The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Back Through Time is a children’s fantasy written by Nancy Kunhardt Lodge. Lucy Nightingale is in the sixth grade and getting A’s in all her subjects is very important to her. Her best friend, Sam, is different. He’s an inventor and really doesn’t care what grades he gets as he’s just too busy with his inventions. Lucy had an awful day, which started out fine until the middle of her oral report on Hannibal and his march across the Alps. Her presentation was interrupted by a loud sneeze; she dropped her papers on the floor; and then she couldn’t remember a thing she meant to say. Her teacher, the horrible Miss Dawson, stared at her with laser eyes and made nasty comments. The next day, Lucy dreaded going back to class and was thrilled to discover that Miss Dawson was not there. In her place was a magical woman named Arabella Lang, who gave the class cake and lemonade and promised that everyone would love their homework assignments. When Lucy saw hers, she was not at all sure that would be the case.

Nancy Kunhardt Lodge’s children’s and preteen fantasy, The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Back Through Time is fast-paced, full of adventure and exciting. Lucy and Sam are intriguing and thoughtful characters who complement each other wonderfully. Lucy’s trip back through time is a fabulous historical journey where she learns a lot about her assignment and, more importantly, about herself. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book, and I also learned quite a bit from Lucy’s travels. Lodge paints glowing word pictures throughout The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Back Through Time. There’s magic both in the story and her writing. From that first dreadful sneeze, and on to Lucy’s nighttime walk on the red path, it was as though I was there in the story along with Lucy. The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Back Through Time is a marvelous and magical book, and it’s most highly recommended.

The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Through Time by Nancy Kunhardt Lodge is a magical adventure story that will keep readers enthralled with its mystery, suspense, adventure, whimsy and enchantment. Lucy Nightingale loses her confidence and it is at that time her new teacher gives her an assignment - to do a report on five paintings by four famous painters. Lucy asks her friend Wilbur to join her on this trip back in time. What the readers encounter is a magical journey which witnesses many sensory delights. The book, apart from its suspense, mystery and adventure, also has some interesting concepts and messages for young readers.

I found the book rich in imagery and the author's exquisite imagination and use of language complements the scenes and gives them more impact. Lucy and her friend Wilbur tell readers a lot about art and about the painters Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and Vincent Van Gogh. The plot is original and the imagination of the author brings alive the era of the Renaissance painters. Lucy and Wilbur pull readers into the story and make them participate actively in their journey back in time.

The characters are well portrayed and the inspiration, imagination and excitement make it an exciting read. The story encourages readers to dream, break barriers while thinking, and let themselves be carried away by their imaginations. The weaving of an educational angle into the otherwise whimsical plot has been done with expertise by the author.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It made me laugh and cry. Lucy is such a believable wonderful character. Sam is so funny and Wilbur is just adorable. My daughter loves it. We both cried when Wilbur got sick. This book should be required reading in middle schools. Kids learn about art by experiencing five painting the author is a professor of art history with a Ph.D. The writing is beautiful. She addresses themes of the value of original thought and fear of making mistakes. If you've always wanted to fly, if you love art, if you love dogs, if you just love a good story, read this delightful book.

The Crystal Navigator is a distinct and imaginative tale that creatively brings





together science and art, a captivating combination that will intrigue reluctant and discerning middle grade readers. Lodge’s descriptive narrative poetically illuminates the wonder and potential of science and technology as well as the depth and beauty of art, artists, and art appreciation. This valuable and unique perspective, coupled with Lucy’s determination and Wilbur’s endearing spirit, paint The Crystal Navigator as an entertaining and inspiring novel suitable to be shared aloud with boys and girls.


—The Children’s Book Review

The Crystal Navigator is a distinct and imaginative tale that creatively brings together science and art, a captivating combination that will intrigue reluctant and discerning middle grade readers. Lodge’s descriptive narrative poetically illuminates the wonder and potential of science and technology as well as the depth and beauty of art, artists, and art appreciation. This valuable and unique perspective, coupled with Lucy’s determination and Wilbur’s endearing spirit, paint The Crystal Navigator as an entertaining and inspiring novel suitable to be shared aloud with boys and girls.


—The Children’s Book Review

The poetry of the book is sublime: a journey with pink moons and liquid mirrors, gardens of blue flowers, velvet nights with sapphires, diamonds and stars and moons. Children can dwell on notions of flattening throughts into wavelengths, on merging essences with another living being and making them glow. They can use sophisticated tools to travel through time and jump inside paintings, pulling back the veil of magic and making a character on paper real and the child's own power flower. An endless lesson in freeing the imagination and happy balloons pop up! The book will give your child the affirmation that 'to be great, you have to express what's in your heart' and that 'when you are afraid, work! This book is a treat for the eye and the ear and a film in waiting.

The Crystal Navigator is a page turner packed with delicious imagination, originality and message. Through time travel, fantastical imagery, colorful characters and strange happenings Nancy Lodge not only takes us into the lives of Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Vincent van Gogh but also into their paintings! Her protagonists, Lucy and Wilbur, actually participate in their art, giving it a unique perspective. Tucked within this enchanting tale are life-enhancing messages such as the concept of Wise Ones, everyone has the ability to form original ideas, everyone has magic in them and, indeed, the value of looking at a painting until it speaks to one personally. -A classic that with the technology of today would make an amazing film.

For those who enjoy a crisply imaginative adventure story set among historical and allegorical truths, in this case the hidden themes in the work of Italian renaissance artists, you will enjoy this book. Dr Lodge establishes a colorful character with real-life issues of dealing with adolescence and learning and uses that conflict to explore the inner meaning of some of history's most famous art. With a doctorate in Art History, she combines to all levels of reader a revealing lesson in great paintings with a delightful coming of age story about a young girl and an imaginary friend. Good job!!!!!!

If you know someone who has always wanted to fly, someone who likes cutting edge magic gadgets, someone who would agree that the best way to escape from an ogress is to jump into the nearest painting; if you know someone who might like the idea of helping Leonardo da Vinci entertain an unruly teenager named Lisa, while he tries to paint her smiling, and finally, if you know someone like Lucy, who loves school, but who is afraid of oral reports because her confidence walked out on her, then you know someone who will love The Crystal Navigator. This book will appeal to anyone who loves art. Five famous painters and their art are seen through the eyes of a curious child and brought to life as they never have been. During a journey that is at once perilous and sad, exciting and funny, Lucy discovers the magic inside her.

I chose the five star rating because this is a one of a kind, fun, interesting and educational book. I love it. Cant wait for this MOVIE!!!! I specifically liked the way the author taught us about the masters and how they decided what to do in their masterpieces. Very clever to see this through the eyes of the herione. Great action and imagination but ultimately about the human condition and its triumph. The author has a delightful, mischievous sense of humor. Must read!

Gwenny here, this is THE MOST AWESOME book I ever read because there is a very powerful, smart girl named Lucy and her genius friend named Sam and I love Miss Lang and then Wilbur is the BEST!!! He is so funny. I loved the parts when Lucy and Wilbur jump into the garden painting. I love everything, but I was very VERY SAD when Wilbur was dying and had no fur. But then it was happy again, except Lucy was going to miss him. Bye

My name is Melissa and I'm nine. I love Wilbur and I liked it that Lucy is a regular girl with problems because I get scared too. BUT, I cried so hard when Wilbur was dying with all his fur off and then I cried even harder later when Lucy left him. You didn't tell was what Happened to Wilbur after she left him. He was all alone in the woods. What happened to his star-shaped house and his blue garden? Did he take them back to his planet? Could you please tell people that in your next book? Thank you, I loved your book. from Melissa

Hi Mrs. Lodge, I'm ten and I hope you are still alive because I want to buy a Crystal Navigator. Where can I get one and how much does one cost? I thought Wilbur was very funny. I liked it when they jumped into Sandro's painting to get away from the ogress. I also liked it when they were stuck inside a pyramid. I like Egypt. There were sad parts at the end, but then it turned happy so all in all it is one of my favorite books. I'm 10.
yours truly,
Max

Thank you all so much for these wonderful reviews. They mean the world to me.