When my boys were young I gave them homemade book bags. They weren't fancy--made from home dec fabrics and looked like paper shopping bags but with long handles to hand on shoulders. It's been 12 years since I gave my older son's teacher a bag and I ran into her just recently. She says she took it to school with her every day for 7 years until she retired. She said it was the best gift she ever got as a teacher. The fancy bags are beautiful but sturdy bags are important to teachers.I still make those simple bags today for gifts to be used as grocery shopping bags. My friends love them. No pattern needed. Use your brown paper grocery sack as a sample and add straps.