They really are trying to make us parents of toddlers go insane, aren’t they? From Bloomberg:

Toys `R’ Us Recalls 27,000 Crayon Boxes After Lead Is Found

By Tom Randall

Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) — Toys “R” Us Inc., the biggest U.S. toy-store chain, recalled 27,000 crayon and paint box sets made in China because ink on the wooden cases contains lead.

The recall covers Imaginarium brand 213-piece sets, which include crayons, watercolors, pastels and colored pencils in a light-tan wooden carrying case, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement. Some of the black watercolor paint also contains “excessive” levels of lead.

The $20 sets were sold at Toys “R” Us stores in the U.S. and at the company’s online store from October 2006 through this month. The safety commission said no injuries have been reported and advised consumers to take the products away from children and return them to a Toys “R” Us store for credit.

Earlier this month, Toys “R” Us pulled baby bibs made by Hamco Inc. and other vendors because some contained too much lead. Hamco manufactures most of its products in China, according to the annual report of parent company Crown Crafts Inc. [full text]

If you would like to sign the “Don’t Lick Elmo” petition to urge Congress to improve product safety, you can go to the Care2 Network petition here.