Product Review: Dora the Explorer's Backpack Backpack by Fisher Price

Backpack Backpack! From Dora the Explorer and Fisher Price

All children love toys that are based on some of their favorite television shows. One of my two- year olds favorite shows is Dora the Explorer and her infatuation with this education program caused me to purchase the Fisher Price Dora the Explorer Talking Backpack, a toy based on one of the backpack character from the show.

The Dora the Explorer Backpack is a purple- colored toy with Backpack's trademarked face on one side. There is a flip- top that opens by pressing a latch. There is a handle on top for carrying and inside the Backpack, there are four different accessories: A map, telescope, compass, and camera.

This toy has several different saying. They are: "Hola Amigos, I'm Backpack", "Let's Go Exploring", "Let's Look at Map", Let's Look Through the Telescope", "Let's Look at the Compass", and "Let's Look Through the Video Camera". Each of the last four sayings (Those that relate to the items inside) also includes the same saying in Spanish. The toy also sings the Backpack theme song (in English). Each saying is made in succession, and the voice is activated by pressing Backpack's mouth.

Whenever my daughter hears the trademark phrases or opening theme song for Dora the Explorer she comes running. Normally I don't mind her watching because of its educational nature which includes some Spanish words and phrases to help children learn a different language and introduces them to the Hispanic culture as many episodes are based on Hispanic children's stories or family life. These facts make Dora the Explorer different from most other children's programs.

Given my daughter's love of Dora, it was only a matter of time until our house started to look like Dora's own cartoon show. We have Dora the Explorer plastic mugs, eating utensils, children's clothing, toys, and dolls. When my two year old observed the backpack on the store shelves one day, she very loudly insisted that it become hers on the spot. It was cute, I was tired and we had just moved so not all of her toys had arrived yet, so I gave in and purchased it. The price wasn't too bad at about $15.