Dora the Explorer is joining forces with Nintendo Wii for the first time ever this holiday season in Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess. I have a feeling this latest addition to the universe of Dora games is going to be a huge hit among pre-school aged kids, so mark the October 27th release date on your calendar now to avoid any last-minute rushes to the mall in December.

Since my last post on Dora the Explorer, I came across a great Dora article on NPR. I love that it mentions that “Some parents might also find her a little annoying — when she encourages kids to yell, for instance.” That seems to be big secret to successful kids products: if adults find it annoying, it will be a huge success. Adults may have to suck up the annoyance factor, though, because Dora-themed shows and products do the double duty of entertaining while educating. However, here are a few annoyance-free Dora products for the little explorers in your life:

• Dora the Explorer toothbrushes, which make kids actually want to brush their teeth
• Pampers Splashers Swim Pants featuring Dora the Explorer
• Dora the Explorer Folding Potty Seat - I don’t know what to make of this, but it sort of fascinates me.
• Dora Bedding - because sweet dreams are usually quiet.

Dora is cool because Dora is independent, interactive and bilingual. She’s a smart kid and she encourages her viewers to be smart kids. I don’t like the Wikipedia entry on Dora very much, because they make too much of an issue of her supposed tomboy-ish ness and her lacking “feminine side.” PUH-lease. First of all, she is a CARTOON created for pre-schoolers, how complex and gendered of a personality is she supposed to have? Secondly, who is this Wikipedia author to say what does and does not constitute femininity?

I find this statement particularly irksome: “Dora is somewhat tomboy-ish, not letting her status as a girl (if any disadvantages to that) hinder her progress in exploring and/or helping others.” HER STATUS AS A GIRL? WTF?????

Ok, I don’t want this to turn into a long rant about the Wikipedia entry on Dora, so let me get back to how cool Dora is. She’s got a talking monkey named Boots for a best friend. And a purple talking magical backpack. The talking backpack pure genius as far as I am concerned. You could probably give a plain old purple backpack to Dora obsessed kid and they would have fun with it, but give them a backpack with Dora’s image on it, and they will go bonkers.

The next of the kid mysteries up for explanation is Dora the Explorer. As this is my preliminary Dora post, and I am trying to write the whole thing while at work, it will probably be a brief post. But fear not–there is more Dora on the horizon. For now, some links:

• Dora the Explorer on Nick Jr.
• NPR talks about Dora
• Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Ideas
• Dora Brings in Big Bucks
• Dora Destroys Barney
• Dora’s Soulja Boy

I love kids, but I don’t necessarily “get” them. They are into a lot of stuff that, frankly, I find a little annoying. But, therein lies the beauty: not being a parent myself, I only have to deal with these annoyances in teeny tiny doses. And a little knowledge of what kids like makes it easy to hit a home run in the gift department every time, at least with the kid in question. So I’ve decided to compile a top ten list of things kids like that I don’t quite understand.

1. Elmo

2. The Wiggles

3. Disney Princesses

4. Dora the Explorer

5. Thomas the Tank Engine

6. Freaky looking dolls like Bratz and Baby Alive

7. Cars

8. Nickelodeon

9. Blue’s Clues

10. Hannah Montana

So stay tuned for my in-depth reports coming soon!