Dash and the Lights in the Sky By Ashley Key – The Children’s Book Review

December 16, 2025 · by sybrinapublishing

Dash and the Lights in the Sky

Written and illustrated by Ashley Key

Ages: 0-8 | 50 Pages (hardcover and softcover) 25 Pages (board book)

Publisher: Adventure Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8993318646

Publisher’s Book Summary: Dash and the Lights in the Sky is a poetic children’s book that combines storytelling, science, and Arctic wonder. One wintry night, Dash the husky looks up at a strange glow dancing across the sky. With the help of Echo the wise owl and Nimbus the playful Arctic fox, he discovers the science of the aurora borealis-the northern lights.

This lyrical narrative blends advanced vocabulary with a sing-song rhythm, inviting children to explore concepts such as atmosphere, particles, and magnetism in an accessible way. Designed for ages 0-8, the book encourages curiosity and sparks early STEM learning while preserving the magic of a bedtime story.

The watercolor-inspired illustrations create a dreamy, Arctic setting, while the built-in Parents’ Reading Guide provides vocabulary support, discussion prompts, and NGSS-aligned extension activities. Ideal for classrooms, homeschool lessons, or cozy family reading, Dash and the Lights in the Sky helps children connect wonder with science-and shows that even the sky holds secrets waiting to be discovered.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

This post is sponsored by Ashley Key. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Guest Post

How to Teach Kids About the Northern Lights: A Parent’s Guide

By Ashley Key, author of Dash and the Lights in the Sky

Introduction: How One Night Sky Sparked a Lifetime of Questions

The first time my daughter saw a video of the Northern Lights, she whispered, “Mom, the sky is moving.” Her whole body leaned toward the screen, and suddenly bedtime turned into a science lesson.

Kids don’t need long lectures or complicated diagrams to start learning about space science. I know this firsthand — before I wrote children’s books, I worked in satellite communications, where interpreting auroras and monitoring solar storms mattered. When the sun sends charged particles toward Earth, we see stunning lights in the sky — but those same events can interrupt radio signals, GPS accuracy, and satellite performance.

That means when kids learn about the aurora, they’re not just learning about colors — they’re discovering real science that affects everyday technology.

2. Explain the Science Simply (Accurate but Kid-Friendly)

A three-sentence approach that works:

The sun sends tiny particles into space.
Earth protects us with an invisible magnetic shield.
The particles hit gases in the sky and glow like lights.

Color Guide

Green = oxygen (lower atmosphere)
Red = oxygen (higher atmosphere)
Purple + blue = nitrogen

University of Alaska Fairbanks Aurora Science: 
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-borealis

 
⭐ DID YOU KNOW?

During strong solar storms, the Northern Lights have been seen as far south as Kansas, Missouri, and Virginia.

Smithsonian Magazine: 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-causes-the-northern-lights-180980491/

 
3. Hands-On Aurora Activities (Science Through Fingers)

Northern Lights in a Jar

You Need:

Mason jar
Water
Glitter
Food coloring
LED tealight

Teach: particle motion + energy movement

 
Balloon Magnetosphere Demo

You Need:

Balloon
Paper streamers
Tape

How to explain:

Balloon = Earth
Streamers = magnetic field
Air = solar wind

Kids can see the deflection.

NASA Kids Activities: 
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

 
Watercolor Aurora Silhouette

You Need:

Watercolors: blues, greens, purples
Black paper
Salt for star texture

Teach: color mixing + scattering

 
⭐ DID YOU KNOW?

Geomagnetic storms can bend radio waves near the poles and cause pilots to reroute flights to stay in communication with ground stations.

That’s cutting-edge science hidden in simple kid activities.

 
4. Read Stories That Build Scientific Language

Featured STEM Picture Book

Dash and the Lights in the Sky by Ashley Key 
Ages 0–8 | STEM, aurora science, vocabulary, experiments

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble

Why it works: 
Kids meet a curious husky, an owl, and an Arctic fox who explain real science in poetic language. The back pages include experiments and vocabulary.

 
Recommended Aurora & Arctic Children’s Books

🌌 Moon Song — Michaela Goade

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

🌌 Seeking an Aurora — Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Anne Bannock

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

🌌 The Lights That Dance in the Night — Yuval Zommer

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Narrated by the aurora itself — a unique literary choice.

🌌 Once Upon a Northern Light — Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Cozy grayscale landscapes that burst with aurora color.

 
Parent Script for Reading

After reading any of these books, ask:

“What surprised you about the lights?”
“What do you think causes the colors?”
“Where would you go to see them in real life?”

These open-ended prompts build critical thinking + inquiry skills.

 
5. Build a Home “Aurora Station”

Transform a corner of your living room for one week:

World map with aurora viewing locations
Flashlight + tissue paper filters
Magnet + paperclips
Printed satellite images of auroras
Notebook labeled Aurora Observations

Encourage your child to:

Draw swirling color patterns
Record “predictions”
Describe motion

This blends:

Space science
Geography
Art
Vocabulary
Cause-and-effect
Scientific method

 
Why I Teach My Kids About Auroras

I started reading advanced science language to my daughters before they could speak — exposure works. Big vocabulary sticks.

When I worked in satellite communications, auroras were not just beautiful — they were measurable events that affected signal strength, timing, and communication accuracy. Explaining that to kids turns beauty into science instantly.

 
Try One Activity Today

Pick one tonight:

Watch a NASA aurora video
Make Northern Lights in a Jar
Read one aurora picture book
Do the balloon magnetosphere demo

If you want a story that pairs naturally with at-home experiments, Dash and the Lights in the Sky is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble — but start with curiosity first.

Science begins with questions.

Happy sky watching.

 
Author Bio

Ashley Key is a mom of two, a former satellite communications professional, and a children’s STEM author. She learned to interpret solar storms and auroral activity while working in satellite communications, which inspired her to bring complex space science to young readers through storytelling and hands-on learning. Her picture book Dash and the Lights in the Sky introduces young readers to the aurora borealis through poetic narrative, accurate science, vocabulary development, and simple experiments.

About The Author Illustrator

Ashley Key has spent years helping others find their voice — both on the page and in the classroom. She has taught literacy as a HiSET instructor and worked as a contract and technical writer in the field of satellite communications, where she explored how science connects us across vast distances. Inspired by her real-life husky, Drake, and her family’s adventures under wide northern skies, Ashley blends science, art, and storytelling to spark curiosity in young readers. Through the Dash series, she hopes to nurture wonder for the natural world — one glowing aurora, snowflake, and discovery at a time.

For more information, visit dashandthelightsinthesky.com.