I first officially saw her at Target a few weeks ago, so I figured it's time to rail on it again.  http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3795947 is the link on Mattel's website if you want to see prices or the rest of the collection, including a blonde friend or a version that you plug in for online play where you can do your own limited Dora redesign (change hair length, eye color...)
    I'm still really annoyed by this whole thing, and Ladybug proved my point for me this morning.  I was looking up reference materials for this entry when she came in and saw this photo.  She was very excited and started shouting, "A girl!  A girl!  Wook, more girls!" (as she saw the other dolls and accessories off to the side).  For a moment I thought I might need to reconsider my position-- Ladybug seemed pleased, after all-- so I responded with enthusiasm as I lifted her to my lap for a better look.  "Yes!  Who is that girl?"  Her response?  Silence.
    And there it is.  Ladybug is a Dora fanatic.  She could recognize her by one backpack strap.  She can identify the little riff that precedes Swiper's entrance from the other room.  And she had no idea that this had anything to do with her beloved bilingual adventurer.  Why didn't they just take this concept and apply it to Alicia (Diego's sister), who is already a well established character of the age they are going for!  I could accept that.  I understand the desire to reach an ever larger demographic, or to retain a child's interest even as they age.  But this doll bears no resemblance to the character it is supposed to be!  And they have left out something very important:  What happened to all of her friends??  She has a whole posse of people now, including the aforementioned blonde named Alana who tells us in her bio that she "LOOOVE[s] all animals... especially the small, furry ones" ( http://www.nickjr.com/doragirls/bio.jhtml).  But speaking of animals, Dora used to have a lot of friends that weren't people:  Boots, Benny, Tico, etc.  The only explanation given is that she moved into the city.
    Maybe I could deal with the whole thing a lot better if she were just carrying a lavender purse with a big face on it...

CL