"Hey Diddle Diddle" cardboard children's book
CPSC Recall #95-064 — January 22, 1995
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 95-064 |
| Recall Date | January 22, 1995 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 52,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The books were sold by Waldenbooks |
| Barnes & Noble |
| and other retailers nationwide |
| as well as by The Book Club of the Month |
| from August to December 1994 for about $5.95. |
Product
"Hey Diddle Diddle" cardboard children's book
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc. of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 52,000 copies of the children's book, "HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE," by James Marshall. The book, which is intended for small children, tells the story of the nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle Diddle." This book constructed with heavy cardboard pages includes a triangular-shaped rattle within the spine of the book. The caps on the end of the rattle can detach releasing the rattle's plastic pellets. If ingested, the pellets can be inhaled into the lungs, causing breathing problems, recurring pneumonia, and even lung collapse that can lead to death. In addition, the rattle caps present a choking hazard for small children. The publisher reported to CPSC two instances of the cap ends separating from the rattles. Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving the "Hey Diddle Diddle" book. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The book, which measures approximately 6 inches by 5 1/4 inches, includes 10 heavy cardboard pages with a long, triangular-shaped rattle built into the spine. The front of the book reads, "HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE," includes the name of the author, and depicts a cow jumping over a crescent moon. The back of the book reads, "*** A RATTLE BOARD BOOK Farrar Straus Giroux New York." The books were sold by Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers nationwide, as well as by The Book Club of the Month, from August to December 1994 for about $5.95. Consumers should take the book away from young children immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price. Consumers who received the book from The Book Club of the Month will be notified directly about the refund. For more information on this recall, call Farrar, Straus & Giroux at (800) 788-6262.
Hazard
The caps on the end of the rattle can detach releasing the rattle's plastic pellets. If ingested, the pellets can be inhaled into the lungs, causing breathing problems, recurring pneumonia, and even lung collapse that can lead to death. In addition, the rattle caps present a choking hazard for small children.
Incidents & Injuries
Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving the "Hey Diddle Diddle" book.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the book away from young children immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price.
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.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.