Publican Quality Bread’s Oak Park location has launched a yearlong book reading program called Knead to Read to celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary.
When kids 13 and under read ten books, fill out the Knead to Read book form and bring it into Publican Quality Bread’s Oak Park location, they receive a free cheese kids’ pizza, a drink and a cookie. The program started Oct. 7.
“We just want kids reading,” said Katie Karpowicz director of marketing and communications for One Off Hospitality, the restaurant’s parent company. “I grew up with the Pizza Hut program. And we realized that there aren’t a ton of reading-based restaurant promotions anymore. I always felt really cool when I would go to Pizza Hut and have my book list that my teacher or parents signed and get my special little kids meal. We wanted to give kids that opportunity again.”
This is the second time One Off Hospitality has done a reading program. It did one earlier this year at the Mexican restaurant Big Star called Taco Bout Books. Karpowicz said the program was so successful they decided to bring it to Publican Quality Bread.
One Off Hospitality has distributed an estimated 2,000 Taco Bout Books forms, and 1,500 Knead to Read forms. At Big Star’s Wicker Park location, 325 Taco Bout Books forms have been redeemed.
Though the Taco Bout Books program will be coming to close at the end of this year, Karpowicz said, “’I’m not ruling out a possibility for it to continue at this point.”
The forms are free and can be picked up from Publican Quality Bread’s Oak Park location, as well as a number of libraries and independent bookstores in the area, including the Oak Park Public Library, The Looking Glass and One Stop Comics.
“The libraries have been super responsive to it. School districts, PTO groups are excited to pick it up. We are working with Irving Elementary School, and they’re going to distribute it to their kids as well,” said Karpowicz. “They can be books from your home collection. It’s great if you want to grab some books while you’re at the libraries or a participating bookstores. But there’s no need for purchase to participate.”
There is also no limit to the number of times you can participate.
“I told the kids, ‘Keep going. There’s not a limit. The sky’s the limit. Keep reading, keep enjoying,’” said Keila Toon, Publican Quality Bread Oak Park’s general manager.
She has seen the positive impact the program has had so far.
“What I love the most is that the kid is the one who’s walking up with their little pamphlet. You can see the sense of pride on their faces,” said Toon. “They feel very independent.”
“We’re really excited to be in the neighborhood. And it’s really important for us that we are reaching all ages within the community,” said Karpowicz. “I don’t think the kids care as much about our James Beard Awards and whatnot. They want pizza, and Greg Wade’s pizza is fantastic. This is just a fun way to encourage families to come in and not just stop by for your morning coffee, but come in and grab a slice of pizza after school or after work.”
