Have you seen the new Dora the Explorer, the tween-Dora?

What do you think?

My two-year-old daughter is crazy about the current Dora, and I sort of like her, too. She is spunky, curious and independent, as well as a problem solver and a good friend, all of the things I want my daughter to be.

I missed the news earlier this month that a newer but older Dora soon would hit toy shelves. I also missed the uproar caused by that announcement and the accompanying silhouette that showed a taller, thinner Dora with long flowing hair and what appeared to be a short skirt.  An online petition (maybe some of you signed it?) urged Mattel and Nickelodeon officials not to give Dora a tween makeover, and asked that if she must indeed grow up in doll form that she stay true to herself.

“If the Dora we knew grew up … She’d develop her map reading skills and imagine the places she could go. She’d capitalize on those problem-solving skills to design new ways to bring fresh water to communities in need around the world. Maybe she’d become a world-class runner or follow her love of animals and become a wildlife preservationist or biologist. We'll never know because the only way a girl can grow up in tween town, is to narrow that symphony of choices to one note. It's such a sell out of Dora, of all girls,” the petition says.

More details of the older Dora, who is supposed to be about 10 years old, were released this week. She still has the kind of long, flowing hair that only a cartoon character can have, but instead of a short skirt, she is wearing a long pink shirt and purple leggings. She also sports a necklace, bracelets and earrings.

Maybe the power of mom (and we are powerful) got to company officials (at least a little bit), or maybe they had planned the older Dora’s adventures long ago, but according to Reuters, the older Dora will solve mysteries about the environment, wildlife and school with four friends.

Reuters quotes company officials saying this: “The reason for creating this new Dora line is to offer an alternative to moms who want their daughters to stay little girls, a little longer.”

They can’t be talking about my daughter, who is very much a little girl, especially with no older sister around to influence her (only an older brother who has taught her about superheroes). The company officials are trying to peddle the older Dora to kids who are far older, between the ages of five and six.

As another blogger was, I was tempted to see my daughter’s reaction to the older Dora. I wanted to show her a picture, but then I thought better of it. I’ll let her cherish the younger version for as long as she can.

Natalie appears Sundays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Natalie at her blog A Day at the Park.