Cool School Tools for 2009

Start off the new year right, with these awesome back-to-school gadgets for your little scholar.

Animal Antics
Tots love totting these animal Snack Sacks wherever they go. Fully insulated and perfect for taking treats to day care, preschool, or even on a fun outing, they come with 12 “sweet notes” for moms and dads to tuck inside to bring a smile to their little one’s face. Available in four friendly animal designs for $14.95 at www.mysweetdreamsbaby.com.

3, 2, 1 … Read
Track required reading times with the Mark-My-Time Digital Bookmark. With it’s 60-second countdown feature, kids know how much time is left in their timed reading. Available in several colors for $8.95 at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Learning Express, or online at www.mark-my-time.com.

Hooked on Notebooks
Keep spiral notebooks organized in a three-ring binder with Five Star’s Hook ‘N Go. Three extendable tabs keep notebooks away from the bulky rings, giving kids room to write on both sides of their spiral notebook paper. And they can tear out and turn in their homework without a fuss! Find for $1.99-$3.99 wherever school supplies are sold.

Speed Check
With the patented 1500iD Speed Dial Set-Your-Own Combination Lock, teens open their lockers in a flash by using movement – up, down, left, right. They create their own easy-to-remember combination, and reset it whenever they like. At Staples for $6.99.

Spice It Up!
Kids make the earth a greener place with Mead recycled folders, made from 100-percent post-consumer fibers and 30-percent post-consumer waste. In six cool colors, these folders add zing to students’ backpacks. Grab a bunch for $__ each wherever school supplies are sold.

Add Up the Fun
Make math a blast with this soft-to-the-touch Staples Foot Calculator. Available in two wacky colors, blue and orange. at the Staples store nearest you for $3.99.