Dora and Friends

This sequel to the popular Peabody Award-winning Dora the Explorer preschool series turns Dora into a ‘tween with four new explorer girlfriends and a boy buddy named Pablo, while retaining the earlier show's focus on bilingual Spanish-building with high-energy songs, repetition, and interactive questions for viewers. The first of four compiled episodes, “We Save a Pirate Ship!” finds Dora using her head to transform a rowboat while working on a fundraising project to turn an old fort into a museum, after which she comes across real treasure and actual (singing, not too mean) pirates, with a little help from her “Map App” (our little Dora now has a smartphone). Dora also now has a special charm bracelet, allowing her to glean needed items, such as in “The Magic Ring,” in which a rubber duck float comes in handy in a story about an ancient treasure and deductive reasoning. Also, the new Dora and her pals are very community-minded: in “The Royal Ball” they create a costume party for soccer kids who help clean up around town, and in “Dance Party,” they raise money for a new dance school, while also bringing back grooves to a town that outlawed baila (dance). Colorful and engaging, this entry from the popular series is recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)