Storytime with Ashley Key reading Dash and the Lights in the Sky!

Author Ashley Key will host an interactive storytime featuring her children’s book Dash and the Lights in the Sky. During the reading, a northern lights projector will fill the room with soft colors to bring the story to life.

Afterward, families can join in a hands-on “Northern Lights in a Jar” craft. Each child will place a battery-operated tea light in a clear jar, layer cotton inside, and drip liquid watercolors in greens, blues, and purples onto the cotton. As the layers build, the jars glow with swirling colors that mimic the aurora borealis—creating a keepsake to take home.

Children will not only enjoy a magical story, but also learn how light interacts with color, explore a bit of the science behind the northern lights, and use creative expression to bring that science to life. The event is designed to spark curiosity, connect reading with hands-on discovery, and give families a memorable way to experience the wonder of the aurora together.