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Quick answer: If you loved The Indian in the Cupboard, try The Return of the Indian, The Borrowers, Stuart Little, The Miniaturist, Toys Go Out and The Velveteen Rabbit. Each one is a magical adventure where toys come alive or tiny people appear in everyday life.
Lynne Reid Banks's 1980 novel follows Omri, a British boy who receives an old cupboard for his birthday. When he locks a plastic toy inside with a special key, it comes to life as Little Bear, a real Iroquois man from the 18th century. Omri learns that his new friend is a real person with his own life and needs. The book has been criticized for its stereotypes, so it suits discussion with an adult. These books share its magic and small worlds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Return of the Indian | Lynne Reid Banks | 8-12 | readers who want the sequel |
| The Borrowers | Mary Norton | 7-11 | readers who like tiny people |
| Stuart Little | E.B. White | 7-10 | readers who like small heroes |
| The Miniaturist | Jessie Burton | Adult | older readers |
| Toys Go Out | Emily Jenkins | 6-9 | readers who like living toys |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | Margery Williams | 4-8 | readers who like toys becoming real |
| The Mouse and the Motorcycle | Beverly Cleary | 7-10 | readers who like toy vehicles |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Robert C. O'Brien | 8-12 | readers who like small heroes |
| The Doll People | Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin | 7-10 | readers who like dollhouses |
| The Castle in the Attic | Elizabeth Winthrop | 8-12 | readers who like toy castles |
| Five Children and It | E. Nesbit | 7-11 | readers who like wish-granting magic |
| Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg | 5-9 | readers who like games come alive |
| The Mennyms | Sylvia Waugh | 8-12 | readers who like living dolls |
| The Littles | John Peterson | 6-9 | younger readers |
| Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift | 10+ | older readers |
1. The Return of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks
Omri brings Little Bear back.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Tiny people live under the floor.
Best for: readers who like tiny people.
3. Stuart Little by E.B. White
A mouse born to a human family.
Best for: readers who like small heroes.
4. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
A dollhouse eerily mirrors life.
Best for: older readers.
5. Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins
Three toys share adventures.
Best for: readers who like living toys.
6. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
A toy rabbit becomes real.
Best for: readers who like toys becoming real.
7. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
A mouse rides a toy motorcycle.
Best for: readers who like toy vehicles.
8. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
A mouse seeks help from rats.
Best for: readers who like small heroes.
9. The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin
A doll searches for her missing aunt.
Best for: readers who like dollhouses.
10. The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
A boy shrinks into a toy castle.
Best for: readers who like toy castles.
11. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Children find a creature that grants wishes.
Best for: readers who like wish-granting magic.
12. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
A board game brings the jungle to life.
Best for: readers who like games come alive.
13. The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh
A family of life-size rag dolls.
Best for: readers who like living dolls.
14. The Littles by John Peterson
Tiny people live in a family's walls.
Best for: younger readers.
15. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
A traveler visits tiny Lilliputians.
Best for: older readers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Indian in the Cupboard: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Indian in the Cupboard. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Continue with The Return of the Indian. If you love tiny people, The Borrowers, The Littles and Gulliver's Travels are perfect. For toys coming alive, Toys Go Out and The Doll People are favorites. The Castle in the Attic is a great match for fans of magical objects.
Related: The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary: Summary and Key Takeaways · Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Indian in the Cupboard about?
A boy's magic cupboard brings a toy figure to life as a real man.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 8 to 12.
Is it controversial?
Yes. Critics point to its stereotypes of Native Americans.
Are there sequels?
Yes, four more books.
Is there a movie?
Yes. A 1995 film.
Who is Little Bear?
An Iroquois man from the 1700s brought to life by the cupboard.
What should I read next?
The Borrowers.