NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

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Note: telephone number change.

Originally issued March 25, 1999
Last revised September 27, 2004
Release # 99-086

Company Phone Number: (800) 366-4660 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063

CPSC, Colorbök Announce Recall of Blue's Clues^TM Toy Notebooks

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Colorbök, of Dexter, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 3.8 million Blue's Clues toy notebooks to replace their coils. The ends of the notebooks' coils can break off, presenting a small parts choking hazard to children.

CPSC is aware of four incidents where the end piece of the coil broke off. In three of these incidents, the end piece was removed from the mouth of a child by a parent. There have been no reports of injuries.

The "Handy Dandy Notebook" includes a crayon and 14 wipe-off pages. Consumers can identify the recalled notebooks by looking for the words "1998 Colorbök Paper Products Inc." on the notebook's back cover. The notebook measures about 4 inches wide and 4 inches long. The coils are red plastic, the front and back covers are green with a black border and the inside pages are yellow. A red chair is on the front cover, and "This is _____'s Handy Dandy Notebook" is on the back of the front cover. Several versions of this notebook are made by a number of companies. Only the Colorbök notebook is being recalled.

Chain and toy stores nationwide sold the notebooks from June 1998 through January 1999. The notebooks sold separately for about $5 and as part of an activity set that cost about $10.

Consumers immediately should take the notebooks away from children and call Colorbök anytime toll free at (800) 366-4660 to obtain a free replacement coil. Consumers should not return the notebooks to stores. Information about the recall also is available at www.nickjr.com/bluesclues/products/home.html.

Colorbök notebooks with "Version 2" on the back cover or lower edge of the packaging are not involved in this recall.

Although Blue's Clues is a trademark of Viacom, Colorbök is responsible for the production of these notebooks.

Colorbök reported this hazard to CPSC after first learning of the problem.