If you have little kids, you probably know all about Dora the Explorer, Nickelodeon's animated educational series starring the world's most famous bilingual 7-year-old.
Hold on to your sombreros. Dora has grown up a bit, matured a bit and is all set for something new.
"Dora and Friends: Into the City! is a brand-new animated preschool series starring the Latina heroine in new adventures, with new friends and a new interactive curriculum," Nickelodeon says.
The new series premieres at 7 p.m. Monday on Nickelodeon. Following that, Dora and Friends: Into the City! will air alongside the original Dora the Explorer, which remains one of the most watched preschool shows on TV after 14 years on the air.
The new half-hour series (20 episodes) will feature an adventurous preteen Dora living in a city, attending school and being the center of a peer group that works together (todos juntos!) to give back to the community.
Teri Weiss, executive vice president of Nickelodeon Preschool, said, "Dora and Friends: Into the City! expands on Dora's legacy of being a compassionate leader, friend and role model, in a setting where she can have dynamic peer relationships and experience the world around her in new and exciting ways.
"Preschoolers will explore with their favorite pal and her friends while developing interpersonal skills and a sense of community that will help them navigate new social situations like starting school and making friends. And, of course, learn Spanish along the way."
Creators Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes add, "Embedded into each episode are lessons intended to develop preschoolers' interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, linguistic and music skills. Plus, Dora and Friends: Into the City! is designed to inspire kids and teach them about community service and teamwork."
Developed with the input of educational experts and tested by preschoolers themselves, the series is set to a snazzy contemporary soundtrack of Latin-influenced pop music.
What's the deal with this new city? Nickelodeon says, "Dora's moved to a beautiful pan-Latino metropolis by the sea called Playa Verde [Green Beach], entered a diverse new school and is busier than ever.
"But this is no ordinary city. Down side streets, in the park, even under the school, there are portals to magical worlds filled with surprises, obstacles and villains waiting to test our friends with curricular challenges and exciting emotional stakes."
Whether it's rescuing a lost stuffed monkey for a little boy in the hospital or returning a ring to an ancient Mayan princess, Dora's adventures promise to captivate preschoolers.
Note that Dora is thoroughly high-tech in the new series. Throughout her new journeys, Dora uses Map App on her smartphone and a magical charm bracelet to navigate the city and overcome obstacles.
Here are Dora's new friends. Not one of them is a monkey and one of them is even a boy!
Kate is dramatic, artistic and known throughout the school for her colorful personality. An avid reader with a vivid imagination, she enjoys writing plays for the neighborhood kids and dressing up in outfits inspired by a book she's reading or a story she's writing.
Naiya excels at math and science. She has a knack for solving problems and a passion for studying the stars. Naiya is very proud of her "indigenous heritage" and is an expert in its history, styles and traditions. She's fluent in English, Spanish and French, and wants to learn more languages.
Emma is an accomplished musician. She practices her violin for hours every day and also plays guitar, piano and other instruments. Emma's dedication to music is surpassed only by her devotion to family and friends.
Alana is athletic and confident. She is the popular star soccer player at school, but always goes out of her way to welcome newcomers. She coaches a peewee soccer team, loves animals, and volunteers at the local animal adoption center. Alana also has a hidden talent -- she's a gourmet chef in the making and loves to try exotic food.
Pablo is energetic, playful, funny and clever. He always comes up with ingenious ways to solve problems, although he often hits upon a solution by accident. Pablo is an athlete and explorer with a curiosity and interest in all the city has to offer.
Monday's premiere, "Doggie Day," is a good example of the adventures in store.
While Dora tries to shoot a video to help Alana promote the animal shelter's Doggie Adoption Day, her video camera mysteriously becomes enchanted.
When she points her magic camera at one of the shelter's dogs, Cusco, he breaks out in song about being separated from his brothers. Dora and Pablo head out to help Cusco reunite with his family.
Now everybody sing along! "Hola, hola, hola, bienvenidos!"
Style on 08/17/2014