Washington, D.C. ? Toy-maker Fisher-Price is recalling 83 types of toys – including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters – because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.

The recall being announced today involves 967,000 plastic preschool toys made by a Chinese vendor and sold between May and August in the United States.

It is the latest in a wave of recalls that has heightened global concern about the safety of Chinese-made products.

Owners of a recalled toy, including the one above, can exchange it for a voucher for another product of the same value. To see pictures of the recalled toys, visit www.service.mattel.com. For more information, call Mattel’s recall hot line at (800) 916-4498.