Brimming with wit and dramatic flare, British author Lynne Reid Banks, writer of the classic children's book "The Indian in the Cupboard," toured Tempe with her new book "Tiger, Tiger."
Banks spoke at Changing Hands Bookstore, located at Guadalupe Road and McClintock Drive, on Saturday to shed light on multiple generations of children's stories.
Banks, 79, related her 40-year writing career with the theatrical air of a war veteran. Unabashed by battle stories, she shared the conflict-filled history behind one of the most-loved children's books of the last century – a book that originated as "a bedtime story," she said.
Years before publication, Banks said her son, Omri, remarked on the horrible state of an old metal cabinet in the bathroom. Banks disagreed. "Pity to throw away a magic cupboard," she told him. "New things are never magic."
Omri demanded explanation, and in the five seconds it took Banks to walk from the bathroom to her son's bed, her imagination kicked in.
Prompted by a toy figurine beside Omri's bed, Banks improvised what would become an internationally best-selling children's story. But many trials lay head for Banks.
In the original British version, the story's Iroquois hero went by the name Little Bull. Only after the story was scheduled to release in America did historical realities sink in, she said, because Iroquois didn't have cattle until after European contact.
Banks redubbed the hero Little Bear in the American edition, creating many confused Canadian fans who received both versions. "A terrible mistake that I didn't drag it out of the printers," Banks said.
"I had to be mighty accurate," Banks said. Banks visited an Iroquois reservation to gain insight and authenticity for future books in the series.
Some Native — American tribes actively objected to her writing. During a reading conference, the Blackfoot tribe of Montana and Wyoming staged a protest, she said. In an effort to un-invite Banks from the conference, the protesters argued with her over the contents of the book.
That sleepless night, Banks organized her speech in preparation for continued argument.
"My hero is a role model that any group would be proud of," she said. "I was very hurt by the hurt I inflicted." The objectors walked out of the audience the next day, leaving Banks baffled.
For the fifth and final book in the "Indian" series, Banks hired a Native — American expert to look for mistakes. "Those pages looked like they had measles," she said. The manuscript returned with 57 historical corrections. "I've had troubles, but I've had wonderful times as well," Banks said. "The Indian in the Cupboard" has inspired countless young children to not only reflect the heroism of Little Bear, but to learn more about Native — American culture.
"If I hear that a young reader has been guided by my stories, that's the happiest I can be," she said.
Reach the reporter at: channing.turner@asu.edu.
