Since 1985, Pizza Hut's reading program, Book It, has rewarded young readers and their families who participate in the program with pizza. Anyone who has tasted Pizza Hut pizza would realize this might not be sufficient inducement, but everyone knows most kids aren't that picky.
Over 925,000 elementary schools nationwide participate in the Pizza Hut program, but with increasing concerns over the link between child obesity and poor nutrition, the popularity of these programs is waning.
Of course there really is no greater influence on childhood reading habits than parental example. By reading to your kids and reading yourself, you may be making these silly corporate sponsored programs less necessary. But for some kids, reading programs in schools whether sponsored by the Devil or God himself, may be the only exposure they have to good books. And if they have to eat some bad food to get them to read books, than so be it.
