As a middle class, white American, literacy is not something one normally thinks about. It is a given that someone in my situation will go to school and learn to read at the appropriate age level that is expected of them. Growing up in Missouri, literacy was not an issue that concerned me. I did not especially like reading, but it was a normal part of school so I just did as I was told. It was not until a school program called “Book It” came to my school that I realized being literate is not only important, but that reading can also be fun and actually exciting. I grew up more concerned with how my recent baseball game went or what I was going to do with my guy friends on the weekend. “Book It” taught me not only to enjoy reading but respect the opportunity to get to read whenever I wanted. My outlook on reading completely changed when I was in elementary school. I was coaxed into reading by being rewarded pizza if I read so many books. Since then I have realized the value of being literate and how important it is to not only myself, but to society as a whole to be able to pick up a book, read, and comprehend what the author has laid out before us. Perhaps you are not familiar with the “Book It” program, so laying some groundwork is important. The basic concept of the program is that reading a designated amount of books (during my years in the program it was ten books) equated into receiving a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut. This may seem trivial to adults, but as a nine-year-old boy, the reward was everything. Upon hearing about the program in school, I just wanted to read ten books so that I could get that free pizza. I didn’t even care what the books were; I just wanted to read them so I could enjoy the riches that came with it. I had no idea what literacy even was at that point in my life, nor did I care. A few weeks had gone by and I had almost read my ten books. I was so excited; I could almost taste that pepperoni and sausage pizza! I had a book and a half left to go and I would get to literally taste the fruits of my labor. One night at dinner my mom asked me what my most recent book was about. She is an avid reader. She enjoys reading more than anyone I know, and was just tickled to death to see me with my nose in a book more than usual. I remember her asking me the question but I had no answer. I literally froze. I had no response. The question kept playing over and over in my head like a broken record. I did not know what my book was about. I didn’t care; I just wanted my free pizza! I was so embarrassed that night. I remember going up to my room after dinner, sitting, and reading my book with a different attitude. A light bulb went on in my head. Angels began singing in the Heavens. I realized that if I was going to be spending all this time reading, I should know what I was reading about. So that night I sat and read for hours just soaking in everything the book had to offer. Looking back it is quite humorous considering my book was one of the Boxcar Children stories, but I just wanted to take in every word. I became so engrossed in the story that my mom ended up having to come and tell me to go to bed and that I needed to turn my lights out for the night. I simply could not fall asleep after my mom left my room that night. I needed to read the rest of my book! Turns out, books can be just as entertaining as movies! The next day I hardly cared that I was one book away from getting a free pizza. I had just read a book and actually paid attention to what it said. After school I could not wait to start my next book. Although this was a long time ago, the lesson learned still rings true today. Being able to read opens children, and adults alike, to new opportunities. I just got back from my honeymoon and I read a whole book while on vacation. I loved it! I was reminded how truly important it is to be able to read but also how great it is to read and enjoy what the author has put before you. While I do not think of “Book It” every time I pick up a book to read, I do think about how much fun I had as a kid reading just for the fun of it. I do not get that opportunity very often anymore, but I know how important and valuable it is to be able to read. I learned that reading does not have to be a chore or a task. Perhaps that was the best thing I learned from “Book It.” It is not about how many free pizzas you got compared to your classmates or how many stickers you got on your “Book It” pin. Reading truly can be fun, no matter what age you are. We are truly blessed in America to be able to read whatever we want. When I was reading for “Book It” it elementary school I read scary stores by R. L. Stine for crying out loud! We are truly blessed to be able to read anything we want, and I feel lucky to be able to do just that – even if I cannot do it as often as I would like!