Straight from Nick Jr.’s #1 preschool show, it’s Dora the Explorer™! Now kids can go beyond just watching the show to taking part in the story and interacting with Dora. In Backpack Adventure, Dora receives a new Backpack from her parents and sets off to return her library books. Along the way, Dora, her best friend Boots and her friends Backpack and Map need help to solve problems, figure out puzzles and play games. Kids will also meet Grumpy Old Troll, Isa the iguana, Benny the bull, Tico the squirrel and of course that sneaky fox, Swiper! Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure adopts the look and feel of the television show but puts kids in control of the on-screen action.


Nearly any fan of Dora the Explorer’s TV show will enjoy this structured “adventure” in which players help the program’s intrepid heroine achieve the noble goal of returning her library books on time. While not exactly suspenseful, the program is ideal for children ages 3 to 5 who are just learning how to use a computer. Over a soundtrack of catchy Latin music, the player helps Dora and her perky friends overcome a series of seven obstacles, and collects sticker prizes along the way. The program is unlikely to hold the attention of more computer-savvy kids as it is very predictable, structured, and slow paced. But its emphasis on teamwork and opportunities to practice color, shape, and number recognition–not to mention learn a little Spanish–make it worthwhile.



Dora and Boots need to return her books to the Library, and they need your help to get there! Along the way, you’ll help them solve problems, figure out puzzles and play games with their friends Benny the bull, Isa the iguana, and Tico the squirrel! Watch out for the Grumpy Old Troll and that sneaky fox, Swiper! With Dora, even returningbooks to the Library becomes an adventure!



Only a minute or so into the program most adults will find Dora’s incessant cheerfulness a bit old as she shouts out a steady stream of encouragement. But for kids, this aspect may not be so hard to take. Dora’s pack of friends from the TV shows all appear in the program, along with the Fiesta Trio, a dancing frog-snail-and-bug band.



The seven games that make up the plot of the program emphasize basic skills and concepts. They include locating Dora’s books by color, sorting through her backpack for objects, and solving simple pattern-recognition problems. There are three levels of difficulty–each varies according to how much Spanish is used and how advanced the number and patternproblems are. One drawback is that if a child gets stuck there is no way to ask for specific help or hints. A useful feature, however, is the ability to stop and start the program where the player left off, and save individual programs for up to three different players.



While kids used to more fast-paced programs may quickly get bored, young children–especially those who are already fans of the TV show–will have fun developing their mouse skills and putting their problem-solving abilities to the test. –Molly Masland

Dora and Boots need to return her books to the Library, and they need your help to get there! Along the way, youвll help them solve problems, figure out puzzles and play games with their friends Benny the bull, Isa the iguana, and Tico the squirrel!