Were You In Pizza Hut's Book It Program? Yes? There's Free Pizza Waiting For You.

For many readers of a particular age and geographical origin, Pizza Huts were a part of growing up. Remember the $4.99 lunch buffet? The Land Before Time puppets? Remember Book It, the company's shrewd marketing plan that gave kids the opportunity to "earn" a free Personal Pan Pizza for reading a certain number of books in school? Yes, school! Meaning parents had to drive their kids to Pizza Hut, pay for their own Pizza Hut Big Foot Pizza and do it all over a month later when the next certificate was brought home. All in the name of literacy! Oh, Pizza Hut.

But guess what? Book It is back! Sorta back! Yesterday, Big Pizza announced via press release the creation of the Book It Alumni Program. "Calling all doctors, farmers, teachers, celebrities, engineers and adults from different backgrounds who were once Book It kids — we want to hear from you!" Does this mean you have to show them your pin? Not really. It means they want to offer you a free Personal Pan Pizza (redeemable now through October 10). And you don't even have to read Surprise Island to earn it. That's it.

According to the statement, Book It is the longest-running corporate-supported reading program in the country, and has engaged educators for more than three decades to aid in the effort of helping 60 million children read more than 54 billion minutes. It's unclear how many pizzas have been given away over the three decades, but by our estimates it's enough to circle the globe a few dozen times.

We also offer this photo of Tim Tebow wearning a Book It t-shirt without comment.