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Posted by gabe Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Move over Thalia, Eva Longoria and Paulina Rubio. There is a new Latina taking over this season.

She is pudgy, has a milk-chocolate complexion and walks around with a monkey named Boots.

She is Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer.

That’s right! Dora is hot this Christmas shopping season. The bilingual cartoon star joins other Latino characters that are leaping out of the television screen and into toy stores in large numbers.

Popular characters include Dora’s cousin, Diego, and Scholastics’s Maya and Miguel.

Older youths may consider the XBox360. One of the XBox360’s new launch campaigns focuses on soccer, which is sure to grab the attention of Hispanics.

And for those going for something a little more educational, Latino-themed books appear to be popular. Publishing firms such as Piñata Books of Arte Público Press carry bilingual holiday stories such as “The Gift of the Poinsettia,” and “Benito’s Bizcochitos.”

For those wanting sing-along books, try “Fiestas: A Year of Latin American Songs of Celebration” of Scholastic Inc. The book features such songs as “Las Posadas,” (The Shelter) and “Mañanitas Guadalupanas” (Morning Song to Our Lady of Guadalupe).

Even many classic books like the Harry Potter series have been translated into Spanish.

And let’s not forget Elmo, who now sings in both English and Spanish, or new characters that bring with them not only the language but the culture.

“Dora is one of our most popular items,” said Celena Hernandez, assistant manager of KB Toys in Bakersfield. “I think it has to do with the adventure and involvement produced by the television show. Dora toys are also learning toys. They are bilingual and I think that is a great benefit.”

Dora has found a way to cross ethnic and racial lines, added Toys R Us manager Kathy Purdie. The Dora the Explorer Talking Kitchen is one of the store’s hottest items. But Dora toys this season are not limited to talking dolls and DVDs. She has taken over board games like Candyland and Chutes and Ladders.

“I think that the toys are very popular because in our area, there are a lot of Hispanics,” she said. “But it is not just Hispanics who buy the toys. My little kids enjoy Dora as well.”

Melissa Oberholzer has three children who love Dora.

“They are especially fond of the monkey with boots,” she said. “They do pick up some of the Spanish, which I think is a great benefit for them.”

Veronica Garcia-Batista buys her little daughter Dora dolls and her sons watch the TV show.

“My children pick up more Spanish watching the show,” she said. “Right now they know bits and pieces but the show helps them learn more.”

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