Learning Cubes from Target Recalled

Name of Product: Little Tree Mini Learning Cube

Units: About 12,000

Manufacturer/Importer: Maxim Enterprise Inc. of Lakeville, Mass.

Importer/Distributor: Target of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: Small wooden pegs in the top corners of the toy can come loose posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Target has received three reports of incidents including two reports of children mouthing pieces of the learning cube. In one incident, an 18-month old girl swallowed a piece of the recalled learning cube after one side came loose. The piece became stuck and she had to have it removed in a hospital emergency room. In a second incident, a child started choking when she put two of the toy’s wooden pegs in her mouth. In the third incident, a consumer reported the wooden pegs popped out of the learning cube. No injuries were reported in the third incident.

Description: The recalled learning cube is an 8-inch square wooden box with a different activity on each side, including an abacus, blocks with apples and bananas, shapes that can be moved in a zigzag cutout, and a blackboard. The wooden cover has spiral bead maze with wooden beads that slide up, down and around.

Sold at: Target stores nationwide from June 2005 through November 2005 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled learning cube toy away from young children and return it to Target for a $15 giftcard plus applicable state tax.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit Target’s Web site.