Shop Talk : School starts

By Katryn Yerdon
Published: September 3, 2009

It is that time of year again: Back to school. For some little ones it will be their first time in school, so let's get them ready. If time is of the essence, and with young ones in the house it usually is, why not try just one town to get all your essentials. I stopped in Vineyard Haven to gather a list of possibilities.

Riley's Reads in Vineyard Haven sells stylized writing utensils and children's books for the back-to-school season. Photo by Katryn Yerdon

First and foremost they will need some new school clothes. Kiddo's, on Beach Road in the Tisbury Market Place, is a unique children's store that specializes in clothing, gifts and essentials for newborns to age six. They have a wonderful array of clothing lines such as C'est La Vie, Kissy Kissy, Chicco, Tea and many more. While there, go next door to the Toy Box, because what child doesn't deserve a new toy to play with after school.

Heading over to Main Street, grab your reusable bags and get ready for some serious shopping. Tyler and Tallulah's carries some of the finest European clothing lines to ensure your children will look their best on their big day. (You'll want to take a picture.)

The wonderful addition of Trader Fred's offers a great deal of some essentials such as tee-shirts, pants and shoes. There are always new options to choose from.

Brickman's also carries all your basics, from underclothes, pants, shirts, jackets and most importantly a large variety of shoes. You can even pick up a colorful child-sized Sigg water bottle for the lunch sack and check out the toys in the back section.

Your child's wardrobe would not be complete without rain gear, a necessity on our Island. Visit Rainy Day to find the most adorable Hatley Rain gear from sizes 2T to 7 ($45.95). They come in prints, such as dinosaurs, with matching boots ($33.95) and matching backpacks ($36.95). Waaay cool.

At Off Main you'll find the wonderful Sugar Booger Lunch Sacks in assorted prints ($16). While there you might also want to pick up a Boo Roo (its Kangaroo shape gives it its name). It's an ice pack for those playground scrapes. For $12, it is a medicine cabinet must.

It's Bowl & Board, Eco MV, Riley's Reads, and Educomp for school supplies in Vineyard Haven. Eco MV carries Liqui-Mark E-color-gy washable broad-lined markers at Bowl & Board ($5.50 a set). Riley's Reads is also a sure bet for some stylized writing utensils and maybe some fun after-school items. They are geared for a child's first book up to young teens with an exciting mix of books, games, and stuffed animals. You could spend the whole afternoon there. For the remainder of your school supply essentials, stop into Educomp, at State Road and Main Street. They have everything from pencil sharpeners to all manner of notebooks.

Here's wishing your young ones a great start on the new school year.