If you need a school backpack don;t buy this one, it is not intended for big toting. My 2 year-old loves it and I love looking at it. If you want an idea of its size, look at a two year-old's back and picture the perfect sized carrier for her (or him). You can put a few essentials in it to make the toddler happy, especially when big bro or sis load up their own pack and heads off to school. The toddler will feel like she's right in step and this can;t be loaded so heavy as to knock her down or strain a shoulder. It's as cute as can be. I recommend it. I dinged them one star because the zipper is a bit tough for little hands.