Possibly the Coolest Lego City® Backpack/Lunch Bag!

   

'Tis the season for back to school shopping! To some, this is the most wonderful time of the year. To others, it is the beginning of a rat race to acquire quality, durable products for their children's return to school.

I was recently shopping in a well known Canadian book retailer with my son. He called me over to show me a Lego City backpack & lunch bag that he'd seen and thought was cool. When I picked it up, I immediately noticed how good the quality was and how durable it seemed compared to those sold in big box department stores. 

Now that my son is getting older, his bags are starting to not only take a beating throughout the school year, but being strained by carrying heavier items to and from school.  When I realized how good the quality was, I immediately set out to acquire some samples for review. Thankfully, Carry Gear Solutions/LegoBags.com, the manufacturer of these items, were happy to oblige. 

The Lego City® Elite Police Heritage Classic Backpack is the perfect bag for Lego fanatics! It's got the main section, as well as, a front volume zippered pocket. There are organizer compartments in both sections of the backpack, as well as, as a side mesh pocket on the outside that's perfect for their water bottle. There is a name tag on the inside where you can write your child's name, and it is PVC, lead and phthalate free. It has great padded shoulder straps  that come with a chest strap to help balance the load. It also has a D-ring on the front so that they can either attach their hat, lunch bag or other items onto the bag. I was also thrilled to see that there were reflective points on the back to increase visibility. Our bus times are early, and sometimes in the winter, it is still dark outside at that time. This will be especially useful for those in similar situations.  This particular bag is 16"H x 11"W.  The Lego City® Elite Police Heritage Classic Backpack is available at LegoBags.com, as well as, Amazon and retails for $35USD. There is a more basic version of this bag available at Indigo Books here in Canada which is a bit smaller in size, does not have the front volume pocket and is designed for younger kids. This smaller one in particular retails in Canada for $35CAN.

The Lego City® Elite Police Vertical Lunch Bag is a well insulated bag. I was pleased to see how dense the insulation padding seemed compared to others I've checked out. This should help to keep food colder, longer, and possibly help to prevent one more smashed sandwich that got mushed while inside their backpack. On the inside, there is a nice little mesh pocket that you can store cutlery or other smaller items like an ice pack, and is held secure by velcro so it won't slip out. The inside lining is easily wiped clean and the outside not only has the appealing Lego City® Elite Police image, but also reflective Lego stud decals on the sides. It comes with a well padded handle, a buckle clasp that you can open to attach to the backpack, and measures 9"H x 7.5"W. The Lego City® Elite Police Vertical Lunch Bag is available at LegoBags.com, Amazon, as well as, Indigo Books here in Canada. It retails in the US for $15USD, and if you were to purchase this lunch bag here in Canada at Indigo Books, you're looking at $19.95CAN. 

LegoBags.com also has a number of other Lego backpacks and lunch bags for sale, geared towards both boys and girls. When purchasing from their website, shipping typically costs $5 to continental U.S. destinations if the total cost is under $50. If the total exceeds $50, then shipping is free within the U.S. For shipping to Canada, costs are assigned by weight. To give you an idea, the average shipping cost for one backpack and one lunch bag to the Toronto area would be about $15USD via USPS.

For more information and to see their full selection of Lego backpacks and lunch bags, visit LegoBags.com.

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Get Your Read on with DK's Summer Book Boutiques! There's Something for Everyone!

   

Summer is the best time to put your feet up and kick back with a great book. Whether you are a child, or an adult, DK Books has something for everyone.

My favorite thing about DK Books is that they have so many titles which appeal to kids. Like most parents, I think it's important for my kids to read and do my best to encourage them any way I can. In the summer months, my kids participate in a book reading rewards program and they can read anything they want. My oldest son almost always gravitates towards LEGO levelled reader books, as well as, super hero and other character books.

DK Books' Summer Reading Boutique has a wide variety of levelled reader books. From various LEGO themes, to Star Wars, to animals and everything in between. In addition to the Summer Reading Boutique, DK Books has so many other topics & titles that are not mentioned in the boutique. The levelled readers go from Level 1 to Level 4, which is perfect for readers who progress in their skills over the summer months. Some of these levelled reader books also have new covers with foil embellishments on them that are sure to catch the eye of your little reader. My youngster is currently reading the Level 3 LEGO Nexo Knights Monster Battles, and will then be moving on to LEGO Ninjago Team Ninja.

DK Books features a number of Canadian Editions on a variety of titles in their Oh Canada Boutique. I sampled the Pocket Birds of Canada. I was eager to get this book in particular as we've set up bird feeders around our yard this summer and have been curious to see which feathered friends have been visiting us. This book has 285 pages of different birds here in Canada. The book breaks down identifying features, where they are commonly found, as well as, what their feeding, nesting and habitat tendencies are. It's been neat to use this book as a reference, and gets the whole family involved.

Not included in a particular boutique, but definitely worth a mention all the same, is their LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Character Encyclopedia. My son had seen this in a book store and was goo goo for ga ga over it. Aside from breaking down all the minifigure characters, it also comes with an exclusive LEGO Pirate Batman minifigure. The book is hardcover and contains 208 pages of engaging data. He thinks he's getting a cool book, but does he know that I'm all for it because he's reading without even realizing that that is exactly what I want him to be doing this summer? ;)

DK Books Canada is also featuring other boutiques this season. Their Summer Living Boutique offers titles related to smoking your own meat, growing vegetables, as well as, books for kids with regards to bugs, sleepovers, outdoor activities and a whole lot more. Their Food & Drink Boutique states the obvious, and their Back to School Boutique offers all sorts of educational material.

Get your read on people, it's the perfect season!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****