Dora the Explorer

Story

Dora is a seven-year-old Latina girl who loves going on adventures with her talking backpack and her monkey, Boots. Dora and Boots come across various obstacles on their journey and ask the viewers to help them solve puzzles. When they succeed Dora, Boots and the audience sing the ‘We Did It’ song together.

Why we chose it

A bilingual series which teaches English-speaking children some Spanish. Children are encouraged to join in with the adventures and learn without it feeling like learning.

Where it came from

Dora the Explorer was created for Nickelodeon. Part of the purpose of the series is to help English speaking children learn some Spanish.

Where it went next

Dora the Explorer ran for 9 seasons over nearly 20 years. It has been taken up around the world and translated into Arabic, Cantonese, Hebrew and Hindi where Dora helps children learn English.

In 2019 a live action film was released following Dora as a teenager.

Associated stories

In 2009 Dora was reimagined as a preteen with four friends Naiya, Kate, Emma and Alana who called themselves the Explorer Girls. They were included in the Dora and Friends spin off in 2014. In 2005 a spin off called Go, Diego, Go was released on Nickelodeon, following Dora’s 8-year-old cousin Diego who rescues animals and protects the environment.

There are two stage versions: City of Lost Toys and Dora’s Pirate Adventure.

A series of books followed the television series and there is plenty of Dora merchandise – action figures, board games, clothing.