ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608200009
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN ADAMS STAFF WRITER
VICTOR HUGO probably would scratch his head in wonder.
The author of ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' would no doubt be surprised to see the image of his misshapen medieval bell ringer cheerfully plastered on school supplies, lunch boxes and - no, it's not a cruel joke - knapsacks.
Even though Quasimodo is a bit funny-looking, children love him - his merchandise is flying off the shelves like Disney gargoyles. Picture, if you will, hundreds of little hunchbacks lurching to school with bright, vinyl Quasimodo knapsacks slung over one shoulder.
``Whatever the popular summer movie is, those items do real well for us,'' said Dan Lauer, manager of the Kmart on Franklin Road. ``And any character items do well with the elementary school children.''
There are many other pals - from cuddly to classic to downright creepy - to accompany children on their trek back to school.
Some characters are admirable for their longevity alone: Mickey Mouse and the Looney Tunes gang are alive and well.
And 70 years later, A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh is still charming kids. Many stores carry something with the pudgy Pooh on it - if they can keep it in stock, that is.
``Remember Winnie-the-Pooh? We grew up with him,'' said Allan Boitnott, merchandise manager for Tanglewood Mall's J.C. Penney. His store carries an extensive line of Pooh gear, including a knapsack for toddlers that is a small version of the fuzzy bear himself. Older children can choose from an assortment of vinyl knapsacks, manufactured by Disney. The only problem for back-to-schoolers this fall will be making a choice.
For 10-year-old Ashley Callaway, deliberating over the knapsacks at Hill's Department Store on Hershberger Road, it was a serious decision. ``I can't decide between Bugs Bunny and Winnie-the-Pooh,'' she said. But she was leaning toward Pooh.
Molly Bailey, 11, bought a denim Pooh knapsack to replace her Bugs Bunny model. ``We had a big debate over whether to get a new one,'' said her mother, Denise. Molly was working on her school supply list at Wal-Mart. She stated her goal, with her blue lunch box and blue knapsack: ``I'm trying to get color-organized this year.''
Then there are those who aren't influenced by current trends, such as 5-year-old Demitrice Davis, who was shopping at Wal-Mart recently. A person of single-minded loyalty, the soon-to-be kindergartner would utter only a single word, with a grin: ``Batman.''
His mother, Paula Davis, said his knapsack and notebook both bore the caped crusader. ``He's pretty excited,'' she said.
She added that his 6-year-old sister, Sintoria, preferred the Little Mermaid on all her supplies. Both children will attend Lincoln Terrace Elementary School.
For those with a strong stomach, there's the ``Goosebumps'' line, based on the series of horror books for kids by R.L. Stine, the children's author with the gruesome imagination. ``Goosebumps is our most popular line,'' Mike Puckett, manager of the Kmart at Crossroads Mall, said with a shrug. A boxed ``Back to Ghoul'' set, available at Kmart, features a binder, portfolios, a notebook - and pencils that look as if they might ooze green monster blood during a full moon.
There are other creatures out there, too, who don't have their own movies or books, but may someday.
Take Gilbert the fish, for example, a fun and squishy guy from Rubbermaid who's actually an insulated lunch bag. Open his red mouth and there's storage for a meal and a lower jaw that serves as a placemat. A zippered pocket in his tail holds keys and change. Available at Wal-Mart, this fellow has been known to make people laugh out loud.
And then there's Smiley, back from the '70s without so much as a wrinkle on his beaming face. He's popping up everywhere: on round vinyl knapsacks at Hill's, on notebooks and folders at Goody's Family Clothing - there's even an alien Smiley on a key ring at Afterthoughts Boutique in Tanglewood Mall. ``He has to be smiling, though,'' said manager Regina Flora. ``There are some without a smile and they don't sell at all.''
In fact, everybody seems to be smiling, even the Goosebumps creepies. Turn any corner and there they are, smiling at you.
Sanrio Surprises at Valley View Mall has its own approach to life: ``Small gift, big smile.'' Also known as the ``Hello Kitty store,'' Sanrio has an exhaustive supply of brightly colored school supplies in honor of several characters who lead interesting lives.
Step inside and you'll meet each one individually. ``Hello Kitty is a schoolgirl who lives in London with her sister, Mimi,'' said store manager Michelle Baker with utter seriousness. Each character's story will be told with a smile for the asking.
Just a few of their popular items are the Hello Kitty pink plastic ``lock box'' for trinkets and treasures, the Keroppi (the frog) knapsack, notebooks with Pochecco (a dog, aka ``local sports hero'') and the metal lunch pail featuring newcomer Badtz-Maru (a skating penguin).
Most older kids opt for character-free gear, such as plain, sturdy knapsacks from Jansport and Eastpak.
``You want something big that you can throw in your locker,'' said 15-year-old Jason Martin, who will be a sophomore at Northside High School and who carries a roomy, durable, no-nonsense black Eastpak.
His sister, Allison, who will be a fifth-grader at Mountain View Elementary School, said she was thinking of getting a Jansport because the knapsack she had last year may not be big enough: ``In fifth grade, we have to change classes and we carry everything with us.''
Sometimes, one Jansport is not enough. Gary Smith, 18, has three in different colors, and Chaunt Paige, 15, has two. ``It depends on my outfit,'' said Smith. Both attend William Fleming High School.
Both brands are available in many stores, such as Leggett, Hecht's, Kinney Shoes, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Woolworth's and others. Wal-Mart carries Jansport's Wolf Creek line.
Sixth-grader T.J. Orth of Farmville said he preferred his ``big ol' navy blue L. L. Bean backpack,'' which can take a lot of tough treatment.
Even for those who prefer plainness, expression sneaks out in subtle ways. For example, anything with the Nike ``Swoosh'' on it is hot. There's the Nike zipper portfolio that holds a three-ring binder and subject dividers with whimsical illustrations of action sports. For that matter, anything with Adidas, Reebok, any NFL team - or anything athletic whatsoever - is favored by most young men.
Some younger girls carry small purses inside their school bags as well. Afterthoughts Boutique's Flora said the favorite model at her store was the ``box bag'' in clear plastic or glow-in-the-dark polka dots.
Popular among the college set is the Littlearth line of goods made from recycled materials. Imagine sporting a license-plate purse, a tire-rubber knapsack, a bottle-cap belt and a street-sign notebook. Available locally at the Virginia Western Community College bookstore, Littlearth products are often snapped up by student employees before they ever hit the floor.
``Young college kids and high school kids love them,'' said manager Mary Beth Cornett.
Added sophomore Gary Gilmore, who works at the store: ``I think it's really cool to use recycled materials.''
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ALAN SPEARMAN/STAFF. TONYA-YVONNE LIGHTFOOT MODELSby CNBLITTLEARTH PRODUCTS THAT ARE SOLD IN THE BOOKSTORE AT VIRGINIA
WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. 2. ROGER HART/STAFF. THESE SCHOOL
FASHION ACCESSORIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUCH RECYCLED MATERIALS
AS LICENSE PLATES, BOTTLE CAPS AND TIRES. 3. SCHOOLCHILDREN WILL
HAVE MANY BAG STYLES FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE, INCLUDING THIS SUMMER'S
HIT, "THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME." 4. SUPPLIES ARE BRANDED WITH
SUCH DESIGNER NAMES AS JANSPORT, GOOSEBUMPS, LOONEY TUNES AND NIKE.
COLOR.