Back-to-School, the Timeless Toys Way
Books, supplies, and calm-the-jitters tools to help every kid walk into the first day feeling ready — because a new year is an emotional milestone as much as an academic one.
By Flavia Pallozzi
The end of summer always arrives with mixed feelings around here. There's the excitement of fresh notebooks and new backpacks — and the flutter of nerves that comes with a new grade, a new teacher, and a new routine. At our little shop in Lincoln Square, we think back-to-school deserves the same care we'd give any big first: it's a milestone, not just a checklist.
So this year we've pulled together a lineup of books, supplies, and settle-the-jitters tools to help your family start strong. Whether you're easing a kindergartner into their very first classroom or helping an older kid find their focus, we're here to make the beginning of the year feel like an adventure instead of a chore.
“Our goal this year is to give families the tools — like logic puzzles and silent fidgets — that help kids manage the nerves of a new grade while staying curious.”
— Flavia Pallozzi, Assistant ManagerOn the Shelf
Books that make big feelings a little smaller
New beginnings go down easier with a good story. We've stocked warm, reassuring reads that meet kids right where they are — and reading them together in the weeks before school starts is one of the simplest ways to soften the transition.
Welcome to Our Classroom
Helps little ones picture exactly what their day will look like before they ever walk through the door.
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ABCs of Kindness
Turns the golden rule into something a child can carry from home to hallway, one letter at a time.
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Llama Llama Misses Mama
For the ones who get a little teary at drop-off — the gentle, been-there hug every family needs that first week.
Shop now →Stock the Backpack
Supplies that make kids want to sit down and learn
Yes, we've got the classroom must-haves. But we also believe school supplies should spark a little joy — the small, thoughtful upgrades that turn “I have to do my homework” into “I get to use my new pens.” Bring your supply list and we'll help you check every box.
Glitter Gel Pens
The kind of pens that make even spelling practice feel special. Suddenly homework is the fun part.
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Capybara Notebooks & Sets
The capybara-themed stationery that's currently winning over kids of every age. Try to resist — you can't.
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Art Supplies
Colored pencils, markers and paints built to hold up to a whole year of projects, doodles, and masterpieces.
Shop now →Quiet Tools for Busy Minds
For the kids whose hardest subject is sitting still
For a lot of kids, the hardest part of the day isn't the schoolwork — it's staying settled long enough to do it. We've curated a collection of silent fidgets and logic-building puzzles designed to help kids focus without distracting the whole classroom.
“These little items can make a real difference for a child who just needs the right thing to hold onto.”
— Flavia Pallozzi
Thinking Putty
Gives restless hands something to do while the brain stays on task — quietly, so the whole class stays on task too.
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IQ Logic Puzzles
Single-player puzzles that build patience and problem-solving skills — the kind of focus that pays off well beyond the classroom.
Shop now →Save the date
Educator Appreciation Day
Teachers pour their hearts into their classrooms, and we want to say thank you in a real way. On August 26, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., any educator with a valid school ID gets 10% off all in-store purchases. Spread the word to the teachers in your life — this one's for them.
Come start the year with us
Skip the stressful online checklist. Wander the aisles, flip through a few books, test out a fidget — and let us help you find exactly what your family needs at 4749 N. Lincoln Ave.