Dash and the Lights in the Sky - by Ashley Key (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Dash and the Lights in the Sky is a poetic children's book that blends storytelling, science, and Arctic wonder into one dazzling winter adventure.

One wintry night, Dash the husky looks up to see a strange glow dancing across the sky. With the help of Echo the wise owl and Nimbus the playful Arctic fox, he uncovers the science behind the aurora borealis-the Northern Lights.

Through lyrical rhyme and vivid imagery, young readers explore big ideas like atmosphere, particles, magnetism, and energy transfer in an accessible, enchanting way. Designed for ages 0-8, this book introduces early STEM learning while preserving the rhythm and warmth of a bedtime story.

The watercolor-inspired illustrations immerse readers in a dreamy Arctic landscape, while the built-in Parents' Reading Guide supports interactive learning with:

• Vocabulary prompts and discussion starters that build language skills
• Extension activities aligned with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
• Real science explanations written for curious minds

At the back of the book, readers will discover a collection of hands-on Aurora Science Crafts, each tied to NGSS core concepts such as energy transfer, wave properties, and Earth-Sun interactions. Children can create their own Sticky Window Aurora, Northern Lights Squish Bag, Aurora Watercolor + Salt Night Sky, Solar Wind Streamers, and Magnetic Field Lines Experiment-each blending art, play, and science to reinforce learning through creativity.

Perfect for classrooms, homeschool lessons, libraries, and cozy family reading, Dash and the Lights in the Skytransforms curiosity into discovery. Whether painting light, modeling magnetic fields, or swirling color like solar wind, children learn that even the sky holds secrets waiting to be explored.