National Young Readers Week
Fostering young minds' love for stories and expanding horizons through the magic of books; opening doors to imagination.
Drive foot traffic and engagement by positioning your brand as a champion of youth literacy during National Young Readers Week, leveraging the nostalgia of reading rewards programs and family bonding moments.
- Partner with local libraries to offer exclusive discounts or reading challenges tied to your product (books, snacks, educational tools)
- Launch a 'Read & Reward' campaign echoing Pizza Hut's historic 'Book It' model—incentivize purchases with reading certificates or free items
- Create family-focused content celebrating multi-generational reading moments and share user-generated stories of parents reading with kids
- Host in-store reading events or book clubs targeting parents and young readers, positioning your retail space as a community literacy hub
National Young Readers Week has roots that can be traced back to the mid-1980s. Many people don’t realize that this reading program actually began with the family restaurant chain, Pizza Hut. In response to when US President Ronald Reagan, along with his wife First Lady Nancy Reagan, encouraged different businesses to get involved with education, Pizza Hut launched its reading program called “Book It”.
The “Book It” program, started in 1985, involved children getting connected with reading throughout several months, from October through March. After reading a certain number of books, kids could earn an award certificate along with a free personal sized pizza. By 1989, this reading program was part of establishing the week-long focus on reading that takes place in November, called National Young Readers Week.
Get Reading!
Although it is called National Young Readers Week, and the idea is to encourage youth to read instead of watching television or playing video games, that doesn’t mean there is an age limit on participation. In fact, anyone of any age can benefit from reading a book, ranging from a parent reading to an infant or toddler, to an aged person listening to books on tape – and everyone in between. Whether it’s a book of poems, a novel, a biography or a non-fiction technical book, there are tons of things to learn about the world through reading a book.
Read with a Young Person
Teachers, parents, youth workers, scout troop leaders and so many others who have influence on young people can get involved with National Young Readers Week! The best way is to offer to read with them or to them. Letting a group of young readers take turns reading out loud is a good way to encourage participation. Or letting them choose the book and having the adult read to them while they close their eyes, relax and have a little bit of down time from the world.
Head Out to the Library
Readers need books and one of the best places to find thousands of them is at the local public library! The library is an amazing space that offers quiet and calm for individuals and families who want to spend time either perusing the stacks or reading at a table. Those who don’t already have a library card might take National Young Readers Week as an opportunity to get a library card or membership.