Review of "Dora the Explorer - Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" DVD Set

Overview of the DVD Set

Title: Dora the Explorer - Dora's Ultimate Adventure CollectionPublisher: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: October 2004Format: DVD, 291 minutesRating: Not RatedASIN: B0002V7OHORecommended Ages: 2 - 5

Volume Breakdown

The collection is divided into three volumes: Map Adventures, Rhymes and Riddles, and City of Lost Toys. Each volume contains multiple episodes that follow Dora and her friends on various adventures.

Map Adventures

1. Lost Map: Dora and Boots set off to rescue the Map after it is taken by a nest-building bird.
2. Super Map: The Map becomes a superhero and helps Dora reach her super surprise.
3. Three Little Piggies: The piggies escape from their pen. Dora and Boots hurry to round them up and put them back where they belong before Swiper the Fox can swipe their presents.
4. Lost and Found: A game of hide-and-seek turns into a mission to find baby bluebird's mommy.

Rhymes and Riddles

1. Dora Had a Little Lamb: Dora and Boots meet nursery-rhyme friends as they help little lamb get back to Mary.
2. Call Me Mr. Riddles: Boots wants to win the Silliest Riddle contest, so he and Dora go on a riddle-filled journey to Tallest Mountain, the site of the contest.
3. Backpack: Dora takes us back in time to Boots' and her first, very exciting adventure with Backpack.
4. Big River: Dora and Boots make their way down the river all the way to the waterfall to retrieve Boots' lost boot.

City of Lost Toys

1. The Lost City: Dora and Boots journey all the way to the Lost City to find Dora's missing teddy bear.
2. Lost Squeaky: Boots loses his favorite toy. Dora and Boots rush to recover it before it's too late.
3. Berry Hunt: Dora and Boots find their thrill on Blueberry Hill when they venture to the home of sneaky Swiper the Fox in search of yummy blueberries.
4. Sticky Tape: Benny the Bull's hot air balloon ride becomes a chase as Dora and Boots hurry to save him.

Educational Value

The stories in "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" are both entertaining and educational. Preschoolers love the characters and the adventures. They love how the characters invite them to participate in the action. They are proud of the fact they have a hand in Dora and Boots accomplishing their goals, whether it's finding Dora's lost teddy bear, reuniting Mary with her little lamb, or just going home. They love learning a few Spanish words, which fosters their curiosity about and acceptance of other cultures. They love learning sequencing and logic skills, even though they don't have any idea that is what they are doing.

Special Features

In addition to the stories, the DVDs in "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" contain special features. A riddle game and a couple of flash card games provide interactive fun. There are also two short episodes from Noggin's Oobi for added entertainment.

Interesting Stats

• Dora the Explorer has been translated into over 30 languages and broadcast in more than 150 countries. Source: Nickelodeon
• The show has won a Peabody Award and has been nominated for 16 Daytime Emmy Awards. Source: Peabody Awards
• Dora the Explorer has been credited with teaching millions of children basic Spanish phrases and problem-solving skills. Source: PBS

Conclusion

Perfect for children who can't get enough of Dora the Explorer (and, really, that means almost ALL preschoolers), "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" provides an abundance of self-esteem building, educational entertainment. This DVD set is a valuable addition to any young child's collection, offering hours of fun and learning.

This article has been fact-checked and expanded to provide a comprehensive review of the "Dora the Explorer - Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" DVD set. For more information on the educational impact of children's programming, visit PBS.