Color 'N Contrast Crib Books
CPSC Recall #96-113 — May 14, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-113 |
| Recall Date | May 14, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 24,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Various retail stores |
| including Barnes and Noble |
| Borders |
| Walden Books |
| Crown Books |
| Fay's Drug Stores |
| Burlington Coat Factory |
| Musicland |
| Baby Superstores |
| and others |
| sold the books nationwide from November 1995 to March 1996 for $4.99 each. |
Product
Color 'N Contrast Crib Books
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- CPSC, Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin USA of New York, N.Y., is recalling about 24,000 "Color 'N Contrast Crib Books." The books were sold under two titles, "KITTY AND FRIENDS" and "PUPPY AND FRIENDS." These books were sold under the Playskool name, which is licensed by Dutton. Straight pins used during the manufacturing process were mistakenly left in some of the books, creating a hazard to young children. Neither CPSC nor Penguin USA is aware of any injuries involving these books. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The "Kitty and Friends Color and Contrast Crib Book" and "Puppy and Friends Color and Contrast Crib Book" each consist of five attached plush fabric panels. Each panel has a black and white picture on one side and a color picture on the other. The panels can be folded into one another, creating a "book." The first and last panel have Velcro tabs attached so that the unfolded panels can be attached to crib slats and used as a crib decoration. The books measure 5.25 inches by 5.25 inches when folded and 5.25 inches by 26 inches when extended. The "Kitty and Friends" book includes colored panels with pictures of a house, a bear, a duck, a flower, and a locomotive. The book's black and white panels include pictures of a rocking horse, four boxes with a quarter moon, heart, triangle, and star, a boy's face, a target, and a cat. The "Puppy and Friends" book includes colored panels with pictures of a fish, a ball, a butterfly, a car, and an apple. The book's black and white panels include pictures of a sailboat, four boxes with two circular mazes and two square mazes, a girl's face, a design with a triangle, a heart, a circle and a star, and a dog. A label on the fabric flaps reads in part, "Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc. ... Playskool ... Hasbro, Inc." and "ISBN 0-525-45468-3" or "ISBN 0-525-45469-1." (Playskool licenses its name to Penguin Books USA Inc.) The books were packaged in a clear plastic bag with a cardboard insert and a cardboard header. The cardboard header reads in part, "PLAYSKOOL COLOR 'N'CONTRAST Crib Book." Various retail stores, including Barnes and Noble, Borders, Walden Books, Crown Books, Fay's Drug Stores, Burlington Coat Factory, Musicland, Baby Superstores, and others, sold the books nationwide from November 1995 to March 1996 for $4.99 each. Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and return them to the retail store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers can also mail the books to Penguin USA, 100 Fabrite Road, Newbern, TN 38059-1334, Attn: Cloth Book Department. Penguin USA will reimburse consumers the price of the book and postage costs. For more information, consumers should call Penguin USA at (800) 447-9911.
Hazard
Straight pins used during the manufacturing process were mistakenly left in some of the books, creating a hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
Neither CPSC nor Penguin USA is aware of any injuries involving these books. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and return them to the retail store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers can also mail the books to Penguin USA, 100 Fabrite Road, Newbern, TN 38059-1334, Attn: Cloth Book Department. Penguin USA will reimburse consumers the price of the book and postage costs.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.