National Young Readers Week – November 9-13, 2026

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History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
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National Young Readers Week champions the power of reading every second week of November. This annual observance encourages children to explore the incredible world of books, fostering literacy and imagination. Introduce your young ones to new stories, visit a local library, and make reading a fun daily habit.

History of National Young Readers Week

The history of National Young Readers’ Week began with Pizza Hut’s – yes that Pizza Hut – ‘BOOK IT!’ program, which you might remember if you went to a school in the United States within the last decade.

In 1984, Pizza Hut’s office in Wichita, Kansas created the infamous ‘BOOK IT!’ program, after U.S. President Ronald Reagan encouraged American businesses to get more involved in education. The then-president of Pizza Hut, Arthur Gunther, was inspired by his son, Michael, who had eye problems that made reading difficult for him as a young child. Arthur met with educators in Kansas and came up with the program that had kids devouring books so they could eat pizza.

BOOK IT! is the largest and longest-running corporate-supported reading program. When children meet a monthly reading goal that begins from October to March, they get a Reading Award Certificate and a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza.

The program was tested in Kansas schools before being rolled out nationwide in 1985. Over the years, over 14 million students across 620,000 classrooms have participated in the program. The program got such popularity that it got recognition from President Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

In 1989, Pizza Hut extended ‘BOOK IT!’ by organizing a week-long reading event that brought local figures like school principals into schools to demonstrate the importance of reading to the kids. This week was called National Young Readers Week.

The event was created alongside the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book. Pizza Hut issued a challenge to school principals to “become shining examples for literacy by choosing one day to read their hearts out all day long, from first bell to the last during National Young Readers Week.”

National Young Readers Week timeline

1985

The ‘BOOK IT!’ Program is Created

In 1985, Pizza Hut rolls out its ‘BOOK IT!’ program after testing it in Kansas schools.

June 2, 1987

President Ronald Reagan Endorses the Program

He sends a letter to the organizers commending them for their work since reading is vital.

October 3, 1988

Bill Clinton Declares National BOOK IT! Day

Arkansas Governor, Bill Clinton, proclaims the day as ‘BOOK IT! Day’ in Arkansas.

1989

The First National Young Readers Week

Pizza Hut extends its BOOK IT! program by creating National Young Readers Week.

National Young Readers Week FAQs

National Young Readers Week Activities

Buy a book for your child
What better way to celebrate National Young Readers Week than by buying your child a book (or 50 books)? Did you know that children who have a home library with as little as 20 books of their own get three more years of schooling than kids who don’t have any books at home? You can get your child a new book every week and set reading goals for them.
Read your child something
Whether you are a teacher, school principal, or loving parent, you need to build your kid’s reading culture by leading by example. You can read them a book every day throughout the week, following Pizza Hut’s challenge. This is especially good for younger readers who might not yet be able to read on their own. It’s never too late to instill a love of books in children!
Donate books to the local school library
Too many libraries are underfunded. Use this week to celebrate the joys of literacy by donating some books to your local school library. You can make your donations in cash or kind – you would be changing the lives of hundreds of children.

5 Reasons Why Reading Is Important For Children

A reading child is a confident child
Learning to read gives children confidence — reading presents kids with a challenge and teaches them the skills needed to overcome it.
It encourages independence
Kids get a sense of fulfillment when they finally learn to read on their own. It also teaches children to make choices for themselves — about what to read — and cultivate their own interests separate from that of their parents.
It makes their brains grow faster
Reading might not make your kid’s brain grow literally, but it certainly helps with brain development — reading to your child or teaching them to read can increase their brain function considerably.
It helps them bond more with parents
Kids can read together with parents or parents can read to them — either way, it is a great way for parents to establish a nurturing space for and with their children.
Reading helps kids communicate better
Reading helps kids improve their vocabulary and, through reading, your little ones can also understand context cues and get better at general communication.

Why We Love National Young Readers Week

We love free pizza
We love pizza, and we love free pizza even more. During National Young Readers Week, you can encourage ardent young readers with a delicious slice of their favorite pizza, just like with the original ‘BOOK IT!’ program.
Reading is important
We cannot overstate the importance of reading. It’s not just a cliché — readers are better learners and leaders.
It’s a fun way to teach kids to read
There are different fun ways to teach kids about reading, and National Young Readers Week is one of them. Children can bond with their parents and school principals in reading challenges, and learn that reading often comes with rewards. In 2016, a school principal in Pennsylvania dressed up as Batman to read to kids from the roof.