The Noise Next Door

Circle Round

WBUR

Storytelling, Kids & Family, Kids, Storytime, Children, Childrens' Story, Ages 4-10, Books, Story

4.5 • 16.8K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this Haitian tale about two blacksmiths whose banging, clanging, clinking and clanking cause a presidential uproar.

Transcript

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0:00.0	WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
0:09.2	This Circle Round episode was recorded live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California, on January 18th, 2026.
0:20.0	You can learn more about our live events and all things Circle Round,
0:23.9	including our picture books, merch, newsletter, and Circle Round Club at WBUR.org.org
0:29.5	slash Circle Round. Have you ever been annoyed, irritated, hot under the collar and bent out of shape?
0:52.0	We all get rankled sometimes.
0:54.5	It's a natural part of life.
0:56.9	And as we'll hear in today's story,
0:59.0	how we respond can speak volumes.
1:06.2	I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California.
1:17.3	Today our story is called The Noise Next Door.
1:20.3	Versions of this tale come from the Caribbean country of Haiti.
1:25.1	Joining me on stage is a quartet of talented actors, Fyodor Chin, Mary Faber, Helen Hong, and Jessica Rao. Providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimelonis. So circle around everyone! For the noise next door. Thank you. Many suns and moons ago, in a tropical mountainous land, a new president came to power.
2:15.6	The president and her husband could hardly wait to move
2:19.0	into the presidential palace.
2:21.4	A splendid, sprawling abode
2:23.7	with glittering chandeliers
2:25.7	twinkling from each ceiling
2:27.1	and priceless works of art
2:29.0	hanging on each wall.
2:31.1	Her first morning on the job,
2:33.7	the new president woke up in her tall featherbed.
	...

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