News from Disney

The Circle of Life
"The Lion King" is roaring back to the big screen for a two-week 3D presentation beginning on Friday, Sept. 16.

The beloved movie was originally released in theaters in 1994 when the coming of age story of Simba and his father touched the hearts of an entire generation. "The Lion King" became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and won numerous awards, including two Oscars, and three Golden Globes.

A Diamond Edition Disney Blu-Ray Hi-Def and Blu-Ray 3D will be available in stores on Oct. 4.

Disney has released a Lion King craft project, allowing kids to make their own lion masks out of milk jugs.

Wanted: Jungle Cruise Photos from 1977-1978
Think back, way back, to the bell-bottom days of the '70s. Disney/Pixar is on the hunt for a Jungle Cruise picture of skipper John Lasseter. The chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios got his start working as a skipper on the Disneyland Jungle Cruise attraction from late 1977 through spring 1978. If you happen to have Lassater in one of your family photos from decades past, you could win a trip for four to the grand opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and a private Jungle Cruise skippered by Lasseter. So dust off those old yellowed scrapbooks, and go on your own Lassater hunt.

Make Your Own Costume with Author Holly Cleland
Get ready for Halloween by attending a program by Holly Cleland, author of "Glue and Go Costumes for Kids" at one of 18 branches of St. Louis County Library. Cleland will demonstrate how to make a quick, creative costume out of easy-to-find materials, including plastic cups and plates, cardboard boxes, fabric and foam core. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling 314-994-3300.

Using basic tools such as scissors and a glue gun, anyone can make a creative costume, says Cleland. She will show you how and give away three costumes at each program. These events are recommended for ages 5 and up. Cleland will be touring the branches from Sept. 19 to Oct. 1. Visit www.slcl.org for more information.

Can't We Just Talk About It?
Ever find yourself wondering why your sons aren't interested in talking about problems? The answer is pretty simple, actually, according to a new University of Missouri study. Simply put, boys feel that discussing problems is a waste of time.

"For years, popular psychologists have insisted that boys and men would like to talk about their problems but are held back by fears of embarrassment or appearing weak," said Amanda Rose, associate professor of psychological sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science. "However, when we asked young people how talking about their problems would make them feel, boys didn't express angst or distress about discussing problems any more than girls. Instead, boys' responses suggest that they just don't see talking about problems to be a particularly useful activity."

Rose and her colleagues conducted four different studies that included surveys and observations of nearly 2,000 children and adolescents. The researchers found that girls had positive expectations for how talking about problems would make them feel, such as expecting to feel cared for, understood and less alone. On the other hand, boys did not endorse some negative expectations more than girls, such as expecting to feel embarrassed, worried about being teased, or bad about not taking care of the problems themselves. Instead, boys reported that talking about problems would make them feel "weird" and like they were "wasting time."

"An implication is that parents should encourage their children to adopt a middle ground when discussing problems. For boys, it would be helpful to explain that, at least for some problems, some of the time, talking about their problems is not a waste of time. Yet, parents also should realize that they may be 'barking up the wrong tree' if they think that making boys feel safer will make them confide. Instead, helping boys see some utility in talking about problems may be more effective," Rose said. "On the other hand, many girls are at risk for excessive problem talk, which is linked with depression and anxiety, so girls should know that talking about problems isn't the only way to cope."

"The Grapevine," is a hodge-podge of news items that sprout up throughout the week. Look for The Grapevine each Wednesday. Send your news tips to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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