Severity
Moderate
ModerateActive
CPSC recall · Reported September 17, 2003
CPSC, Simon & Schuster Announce Recall of Children's Books
A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
Verify with CPSC →
Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y. recalled The heavy-cardboard book has "Whose Birthday Is It?" printed on the cover in yellow lette… - a moderate-severity action.
CPSC, Simon & Schuster Announce Recall of Children's Books was recalled by Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y. in September 17, 2003. Reason: A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.. Remedy: Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and contact Simon …. Verify recall #03186 with the CPSC before acting.
The recall
Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children..
- Moderate
- severity level
- 26K units
- affected scope
- September 17, 2003
- reported
Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #03186 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.
Recall Insight
This CPSC action (record #03186) was formally reported on September 17, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as 26,000.
The documented reason for this recall is: A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and contact Simon & Schuster, to receive a replacement book. - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from CPSC - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.
Household Products recalls over time
Where this recall sits in its category - 3,056 household products recalls on record
Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.
Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.
Affected scope
26,000
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product description
The heavy-cardboard book has "Whose Birthday Is It?" printed on the cover in yellow letters. Dora the Explorer cartoon characters are pictured on each page. A cutout in the top left corner of book has a small plastic replica of a balloon attached. The yellow and orange balloon is used as a slide to reveal answers to questions in the book.
Reason for recall
A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Remedy, what to do
Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and contact Simon & Schuster, to receive a replacement book.
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 03186 |
| Date reported | September 17, 2003 |
| Date initiated | September 17, 2003 |
| Recalling firm | Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y. |
| Affected scope | 26,000 |
| Distribution | Not disclosed |
| Official source | CPSC notice → |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
What to do with this recall
Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and contact Simon & Schuster, to receive a replacement boo…
- Check the recall number (03186) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
- Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
- Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next
This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What product was recalled? ▼
The heavy-cardboard book has "Whose Birthday Is It?" printed on the cover in yellow letters. Dora the Explorer cartoon characters are pictured on each page. A cutout in the top left corner of book has a small plastic replica of a balloon attached. The yellow and orange balloon is used as a slide to reveal answers to questions in the book.. Recalled by Simon and Schuster Inc., of New York, N.y.. Units affected: 26,000.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
A plastic replica of a balloon, attached to the book, can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
What should consumers do? ▼
Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately and contact Simon & Schuster, to receive a replacement book.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on September 17, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 03186.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (03186) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product? ▼
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.
Nearby Recalls in This Category
Other recalls in the same product category, useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.
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Compare this recall with Cooper Lighting Recalls Metalux Optimized High Bay LED Ligh… →
Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: CPSC, reported September 17, 2003. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.