NORWOOD -- The Norwood Public Library celebrated the arrival of more than $1,400 in free children’s books from the Libri Foundation’s Books for Children program.

The Foundation makes grants to rural libraries to help provide quality new children’s books to their communities.

Families who attended the event listened to stories, made kites, played games, and enjoyed mini banana splits. The addition of 84 new books, including 19 math and science books given by Bill Strawbridge and Meg Wallhagen, gives a welcome boost to the library’s children’s collection.

A 2013 Pew Research Center study shows that parents still find reading print books to children to be very important, and further studies affirm that reading aloud to children positively influences their language development, which in turn affects achievement in school. “We want to connect kids and families with great books,” says library director Rebecca Donnelly. “This grant is a helping us toward that goal in a big way.”