Cover of The Indian in the Cupboard

The Indian in the Cupboard

by Lynne Reid Banks · Grades 3–6 · Fantasy

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 6 lists: 6 book-award lists, across 10 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–12 · Grades 3–6. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780307576248). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 6 curriculum lists · 10 states

#40 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 9 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Virginia Readers' ChoicePacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice AwardGreat Lakes Great Books AwardCalifornia Young Reader Medal+2 more

This page shows where The Indian in the Cupboard is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 3–6
Age range
Ages 8–12
First published
1980
Genre
Fantasy
ISBN-13
9780307576248

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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Listen to The Indian in the Cupboard

The unabridged audiobook runs 2 hr 59 min, narrated by Richard E. Grant.

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More like this

Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (7)
On award reading lists

and 2 more in where it is taught

Adapted for screen
  • The Indian in the Cupboard (1995, Film) (source: Wikipedia)
Catalog record
First published 1980 (source: how we source book data)

Adapted for screen

Adapted for screen (Film · 1995) · theatrical.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Indian in the Cupboard→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This fantasy title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and responsibility; cited on 6 lists: 6 book-award lists.

Themes

friendship · responsibility · imagination

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is The Indian in the Cupboard?
The Indian in the Cupboard is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 6 book-award lists across 10 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign The Indian in the Cupboard?
The Indian in the Cupboard appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, California Young Reader Medal, Great Lakes Great Books Award, and 3 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Indian in the Cupboard banned in schools?
The Indian in the Cupboard does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does The Indian in the Cupboard explore?
Central themes in The Indian in the Cupboard include friendship, responsibility, imagination.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 3–6 — drawn from the book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 6 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 10 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club, read-aloud.

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