» “THERE WERE NO DECORATIONS, no posters, no balloons, no party favors, no giveaways, no fun and worst of all? NO DORA. It was the worst ‘birthday party’ ever. It was nothing like you ...

NickelodeonSome of the inspiration for Dora "came from watching preschoolers and seeing how they are little explorers," said Valerie Walsh Valdes, one of the character's creators.

For children's parties, many companies around the country provide costumed characters popular with kids -- characters like Dora the Explorer, Bob the Builder and Hannah Montana.