bazaar

Parents have been stocking up on school clothes and desk accessories for their children over the last fortnight in preparation for the great return to school. This is Woolworth's top ten bestseller list from last week:

1 200 leaf, wide ruled, A4 pad 99p

2 Parker 15 special ball pen pounds 2.99

3 Illuminated globe pounds 11.00

4 Fx82 sx5 Calculator pounds 7.99

5 150 punched pockets pounds 3.50

6 Boys' front pleat trousers (grey) pounds 10.99

7 Boys' elasticated waist trousers (grey) pounds 8.99

8 Girls' pinafore dress (grey) pounds 8.99

9 Girls' long sleeved twin pack blouses (white) pounds 6.50

10 Boys' long sleeved twin pack shirts (white) pounds 6.50

Top ten

Good thing

Little Book Cards, pounds 1.99

Greetings cards are ludicrously expensive these days. Bright squiggles on recycled paper can cost as much as pounds 4.99 if they claim to be 'handpainted'. And most mass-produced efforts start at around a quid. For an appreciative friend it may be worth it, but for a teething youngster cards are pointless. Or at least they were until Walker books hit upon the idea of producing a series of mini books that double as greetings cards. Each one comes with a little name plate inside the front cover for the sender to write an appropriate message. And of course they all have tiny matching envelopes.

Call Walker Books, sales department: 0171-793 0909

Mad thing

Mini notebooks, pounds 7.50

Smythson's Wee blue books - tiny leather-bound, gold embossed notebooks with titles like Blondes, brunettes, redhead - have long been popular as perfect last minute presents for friends who have everything. This autumn they have extended the series with six new titles, including Born to Shop, Absolutely Fabulous, Old Tory and New Labour. Best of all they come wrapped in tissue paper, and tucked up in beautiful little blue boxes.

For stockists call Smythson's 0171-629 8558