DVD Review: Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure

My family and I recently received a copy of the latest Dora DVD from Nickelodeon, Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure.


Can you believe Dora is turning 10? Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure features two new to DVD stories - "Dora Helps the Birthday Wizzle" and "Wizzle Wishes". It also contains a new movie length episode, "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure", which is set to be aired on August 15th! Yup, that's right - it's available on DVD so you don't have to wait for the big night! "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure" is actually the final episode in the Magic Storybook Trilogy series, and it's set in Wizzle World, which is located in the Magic Storybook. Dora and Boots are stuck in here until Dora gets her crystal to the Wishing Wizzle, so they can be wished back home before Dora's big birthday party! Even better, there's a bit of a Wizard of Oz theme going on, as they must avoid La Bruja and her Flying Monkeys who want to stop Dora and Boots from making their wish and going home.

The other two episodes, "Dora Helps the Birthday Wizzle" and "Wizzle Wishes", both continue with the Wizzle and wishes theme; while "Dora Helps the Birthday Wizzle" also contains the birthday theme alongside it, "Wizzle Wishes" does not.

Seriously, I think Dora (Owa!) has taken over our house for good. LOL The neat thing about the paper cover of Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure is that it has a pop up birthday picture with Dora's entire family, and it even comes with a little sticker sheet so you can scrape stickers off things so your little ones can decorate the pop up. It also has a bonus DVD game as a special feature, where you can play it on your computer (if you have the DVD disc drive, of course) and help Dora find everyone she met in Wizzle World and the Wishing Wizzle who can wish her home for her her birthday.

Besides the Birthday theme making it a great Birthday gift, little ones will also learn some math skills in this one while they help Dora count birthday candles, for instance, alongside the usual peppering of Spanish words and problem solving thoughts.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure hits store shelves this Tuesday, August 3rd. It's full screen edition and runs 95 minutes long. It's not rated, and of course safe for all ages, but the target age is preschoolers - over the age of 5 will get bored fast. The suggested retail price is $16.99, but Amazon has it for $13.49 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view and write a review on it.