July
10, 2001
Advantage
Publishers Group, of San Diego, Calif., is voluntarily recalling to replace
components in about 160,000 "Let's Start™ Numbers" and "Optical
Illusions Lab" educational kits. The red painted numbers on the acetate
stencil sheet included in the "Let's Start™" kit contain lead; and
the gold paint bearing the words "Kasy's Extrafine" on the black pen
included in the "Optical Illusions" kit has lead. Advantage
Publishers Group has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is
being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries. Lead poisoning is a
serious hazard to children, and is associated with behavioral problems,
learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.
The "Let's Start™" kit has a blue and red cover with a dog on the
front, and contains an interactive book that uses exercises and activities to
introduce children to numbers. The clear acetate stencil sheet is part of a
packet of activity pieces, including a cleaning sponge, counting coins, a magic
pen, and a counting frame. On the back of the kit, it reads in part, "This
product is suitable for use only by children over 4 years of age." The
"Optical Illusions" kit has a multi- colored cover with various
geometric shapes, and reads in part, "Only for use by children over 8
years of age and under adult supervision." The black pen is included with
an activity book and various shapes and images used to perform optical
experiments. Retail stores, national book chains, wholesalers and distributors,
and membership warehouse clubs nationwide sold the educational kits from
February 1999 through May 2001 for between $13 and $20.
Consumers should immediately remove the stencil sheets and pens from the
activity kits and discard them. Customers should call Advantage Publishers
Group toll-free at (866) 748-3731 any time to order a replacement piece.
Consumers also can obtain information by going to the company's website at www.advantagebooksonline.com. All
other components of both kits are not involved in this recall and should not be
discarded.