THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD

INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD by Lynne Reid Banks

Today's post is going to be a throwback to a book that has been around for a while, Lynne Reid Banks' Indian in the Cupboard. Published in 1980, this book is a childhood favorite of my son and I recently did it with my younger lit class. It was a hit with them, and as I read through it again, I was reminded of what a childhood classic it truly is.

What makes it such a classic? It is probably the same element that makes the book The Velveteen Rabbit and the Toy Story movies so endearing to us. They tell the stories of our beloved toys coming to life. Sitting with my lit class I shared remembering how as a child I would sneak into my bedroom trying to catch my dolls and stuffed animals talking with each other. We yearn for these objects that we love to breathe and communicate with us past our imagination.

Indian in the Cupboard takes this all a step farther. With life comes responsibility. The toys are no longer just play objects to be used at a child's whim. No, these little lives need shelter, food, and other necessities, and Omri, the main character, has become their provider.

Closing the book, there is a feeling of sadness that the end of the adventure has been reached. Know that there are a total of 5 books in the series, the first 3 being the most well known, where more adventures await!