The Indian in the Cupboard Books in Order
The The Indian in the Cupboard books in order are 5 books by Lynne Reid Banks, published 1980 to 1993. Start with The Indian in the Cupboard (1980).
- Books
- 6
- Numbers
- 1 to 4
- Published
- 1980 to 1993
Log in to tick off the ones you own, see what is missing and want the gaps in one click.
Reading order
The The Indian in the Cupboard books in the order to read them, with the year each first appeared.
- 1The Indian in the Cupboard1980
- 2The Return of the Indian1985
- 3The Secret of the Indian1989
- 4The Mystery of the Cupboard1993
- 5The Key to the Indian1998
Editions we track
| No. | Cover | Book | Year | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Indian in the Cupboard First | 1980 | – | |
| 2 | Return of the Indian First | 1986 | – | |
| 3 | The Secret of the Indian First | 1989 | – | |
| 4 | The Mystery of the Cupboard First | 1993 | – |
About The Indian in the Cupboard
The Indian in the Cupboard series is a sequence of five children's fantasy novels by the British author Lynne Reid Banks, published between 1980 and 1998, about a boy, Omri, whose cupboard brings plastic toy figures to life. The first book appeared in 1980 from J. M. Dent in the UK, illustrated by Robin Jacques, and from Doubleday in the US, illustrated by Brock Cole; the sequels were issued in US hardback by Doubleday and later in paperback by Avon. It was followed by 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). The first novel won several US young readers' awards, including the California Young Reader Medal in 1985, and was adapted as a feature film in 1995.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the The Indian in the Cupboard books in?
Start with The Indian in the Cupboard (1980), then The Return of the Indian and The Secret of the Indian. The full list on this page gives every book in order with its first edition year.
How many The Indian in the Cupboard books are there?
We list 5 books in the The Indian in the Cupboard series, from 1980 to 1998.
What is the first The Indian in the Cupboard book?
The Indian in the Cupboard, first published in 1980, is the first book in the The Indian in the Cupboard series.
Where these facts come from
- The Indian in the Cupboard, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Lynne Reid Banks, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
Know what you are collecting
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →