Free Books for Kids at Libraries Saturday

NORWALK, Conn. — Hosted by Norwalk Reads, a ‘Free Books for Norwalk Children’ event will be held this Saturday, Aug. 9, at Norwalk Public Library (1 Belden Ave.) and the SoNo Branch Library (10 Washington St.).

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., kids entering prekindergarten through eighth grade (who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) are invited to stop by either library (or both) to grab some free books from a selection of thousands across numerous genres—from mystery to science fiction. 

“We invite all parents to support this wonderful program designed to inspire a love of reading in children,” said SoNo Branch Manager Marcus Eason. “This is a unique opportunity where families are encouraged to take home as many books as they’d like, completely free of charge.”

The various books—which used to be part of the libraries’ collections—will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“However, rest assured that we will have a wide variety of titles available, ensuring plenty of options for everyone to choose from,” said Eason.

All of the books available on Saturday are in “excellent condition,” according to Eason.

“At the library, we take pride in ensuring that the items we give away are well-maintained,” he said. “We believe in offering quality materials and value both the books and the individuals receiving them.”

A wide selection of books will be available for each age group participating in Saturday’s event, so there will be something for everyone, according to organizers. 

“Our collection will include popular genres such as fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, and mystery,” said Eason. 

“These are just a few of the categories we offer, and I can assure you that many other genres will also be available to participants. We are confident that everyone will find something enjoyable and engaging,” added Eason, who noted books at SoNo will be organized by age group and genre.

Norwalk’s libraries “believe that reading should be exciting, accessible, and fun,” Eason explained.  

“With the school year just around the corner, there’s no better time to help children sharpen their minds and ease back into a learning mindset through engaging stories and new adventures found in books,” he said.

Eason encouraged kids entering prekindergarten through eighth grade and their parents to head to a city library and grab some free books this Saturday. 

“All of our programs, including this one, are completely free and created with your child’s growth in mind. We hope parents will embrace our vision to foster literacy, curiosity, and lifelong learning in every child,” he said.

Vicki Oatis, director of youth library services at Norwalk Public Library, also encouraged families to pick up some free books on Saturday.

“Having a home library and surrounding your child with books that they can pick up and read at their leisure is an important step in lifelong learning and building a great foundation for a love of reading,” said Oatis. “That’s why Norwalk Reads does such important work in making free books available to children in the Norwalk community.”

For more information, visit norwalkpl.org.