My four year old Daughter loves Dora the Explorer. When I saw this Fisher Price Dora the Explorer Talking Backpack and Doll in the summer sale online at Woolworth's I bought it instantly. The recommended retail price for the backpack was £29.99, Woolworth's had been selling it at £19.99 and it was in the sale at £12.99.

The set includes a hard plastic talking backpack that can be carried by a handle on the top. There is also a small 26cm tall plastic talking Dora doll wearing fabric non-removable clothing. Dora also has a small backpack that fits onto her back and there is a small camera that fits inside this backpack. There are bigger plastic pieces that fit inside the larger backpack and these include a camera, a magnifying glass and a pair of binoculars. There is a small plastic bangle just like Dora's for your child to wear too!

The doll and the larger backpack both speak and say familiar Dora phrases that your child will have heard when watching the television programme. When you squeeze Dora's tummy she says things like 'Swiper! No swiping' and 'Ola I'm Dora'. There is a big smiley mouth on the plastic backpack and when this is pressed it says things like 'I have lots of stuff' and 'Good thinking'. It also sings the Backpack song that features in every episode of the Dora the Explorer programme. The voices are quite clear and do sound like the characters.

Apart from the doll everything else you get will fit inside the big plastic backpack. The backpack has a small plastic clasp that has to be pushed to undo the top of the backpack. The two cameras are simply camera shaped plastic and do not click or flash or make any noise at all. The magnifying glass just has clear plastic in it and does not work as a magnifying glass. The binoculars make everything look a bit blurry but I don't think that they magnify anything either. The top of the backpack is quite small and I can only just fit my hand inside but this is obviously not a problem for a child. One thing that I think would improve this backpack would be to put handles on it so that it can be worn on the child's back. As it is it has to be carried around in their hand and so is not like the one that Dora wears on the programme. My daughter also complained that there was no map included. I believe her friend has a talking backpack that has a map in it. I have seen another talking backpack set available but you do not get a doll or some of the other accessories.

The backpack takes 3 x LR44 batteries that fit into a secure compartment underneath the backpack. Dora also needs 3 x LR44 batteries and these fit into a secure compartment inside her torso. This can be reached by a Velcro opening in her back. The doll and backpack are both supplied with batteries but you will need a screwdriver when replacing them.

I believe the toy is aimed at children aged 3 years and over and feel that this is about right as it is also the approximate age that the television show is aimed at.

My daughter was very excited when she opened the backpack on Christmas morning. Unfortunately the novelty of the backpack has worn of very quickly and she has hardly played with it. I appreciate that Christmas was only a few days ago so there is still time for Dora. My daughter and three year old son like role playing games and are often calling each other Dora and Diego (Dora's male cousin) and I felt that this toy would enhance their games. The fact that it was made by Fisher Price also influenced my purchase as I feel that they make high quality long lasting toys. I don't think I would have bought this item if it had been at the starting price of £29.99 but I have bought a similar set featuring Diego and I paid £19.99 for that.

This Dora Backpack and the Diego Backpack have been used constantly by my youngest son who just turned one. He loves the voices and presses the mouth every few minutes to make it speak. He also carries the backpacks around all day and will stop every now and then to press the button and then carry on his way!

Overall I am very pleased with the backpack and the quality of the toy. The backpack is getting some use even though that may not be by the intended recipient. I think that once all the fuss of Christmas dies down this toy will get more attention. I would recommend the backpack to any fans of Dora even though I do think it could be improved.