For my daughter's 4 year old birthday, I held a Dora the Explorer party. As guests arrived they entered into a jungle forest.   I bought brown packaging paper and painted cheetah prints on it.  I then lined all the hallways with it. I draped leopard printed sheets on the walls in the entry hallway and from the ceiling.  I bought 30 animal printed balloons (tiger, leopard, giraffe, zebra) and put them in the hallway. My daughter colored pictures of elephants, zebras and tigers that were taped to the hallway walls as well. There were foam flowers lining the floor.  I took paper bags and made vines that hung all throught the house.  As guests walked in the front door they truly felt as if they were walking through a jungle.  They were amazed by the hallway. The hallway led to a table that had coloring books I had made. I found them on the Nick jr site and had them bound.  I also added a picture of my daughter to the front thanking each guest for coming to the party.  Each guest began coloring while they waited for everyone else to arrive.  But first I had each guest take a picture with my daughter in front of a Dora the explorer scene.  I got a huge cardboard box and painted colorful flowers and a big tree on one side of it.  I used foam paper for flowers in the tree to give it more of a 3-D effect. Each guest stood in front of it with my daughter as I took a picture. Next it was time to start the explorer party.  Dora was searching for her pinata filled with candy.  So I gave everyone a pith hat and a backpack that I made out of foam and ribbon. I also made the map and attached it to the side. I found directions on how to make the backpack from the nick jr site. I had streamers covering up every doorway, so each room was mysterious. We first had to go to Crocodile lake.  I made big crocodile heads and used a brad to open and close their mouths.  I laid the crocodile heads on a blue blanket which was suppose to represent the lake.  Behind the lake was a box I made with holes for a ball toss.  I gave every child a bucket of balls which I drew Dora's face on every ball. The object of the game was to get the balls into the holes.  Everytime a ball made it into a hole, I would close one of the crocodiles mouths.  Once all the mouths were shut they had to jump on their heads to cross the lake. When they crossed the lake they each got a dora the explorer lollipop to put in their backpacks. Next we had to go to the spooky forest.  I had spooky music playing from a distance (trying not to scare them too much) and had 50 black balloons covering the ceiling with paper bag vines.  I had cob webs stretching across the room with spiders hanging here and there. Here we all sat down and played "what's in backpack".  I put several items into a backpack and everyone had to reach inside and guess what they were. Everyone got a sheet of Dora stickers to put in their backpacks. Next we were off to sliding mountain.  I hid swiper in a corner on the way to sliding mountain and everyone screamed "swiper, no swiping".  We made our way outside to sliding mountain (my daughters swing set) My husband was outside waiting for them to arrive. He played the grumpy old troll. He put on a mask and wig.  He asked each one a question.  When they answered they climed up the ladder and then slide down the slide.  When they made it to the other side a Dora pinata was hanging up.  They all took turns beating the pinata until the candy fell out.  Everyone put the candy in their backpacks.  Next it was time to go inside for food.  I had several tables decorated with dora table covers, tulle and dora tumblers which they got to take home. Streamers were hanging down everywhere. I started with cheese bugs (slices of cheese with chow mein noodles sticking out for legs). Then I served little quesadillas, chiquitos, and tacos. Then everyone got Dora cookies which I made from a kit. Next it was a Dora cake and ice cream. I served vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio. For the punch I made swamp juice (sprite, pineapple juice, and pop rocks).  Then it was time to open presents. Everyone had such an incredible time.  For the thank you notes I put in the picture of the guest and my daughter (in front of the scenic view)into the card.  Everyone loved that idea.