Online and in the shops...

BEST BACKPACKS: The back to school range at Little Ones in Ennis includes beautifully illustrated backpacks and lunchbags from Crocodile Creek. 

There’s a selection of designs to choose from, all made with eco-friendly, BPA and phthalate-free materials.

Backpacks, suitable for ages 3-8 are €34.95, lunchbags €22.50, stainless steel drinking bottles €12.95 and one-piece sandwich keepers €7.95 — one to consider if you find that the lids of lunchboxes go missing.

The co-ordinating range from Tyrell Katz includes backpacks €34.95, kitbags for ballet or swimming €19.95, Tritan drinking bottles €12.95 and a set of three snack boxes €10.95, useful for dividing lunches into smaller portions.

Dotcomgiftshop foil-lined lunch bags, €5.95 are also popular; all available online at www.littleones.ie

MATCHING SETS: Is a Finding Dory backpack top of your little one’s back to school wishlist? The Finding Dory backpack and umbrella set is €13.99 at Argos. There’s also a five-piece luggage set, €28.49 which includes a trolley bag, backpack and kitbag.

A Paw Patrol backpack and umbrella set is €20.99 and a Star Wars large backpack is €15.49.

For more back to school offers see www.argos.ie

IN THE BAG: If you find greaseproof paper sandwich bags useful for packing sandwiches and snacks, you might also like a reusable sandwich/snack bag, which is a similar size.

Planetwise reusable sandwich bags are made with food safe materials, with a Velcro closure and waterproof seams to ensure there’s no leaks and angled corners for easy cleaning, €6.99; www.earthmother.ie

BOOK A DEAL: There’s 50% off selected stationery and 10% off schoolbooks with free delivery for customers who shop online at www.easonschoolbooks.com

Offers include a Staedtler 21 piece BTS writing pack, now €10. The Eason Owl pink 4 piece set — back pack, lunch bag, pencil case and luggage tag is €24.

Eason Owl A4 160-page hardbacks are €6.99 for three and A4 Eason Owl Popper wallets are €3.99 for three. There’s a wide selection of character stationery and lunchboxes like the Happy Jackson luncheon ‘Brain Food’, €7.99 or a Where’s Wally A5 notebook, €5.99.

Eason has also compiled a nostalgic list of top back-to-school novels including To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, for many the first reading experience to cause a real impact; John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Vote for your favourite and be in with a chance to win a €73 gift card at www.easonedition.com