The Indian in the Cupboard

Bibliographic information: 

Banks, Lynne Reid.  The Indian in the Cupboard.  Avon, 1980, p. 181.

Brief plot description:

On his birthday, Omri receives a plastic Indian, a cupboard, and a key for the cupboard.  Omri wakes up in the morning and discovers Indian has moved in the cupboard, but turns back to plastic later that day.  The Indian’s name is Little Bear.  Omri buys an Indian chief and takes it home to put in the cupboard, but Little Bear kills him.  Patrick finally believes Omri and wants to have his toy come to life.  Omri puts Boone, a cowboy, with Little Bear.  The next day, Omri goes to the store to get Little Bear a wife.  Patrick and Omri go home to discover Omri’s brothers hid the cupboard in the attic.  That night, Boone gets shot by Little Bear.  Little Bear goes into the floor to get the key.  Tommy, the doctor, patches up Boone.  Omri brings the Indian woman to life, and Little Bear falls in love; they all turn back into plastic.

Brief review:

I like this book because it brings a child’s imagination to life. It could be used when the class is talking about friendship or about the past.  The main idea is to have an imagination and to care about how others feel.  This book could be read aloud or read individually by tweens in fourth through sixth grade.  Boys will like this book because of the strong male character, the adventure involved and the interaction between the toys that come to life and their interaction with each other.       

Genre label:

Modern Fantasy

Reading level/interest level:

4^th-6^th graders

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

The Return of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks

The Secret of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks

The Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

The Key to the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks

Awards:

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award (Illinois)

California Young Reader Medal

Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award

A Virginia Young Readers Award