Dora the Explorer and Dora Digital Story Book – Product Review
My eldest daughter is a HUGE Dora The Explorer fan. I’m pretty sure we’ve seen every episode that Netflix carries at least 3 times. The favourite episodes have, of course, been viewed many more times than that. If you’re new to toddler tv, you can find out more about the show on the Nickelodeon site here. She’s been starting to almost outgrow her Dora years and hasn’t been watching the shows that much lately but all of her affection for Dora returned when I had the opportunity to introduce her to the Dora Digital Story Book game.
The first thing you get to do is provide the system with some information about yourself. My girl, who’s almost 5 and adept at using the iPad but can’t read yet, was able to complete much of the form as long as I read the requirements for her. She took a lot of pride in finding all of the letters for her name and her favorite colour, for example. Part 2 is designing your avatar. She really had fun with this part but needed a bit more help navigating it. You can see the avatar she designed in the attached screen shots. It was really important to her that she built her character to look just like herself and with the variety in skin, hair, eye, and clothing colour she was pretty well satisfied. The only disappointment was that her avatar could have either long hair or curly hair but not long AND curly hair. 
After the avatar is built, you’re presented with a story book scenario, the characters coming to life out of the pages of the book about a sports day. The text is provided but the pages are blank. You can then pick up characters and props from a menu along the top of the screen and drop the items on to the page. The characters and props are movable once you’ve picked them from the menu but it did take me some time to figure out how to do it. I was also a little surprised that there weren’t more instructions with the package.
My daughter, so literal right now, had me read the words carefully so that she could try to recreate the scene EXACTLY as described in the story. So funny! Again, the creative aspect for her was a joy. Sort of like playing with stickers or collage, building a visual story with the images available. As the one moving the characters for her (she still has trouble with ‘dragging’ items on the computer.. when both clicking and moving the finger are both required), I can attest that she was VERY particular as to precisely where each person went in the book. The software works pretty well to allow quite a lot of creative freedom. One constraint is in ‘layering’. For example (and as you can see in the photo to the left) is if you want Dora or your character to wear the baseball glove or hold a baton or a bottle. The software will make some assumptions about which image to put in front of the other and it was a bit tricky to get it to look right in some instances.
If you’d like to play along with the Dora Digital Story Book, you can purchase specially marked Dora products at Walmart, where you’ll receive a unique PIN that allows you to sign-in and get started
Or, you can enter to WIN an adorable Dora outfit (T-shirt and Leggings set – size 2T) complete with your own PIN for trying out the Dora Digital Story Book provided to Little Miss Kate from the generous folks at Nickelodeon.
Enter via the Rafflecopter form below
Open to Canada Only
Ends Oct 18, 2012
Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample of the product to facilitate the review. All opinions are my own.
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My daughter would like this outfit.
Jan
Since my daughter is a little big for this prize I would give it to my niece for Christmas.
Based on the size, I would give it to my second daughter. The older one is out of that size, but she still loves Dora.
I'll give this to my daughter
I would give this to my niece
My neice would love this for here little girl
florence
fossie@hotmail.com
I would love to give this to my youngest daughter
thanks
I'll give it to my daughter.
Would like to give this to my niece
Would love to win it for my niece
teddyoutready2(at)gmail(dot)com
This would go to my niece.
I would love to give this to my daughter. She's almost 4 years old, but is still wearing size 2T or sometimes 3T. She is super small/skinny, despite eating more than most adults! I wonder if it's a preemie thing? Anyway, she'd love this! She's REALLY into Dora! lol
I would give this to my daugther.
I would give it to my niece.
my daughter would love this
I would give this to a very special little girl
ontariohappychick at gmail dot com
My daughter's room is decorated in Dora, she's a big Dora fan and I would love to win this for her
I would give this to a friend with a daughter.
i would give it to my goddaughter
My friend's daughter would love this!
My granddaughter is size 2, this would be perfect for her.
My rafflecopter name is Julie G.
I will be giving this to my daughter who LOVES Dora. I honestly find her annoying.. lol She yells a lot and stares at you. HA! My daughter would love this though and thats all that matters.
I would give this to my daughter
My son always wants to play Dora when we are driving in the van. For some reason the baby is map and I have to 'make him tell me the directions”
I like the fact that Dora gets my girls talking and moving while they are watching. The other day I stopped to watch my 2-year-old dancing on the couch like Dora was, and listened to them shouting in response to Dora's question.
Both my girls like Dora, but I'd probably get the outfit for my 4-year-old and then my 2-year-old can grow into it. 
My kids as they love Dora. The other day, my son told me daughter “stop swipping swiper” when she took a piece of his cheese. Too funny.
Besos, Sarah
Zookeeper at Journeys of The Zoo
journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com
I would give it ti my grandaughter
My daughter (2) just started saying “Aw, Man!” like Swiper a couple weeks ago. She loves Dora but whenever the troll or Swiper come on she says she is scared and needs me to sit with her. I love it.
i would give it to my friends' child
jackiekatie1105@yahoo.ca
My 2 yr old daughter is all Dora all the time! She turns 2 next weekend (complete with a Dora birthday cake) so this would be a great 'extra' gift for her – perfect timing!
My niece would love this prize so I would give it to her!
breej23 at hotmail dot com
I would give this to my neice Katie; she'd love it!
RAFFLECOPTER NAME
is
Anne Taylor
I want to win this for a friend's daughter.
Each year we donate to Santa's anonymous – would love to win for that reason.
My niece would love that.
my niece loves dora, i would give this to her
My niece would love this. She is a fan of Dora.
I love the DORA X DIEGO crossover episodes …. I'd love this formydaughter
Chasity! She's love it!