The Key to Adventure

Museum children's book launches June 28!

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The Key to Adventure

Written by Rebecca Gavin
Illustrated by Mya Concepcion

When a young girl named Prudence finds a strange-looking key, she brings it along on her visit to the Connecticut Museum–and suddenly falls back in time! Join Prudence on a magical journey through Connecticut history, where she meets new friends, explores new places, and learns that everyone holds their own key to adventure. With whimsical illustrations of the Connecticut Museum and its objects and a story that inspires imagination and encourages discovery, The Key to Adventure will delight children of all ages. Written and illustrated by Education staff members of the Connecticut Museum!

Available now!

Hardcover and e-book
For individuals, libraries, schools, and bookstores.

Get the Book

Online

Get a copy for friends, family, or yourself! Order the hardcover through Ingram Spark (ships in U.S.) or e-book edition through Barnes & Noble online.

Buy Hardcover

Buy e-book

At the Museum

Hardcover books are available for purchase in the Museum gift shop, at One Elizabeth Street in Hartford, Connecticut. Pick up a copy during your next visit! For questions about purchasing at the Museum, call the Welcome Desk as 860-236-5621 x 0.

For libraries and schools

The Museum will happily donate a free copy of The Key to Adventure to your library or school. Complete and submit the request form and your book will either be delivered or shipped to you. Please allow several business days for your request to be processed, thank you!

Request form

Book an Author Visit! To book, email rgavin@connecticutmuseum.org. Visits include a story time, related craft, and Q&A. $150 for Member Libraries | $175 plus roundtrip mileage at $0.67/mile for non-Member libraries.

For bookstores

Stock The Key to Adventure in your bookstore! Email Rebecca Gavin rgavin@connecticutmuseum.org to discuss ordering options or to schedule an author visit.

About the Creative Team

AUTHOR

Rebecca Gavin had the best first job working in a children’s room at her local library which fostered a lifelong appreciation for children’s books. Today she works as the Director of Education at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History- which is a totally awesome job! Becca loves teaching people about history and is drawn to the stories that objects can tell. In her spare time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, going on adventures (real or imaginary) with her family, baking something delicious, or curling up with a good book.

ILLUSTRATOR

Mya Concepcion has always believed that art and education go hand in hand. After graduating with a degree in Painting, she sought out different jobs in education and landed in the wonderful world of museums (where art and education thrive!). Today she works as a Museum Educator where she loves using images and objects to help share stories with children across Connecticut. When she isn’t at the museum, she loves painting in her studio and finding her own keys to adventure with her loved ones. 

Exhibit-on-Wheels Book Tour

 

Join The Key to Adventure on its tour throughout the state! Throughout the summer, a traveling exhibit-on-wheels inspired by the story will make stops throughout Connecticut, inviting families to step inside the bus and into an interactive exhibition that explores the world within the story. Created and organized in partnership with cARTie the Art Museum Bus. Free copies of the book will be available at each stop, one per family on a first come first served basis.

View the tour schedule below to find a stop near you!

Saturday, June 28 @ 11 am - 4 pm
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Monday, June 30 @ 10 am - noon
Hartford Public Library, Downtown Branch
500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Monday, June 30 @ 1 - 3 pm
Hartford Public Library, Albany Branch
1250 Albany Ave, Hartford, CT 06112
Monday, July 7 @ 10 - 11 am
Plumb Memorial Public Library
65 Wooster St, Shelton
Monday, July 7 @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Fairchild Nichols Memorial Library
1718 Huntington Turnpike, Trumbull
Thursday, July 10 @ 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Downtown Bridgeport Farmer's Market
102 Bank St, Bridgeport
Saturday, July 12 @ 9 - 11:30 am
Shelton Farmer's Market
100 Canal St, Shelton
Sunday, July 13 @ 10 am - noon
Mill River Park
17 W. Park Pl, Stamford
Thursday, July 17 @ 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Downtown Bridgeport Farmers Market
102 Bank St, Bridgeport
Sunday, July 20 @ 10 am - 1 pm
Coventry Youth Farmers Market
2299 South St, Coventry
Saturday, July 26 @ 3 - 5 pm
Ball and Socket Arts
493 West Main St, Cheshire
Friday, August 1 @ 5 - 8 pm
Washington Park
155 Meridian St, Groton
Sunday, August 3 @ 1 - 4 pm
Cheney Homestead
106 Hartford Road, Manchester

Activities and Extras

Otis’s Favorite Blueberry Pie

Otis loves all kinds of pies, but blueberry is his favorite! Use this recipe to bake and enjoy your very own blueberry pie.

Download the Recipe

Scavenger Hunt at the Museum

Can you find all the objects? Print this scavenger hunt and bring it with you on your next visit to the Museum!

Download the Scavenger Hunt

Activity Prompts

  1. Create an imaginary story about an object in your home.
  2. Build a story together. Have one person start a story then pass it to the next person to build on.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Educational Sponsors
Barbara S. Cronin 

Contributing Sponsors
 Connecticut Humanities logo
David S. Barrett  |  Ellen M. Brown 

Location

One Elizabeth Street
Hartford CT, 06105

860.236.5621

 

Museum Hours:

Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm, Thursday until 8 pm
Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm

Research Center Hours:

Tuesday-Saturday 12 pm - 5 pm, Thursday until 8 pm
Always by appointment only.