Disney Children's Book Group Recall of Children's Book

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2002
Release # 02-101

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 203-8070
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
Disney Contact: Ellen Morgenstern, (212) 633-4485

CPSC, Disney Children's Book Group, LLC Announce Recall of Children's Book

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Disney Children's Book Group, LLC, also known as Disney Press, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 5,180 Zowie's 123 children's books. The books have a plastic abacus-like toy attached to the back cover that contains five plastic beads. The beads can separate from the book cover, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Disney-Press has received one report of a 15-month-old boy who broke a bead from the book cover and placed it in his mouth. An adult was able to remove the bead from the child's mouth without injury.

The Zowie's 123 book is a twelve page white board book that measures 6.5-inches by 6.5-inches with a yellow plastic abacus-like toy attached to the back book cover. The abacus toy has five small beads: blue, green, red, yellow and orange. The beads slide along a plastic track. The book is based on the Rolie, Polie, Olie television series and depicts the Zowie character on its cover. The book can be identified with the ISBN code number 078683307-6, found on the back cover in the bottom corner.

Bookstores nationwide sold the recalled books from January 2002 through February 2002 for about $7.

Consumers should immediately take these recalled books away from young children and return the books to Disney Press for a full refund and postage. Mail the books to Disney Press, Attn: Zowie 123, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011 and use six first-class stamps per book. Be sure to include a return address and phone number. For additional information, contact Disney Children's Book Group, LLC toll-free at (866) 203-8070 anytime.