Where to find "Frozen"-themed backpacks

It’s that time again — the time when parents jam the aisles at discount and office-supply stores to purchase items off long lists of school supplies for their children for the upcoming school year. And if trying to find a very specific type of folder or notebook isn’t enough to send parents screaming, how about trying to find a backpack with a child’s favorite Disney character when they are not plentiful?

One year, my son absolutely was set on having a Mickey Mouse-themed backpack. It couldn’t be just any backpack, though. It had to look like it was designed for an older child — no Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, thank you very much — AND it had to have wheels. I searched high and low, and all my physical trips and Internet searches that year yielded slim pickings. I finally hit upon a backpack that met all the criteria on eBay. You would have thought I had won the lottery!

Sure, I could have told my son that what he wanted just didn’t exist. But I remember the thrill of carrying my new book bags and backpacks when I was a child, so I like being able to find what my children want to carry every day of the school year.

This year, I would expect there are a lot of “Frozen” fans who are looking for backpacks depicting the royal sisters Anna and Elsa or Olaf the Snowman. Not surprisingly, the Disney Store already is sold out. There was a shortage of consumer goods after the animated movie “Frozen” was released and audiences fell in love with the film. Clearly, The Walt Disney Company underestimated its popularity. Merchandise sold out as soon as it hit the shelves, parents stood in line for lotteries of the few restocked items, and the company even airlifted the goods from its factories in China to its distribution centers. Eventually it seemed as though the supply chain finally caught up with the marketing machine.

Little girls are able to find Elsa and Anna costumes, but it looks as though the backpacks may be another story. If you act now — and don’t mind hitting up several stores — there are some back-to-school items with the “Frozen” characters that can be found.

Head to your nearest Target for “Frozen” backpacks and folders. The pink and purple backpack features Anna, Elsa and Olaf and “super lights.” It seems to have the basics — a main compartment, a front compartment, two outside mesh pockets (for water bottles) and padded straps. It sells for about $20. Target also had two-pocket folders that show Olaf on the cover. Both of these items are available in stores only, not online. You can, however, order and pay for the backpack online and then pick it up at a store that has them in stock.

DisneyStore.com does still have an aluminum water bottle in stock that would pair nicely with the backpack. It features Anna, Elsa and Olaf, and is priced at about $9. The official backpack and lunchbox — the only ones with a pretty gray background — already are sold out. EBay would be your best option if you like this set.

Kohl’s offers a Frozen backpack and lunchbox set that display images of Elsa and Anna for about $30. This backpack has features similar to the one sold at Target, but it does not have a separate front compartment or an image of Olaf. The lunchbox is a basic square-shaped insulated bag. The set is available online and in stores.

The best deals can be found at Toys ‘R’ Us, if you are not picky about the size of the backpacks. The toy store carries a backpack and lunchbox combination that is almost identical in design to the one sold at Kohl’s. It sells for about $15, which is half the price. However, this version is only 13.9 inches by 9.7 inches by 2 inches, and the Kohl’s backpack is 16 inches by 12 inches by 5 inches. For pre-schoolers, the smaller size may be perfect. Elementary-school students are likely to need the larger size, though.

Toys ‘R’ Us also carries a backpack like the one sold at Target that includes Olaf in the design. It comes with a coordinating lunch box for about $15 for the set. It, too, is the smaller sizes described above, while the Target version is larger.

Toys ‘R’ Us also offers a third small “Frozen”-themed backpack depicting Anna and Elsa for about $15. It can be paired with an offer for a free lunch kit, which also is a different version of the royal sisters. All the Toys ‘R’ Us merchandise can be purchased online, shipped to a local store or bought in a store, if available.

Walmart.com does list Frozen backpacks, but they already are sold out. Your best bet is to check local stores.

Amazon.com has a variety of Frozen-themed backpacks and lunch boxes from different sellers, including the only ones I’ve seen with images of Kristoff and Sven. Prices vary by seller.

“Frozen” merchandise may be some of the hottest items when it comes to school supplies, but if you act now, you won’t be left out in the cold.

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