Price: ₹300
Pages: 159
ISBN: 9788497890571
On Omri's ninth birthday, his best friend, Patrick, gives Omri a small plastic Indian figure. Although Omri was not particularly fond of the present, he politely accepted his gift. Later that day Omri gets a cupboard from his older brother, Gillon. He uses a key inherited from his great- grandmother to open it. Omri, unaware that the key is magical and can bring inanimate objects to life, puts the toy Indian in the cupboard. When he awakes the following morning, he discovers that the toy has been brought to life as a three inch tall Iroquois man. After a bewildering first encounter, Omri and the Indian come to an understanding, and the reader eventually learns that the Indian is named Little Bear (in some editions he is called Little Bull). Omri and Little Bear explore his home and lawn, while Omri provides for Little Bear's basic needs. Omri places a toy horse into the cupboard, inserts and turns the key, and ends up with live miniature horse. Omri also does this with a toy soldier. Soon, Omri's best friend, Patrick, finds out about the magic cupboard and brings a toy cowboy named Boone to his house to test the cupboard's properties. Despite Omri's warning not to put Boone in the cupboard (as Boone and Little Bear will inevitably fight), Patrick ignores his request. Later in the novel, Boone and Little Bear fight while Patrick refuses to reverse the process until it is too late and Boone gets shot by Little Bear with an arrow. Omri remembers he has the toy World War I soldier that could help treat the injured Boone, but the magic key necessary to bring the medic to life has gone missing. After a brief adventure with an escaped pet rat, the key is found and Boone is treated. Little Bear is considered to be a demanding character, and ultimately Omri must provide him with a bride to appease him. Omri thinks it is best to send Little Bear a bride named Bright Stars (in some editions she is called Twin Stars) and it is later decided (with Patrick's agreement) that the couple and Boone be sent back to their own time. Omri gives his mother the key so he is not tempted to bring them back again, but it is suggested that a sequel is to follow.