The Indian in the Cupboard

As a child this book made me believe my toys could come to life. I loved all the imagination it brought me.

Smoothly written, dark in the corners, but nothing jaw-dropping. I suppose it was better "back in the day." The contemporary equivalent would be something like William Gibson would write.

Remniscent of a Diana Wynne Jones novel in which the unexpected consequences of using magic put the young protagonist in a difficult but usually funny fix.A story in which toy figures come to life is fairly likely to incorporate stereotypes about the figures, since the toy figures more or less embody stereotypes. The WWI medic is just as much a stereotype as the cowboy or the Indian.Whenever Omri gets a wife for Little Bull, however, he is basically acting as a pimp. And the woman whom he brings to life is passive and accepting of her fate, even though she has been dragged from some unknown time and place simply to satisfy Little Bull. Perhaps the old chief who dies of terror was better off.

Omri is given an old medicine cupboard and key, along with a plastic indian for his birthday. Disappointed, he shuts the indian into to the cupboard and turns the key. Something extraordinary happens - the indian awakens. He is not merely a toy come to life, but a real (if minature) person with his own history, transported into Omri’s time. This is the start of an adventure, one in which Omri discovers the value of life. A classic and an enjoyable read.

 The story is great fun and provides enough suspense to readily engage middle grade readers. Adults reading it to younger children may find some of the mystery and devices for building tension far-fetched but it can be enchanting to share the amazement and wonder that LRB creates with her excellent writing.

It was a cute story that kept my kids attention. There were a few swear words. Entertaining story.

Classic novel about a young boy who puts a plastic toy Indian into a cupboard and the toy turns into a real Indian. Loved the idea of magic and while the storyline is wonderful, it could be updated a bit. The adults in the story act in unbelievable ways... Otherwise it was an enjoyable if juvenile read...

What kid wouldn't want to find out they had the power to bring their toys to life? Of course, as Omri learns, it might not be as great as it seems.This was one of my favorite stories growing up. This particular copy belonged to my sister (I know because she wrote her name in the cover), but it was one of those books we shared. It's been a while since I read this one, so I thought it was about time. After reading about Banks' other tiny wonder, Houdini the Escape Hamster, I figured it was time to check back in with Little Bear and his mini-adventures.The Indian in the Cupboard is one of those books everyone should read at least once in their lives.

White guilt made this hard for me to read. Everything just felt so...wrong: so insulting, stereotypical, and offensive. Once I got past that, it's a rather good story with interesting characters and a thoroughly wonderful plot (a harbinger of Toy Story or a review of Where the Toys Come From). Pretty enjoyable.

This is the story of a young boy who finds a toy Indian. After putting the toy into a cupboard, it comes to life. From here on out, things are a whirlwind for the boy and the Indian.This is a riveting tale of adventure. I think 3-5 grade would enjoy this read.

The book was an interesting read. It uses the magical, never quite explained cupboard and key to introduce some key points of American history and culture and race relations. Setting the story in England added another dimension to the story that gave the author reason to add extra explanations to Little Bear and Boone's needs.

Brilliant both as a children's book and a coming of age novel. Although it's low fantasy, it feels more like science fiction in drawing out the consequences of an interesting piece of technology. Omri's actions and character transformation are very believable.The only part of the book I didn't enjoy was Patrick's betrayal, and Omri's quick acceptance of his actions. In fact, for all of the times Omri threatened to knock someone's teeth out, I would have thought he'd have tried it at least once.

A young boy finds a toy Indian in the cupboard. He goes to sleep and the next morning the toy is alive. The toy warns the boy not to put him in the cupboard again. The story goes through many adventures between Omri, the young boy, and making sure the Indian does not harm them. Learning about Native American culture.5-6

This story revolves around a young boy discovering that when he locks a toy plastic Iroquois Indian in an old bathroom cupboard, the figure comes to life. This is a fun book full of magic and is a great read for any kid. After your students have read The Indian and the Cupboard, continue this book unit by doing related lessons, which include a Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks research project and a creative writing activity. Another great idea is to make a cupboard. Decide what you will put in it to transform to a living thing. Write a story/ account of what happens when this item comes to life.

This book does some really great things, but also some pretty terrible things at the same time. I like Banks' prose style. I like that the Iroquois, Little Bear, refuses to just let the boys make the "you are a generic Indian" mistake. A good read, but I would hope that any parent or teacher would include a unit/chat on the actual history of the time (1889 for Boone, at least) of the characters.

Simply loved this book as a kid. It is a must read. So much imagination crammed into a tiny little cupboard

This is an entertaining, appealing story, in which an immature young man learns to take responsibility and show respect for others’ welfare. Unlike other fantasies which create an entire magical world, the cupboard is the only magical element in this story. Because of its grounding in the everyday, this fantasy has a particular charm, as readers might imagine stumbling across just this kind of magic in their own world.

Omri is given an old medicine cupboard and key, along with a plastic indian for his birthday. Disappointed, he shuts the indian into to the cupboard and turns the key. Something extraordinary happens - the indian awakens. He is not merely a toy come to life, but a real (if minature) person with his own history, transported into Omri’s time. This is the start of an adventure, one in which Omri discovers the value of life. A classic and an enjoyable read.

Reading these books again as an adult is kind of sad. Unlike some of the other children's books I've been rereading, they don't seem to have kept their magic, and I'm irritated -- of course -- by the stereotypical and rather racist portrayal of the Indian who Omri brings out of the cupboard. There is at least some engagement with the idea that such a man, brought out of the past as a plastic toy, wouldn't be a toy, and at least some indication that not all Indians would be the same (e.g. the argument over whether he will live in a teepee or a longhouse, although that is annoying on another level because Little Bull eventually decides that Omri's right and he does want a teepee). Little Bull is pretty one dimensional: he speaks in grunts and broken English, he wants a wife to cook for him and who will obey him, he's capricious and wild.

Omri and Patrick, the 'normal size' main characters, are selfish and inconsiderate. Particularly Patrick. I think as a child I might have had some sympathy with him, for the way Omri refused to let him join in and have his own real live little man. Omri is the more responsible of the two, at least. But he also doesn't practice what he preaches. It just... becomes annoying.

The children themselves are reasonably well characterised, actually: they have childish squabbles, hide stuff from their parents, don't always think about the consequences of their actions... But that makes the characterisation of the stereotyped characters even more infuriating.

I'd probably give this one star, if I hadn't loved it so much when I was younger. It does get to keep an extra star, just for that.

Fun to read to an 8yr old boy (and myself).

I remember liking these books when I was a kid...it still holds up pretty well, but Frank Oz's movie version is actually better!

This series is such a fun and easy ready. It's a nice story about learning the lesson that sometimes what you wish for isn't always as great as it seems. A young boy finds a magic cupboard that will bring one of his small toys to life and spends an entire series dealing with the consequences and trying to protect the little human. Very entertaining read!

I like this book and enjoyed reading it to my children because it show what happens when something that seems like it would be the coolest thing can turn out to not be so fun. It also demonstrated empathy. I also like that it touches on family and how to take care of one another and how to interact. This is a good read

I can't believe I didn't discover this book as a child. This is such a great read! It has so many different elements and is a really adventurous way of introducing a whole new culture to a young reader!

This book is an interesting look at what happens when something that seems like it would be the coolest thing can turn out to not be so fun once reality hits. It is also interesting to see the empathy that Omri has for these small beings and how he tries to care for them and show Patrick how to care for them too. It also explores the dynamics of their friendship and touches lightly on the familial interactions between son and parents and brother to brother. While this is a book about boys, the story is not for boys alone. Girls will enjoy this story about a 'magical' experience. Boys will definitely love this and may even try locking up their action figures in every cupboard in the house to see what happens. It's a quick and interesting read for those who are easily distracted.

The Indian in the cupboard was a good book and greatly resembled the movie, which i personally like.

This book sat on the book shelf for a long time and reading this delightful tale today felt as though I found a piece of chocolate in last Winter's coat pocket.I marvel at the creativity that went into the concept of a young boy who is given an old cabinet and a key. When his friend gives him a plastic Indian toy as a birthday present, he locks the toy in the cabinet.Surprised at hearing noises emanating from the cabinet, upon opening the door, a tiny Indian is found alive and kicking with all his might.The spunky Indian is quite demanding while brandishing his teeny knife and stubbornly pouting. Chaos ensues as the young man tries to hide the secret while meeting the needs of his new found friend.Reading this book was wonderful fun. Recommended to anyone who needs a smile on a rainy day.

The Indian in the Cupboard, is the story of Omri, Little bear and the magic cupboard. It was Omri's birthday when the Indian came to him, much to his dismay. He didn't want him. But with the magic of the cupboard that brings new life to the toy, he soon changes his mind. At one point the Little Bear gets hurt and in a split second decides to put someone else in the cupboard. This let little Bear have help and bandages the right sizes.He wants to keep the cupboard a secret but more people learn of it. It is a fantasy with many magical things happening. It is also about living with the consquence of change.I like the story and would recommend this book

A wonderfully, imaginative story about a boy and magic cupboard that brings a small, plastic Indian toy to life. The adventure begins and so does Omri's need to keep safe the secret of this cupboard, as well as the secret of the Indian. A classic tale that will remain a favorite. I still remember when my fifth-grade teacher read this book to the class every day after lunch. I was captivated along with everyone else. And, we were all relieved to know that Banks went on to write sequels. Highly recommended and confident kids will love it.

Acquired via BookCrossing 25 Oct 2009 - picked up from the KGC, originally from an American BCerThis classic about a magic cupboard that will turn plastic figurines into real people and creatures can be read just as a wonderful story, but it's also all about how to be a good friend, knowing what is the right thing to do, looking after people, etc. I'd forgotten the lovely levels of detail in the book and so enjoyed reading it again after many years. I'll return this to the Kitchen Garden Cafe to find another reader... of whatever age!