The Key to Adventure

A special Museum children's book project!

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The Key to Adventure

A special children’s book project from the Connecticut Museum.

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 her journey home 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!

COMING JUNE 28, 2025

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. 

Family Program: Birthday Bash and Book Launch

Saturday, June 28 @ 11 am – 4 pm
Free and open to the public
Celebrate the Museum’s 200th birthday with a party full of crafts, games, treats, and the official launch of our brand new children’s book, The Key to Adventure!

Step into this imaginative world of The Key to Adventure in an immersive exhibit-on-wheels created in partnership with cARTie, a traveling art museum on a bus. Then, search for the real objects that inspired this book with a scavenger hunt through the Museum while paying games and completing crafts along the way. Join us for a story time on the top of every hour, followed by a book signing with the author, Rebecca Gavin, and illustrator Mya Concepcion. Each family in attendance will receive one free copy of The Key to Adventure to take home. Get free tickets to reserve your family’s spot!

learn more & get free tickets

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 Library
1250 Albany Ave Hartford CT 06112
Thursday, July 3 @ 10 am - 3 pm
Downtown Bridgeport Farmers Market
102 Bank Street, Bridgeport
Monday, July 7 @ 10 - 11 am
Shelton Plumb Memorial Public Library
65 Wooster St, Shelton
Saturday, July 12 @ 8:30 am - noon
Stamford Mill River Park
1010 Washington Blvd, Stamford
Thursday, July 17 @ 10 am - 3 pm
Downtown Bridgeport Farmers Market
102 Bank Street, Bridgeport
Saturday, July 19 @ 10 am - 1 pm
Mystic Seaport Museum
75 Germanville Ave, Mystic
Sunday, July 20 @ 9 am - 1 pm
Coventry Youth Farmers Market
2299 South St, Coventry
Friday, August 1 @ 5 - 8 pm
Washington Park
155 Meridian St, Groton

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.