Video/DVD Review: Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Rate This Article
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this movie is fine entertainment
for preschoolers and kindergartners and follows the same
formula as the
Nickelodeon TV series on which
it's based. Songs and dialog are performed in English and
Spanish, though English is the predominant language. A mean
witch is mild enough for most kids, and the
“threatening” polar bear and sea snake smile and are
easily dispatched by Dora and her friends.
Families can talk about the magic crystal. Practice the face
you would make if you wanted to make snow come again. And what
would you do if you wanted to shut it off? Can you draw a map
of a route you take often (to school, to the store) with
landmarks on it, similar to the one Dora uses?
Following the approach of the television show closely, DORA THE EXPLORER: DORA SAVES THE SNOW PRINCESS has plucky bilingual heroine Dora (voiced by Caitlin Sanchez) and her animal pals reading a story about a little girl who is magically transformed into a snow princess. When a winter-hating witch locks the princess up in a castle, a snow fairy begs Dora to help him rescue her so that all of the snow doesn’t melt. Dora, the Snow Fairy, and Dora’s friends must outrun polar bears, repel an icy sea snake, and outwit the witch to restore the princess to her wintry kingdom. The DVD also includes two shorter Dora stories.
There’s a reason preschoolers and their parents admire
Dora and her magic backpack. The story is simple enough for
youngest kids to follow along, and in her characteristic
fashion Dora stops the action to invite viewers to participate
in the fun. Whether she and Boots (Regan Mizrahi) are exhorting
kids to lean left and right to help them guide a sled, or
asking them to shout out “Swiper No Swiping!” when
they see a sly fox, the show’s creators do what they can
to provide an interactive viewing experience.
The effortless switch between English and Spanish will also be
appreciated in bilingual households and those trying to support
young foreign language learners. And in both the main story and
the two shorter features, good behaviors like cooperating and
being kind are reinforced.
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Cinderella III: A Twist in Time
Dora Saves the Snow Princess
(video game)
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
