The Indian in the Cupboard

The Indian in the Cupboard is a low fantasy children's novel by the British writer Lynne Reid Banks, published in 1980 with illustrations by Robin Jacques (UK) and Brock Cole (US). It was later adapted as a 1995 children's film under the same name. The original book was followed by four sequels: The Return of the Indian (1985); The Secret of the Indian (1989); The Mystery of the Cupboard (1993); and The Key to the Indian (1998). All were published by Doubleday Books in hardcover, then by Avon Books, now Harper Collins, in paperback. There have been multiple reprints in various formats, including movie tie-in editions. The publisher recommended reading level is age nine and up. All the books revolve around a young boy, Omri, discovering the powers of a magical cupboard that turns plastic toys into real, living beings, resulting in Omri befriending an 18th century Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) chief named Little Bear. As the series progresses, Omri and his friend Patrick learn more about the cupboard's powers, including its ability to transport people to and fro through history. The book was reviewed for The New York Times where it was called "the best novel of the year". The book has been used as part of teaching curricula for children at the novel's reading level. It was illustrated at least by Robin Jacques (UK), Brock Cole (US), and Piers Sanford (later). The book has been both critiqued and praised on its literary merit and has once been recommended reading in school curriculum. The book has received its share of positive and negative reviews and has received numerous awards. In a review of the first book of the series, Kirkus Reviews observed, "The first book had a fine balance between childish desire to play with the tiny figures and awareness that, though small, they were real people who ought not to be so manipulated." Despite the wide range of views on this novel, little information exists about any challenges the author faced in publishing it. At one time classrooms and libraries widely accepted the book.