut to all the other chain pizza places (though it seems like they are much harder to come by). I certainly have more negative feelings about the idea of promoting brand loyalty among children, but I think there are far worse ways to do it than by encouraging reading.
Also, as a teacher who sees first hand just how difficult it is for reading to compete with other demands for kids' attention, well, I'm cheering for reading to get all the help it can get.
Fwiw I think the "branding" would have been less successful without those meaningful memories. Your mom is as responsible for your fondness for Pizza hut as Book It! is, probably a good deal more.
from someone who recently bought red plastic tumblers because they're a nostalgic pizza hut aesthetic ( ◜‿◝ )♡
At least locally Barnes & Noble also has a very generous summer reading program. You could potentially get free books and free pizza.