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Circle Round

Circle Round

WBUR

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

4.414.6K Ratings

Overview

Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR's Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 3-103. Each 15 to 25-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.

397 Episodes

Encore: The Lumps of Clay

Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) stars in a classic Indian story about a witty royal adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

The Zodiac Twelve

Tzi Ma (Five Blind Dates, Interior Chinatown) and Jimmy Wong (Mulan, Wish Dragon) co-star in an action-packed legend about the origin of the Chinese zodiac animals.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

Hot Potatoes

Arlen Escarpeta (Found, The Oath) headlines a tale from southern Africa about stolen spuds and hare-brained schemes.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

The Cobbler’s Soul

John Patrick Amedori (Three Women, Dear White People) headlines an internationally-inspired story about fixing soles and saving souls.

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

Encore: Ariana’s Music

Mireille Enos (Hanna, The Killing) headlines this new spin on an ancient Greek legend about an instrument that captivates everyone who hears it – whether they have skin, scales, hair, hides, feathers or fur!

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

Encore: Three Clever Brothers

Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Paddleton) stars in a North African, Middle Eastern and central and north-central Asian folktale about the power of a keen eye and a quick mind.

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2024

Encore: Getting Skunked

Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Abenaki tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent.

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

The Peach of Life

Recorded live at Symphony Space, a star-studded cast brings to life this Chinese and Vietnamese legend about the healing power of a kind and honest heart.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

The Wild Goose Chase

Recorded live at Symphony Space with a star-studded cast, this magical tale inspired by Ukrainian and Russian lore follows a kindly tailor as he embarks on an unforgettable chase.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

Encore: The Most Fabulous Fur of All

Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) stars in a Cherokee tale about a clever rabbit who craftily tries pulling the wool — and fur — over everyone’s eyes.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Dancing to a Different Tune

World-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn plays a musician with a miraculous gift in this whimsical folktale from South America, North Africa, Europe and the US.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

The Caged Bird

Tim Matheson (The West Wing, Virgin River) and Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom, Westworld) co-star in a Jewish and Persian tale about a parrot, a prince, and the priceless value of freedom.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2024

A World of Music

Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Tracker) headlines an Aztec legend about how music first came to the world.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2024

In the Wolf’s Mouth

Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, X-Men ‘97) stars in a Portuguese tale about a big bad wolf and a sharp shrewd owl.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

The All-Wish Stick

Amy Tsang (Star Wars: The Acolyte, Kung Fu) stars in a Chinese tale about a magical gift that makes wishes come true, provided you make them with an honest heart.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

The Face-Off

Actor Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid’s Tale) and producer/actor Lamar Richardson (Appropriate, Merrily We Roll Along) co-star in a Shona legend that proves how big strength can come in little sizes.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2024

Top Banana

Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last Airbender) headline this Filipino story about getting the upper hand by taking the lower half.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Pride and Proverbs

Real-life couple David Giuntoli (Grimm, Batman: Soul of the Dragon) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm, Superman and Lois) face off as a wise farmer and proud queen in this tale with Georgian, Kazakh and Ghanaian roots.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2024

The Hiding Place

Broadway's Aaron Bartz, Erik Christopher Peterson and Cara Ricketts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) headline a Jewish and Egyptian story about a high-stakes game of hide and seek.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

Encore: The Missing Knight

Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime With Fergie) and Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made, Housebroken) play a crafty queen and scheming advisor who face off in an unforgettable game of chess.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024

Encore: The Princess and the Bee

Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime with Fergie) and Suzie McGrath (Star Wars Resistance, The Punies) star in this charming tale about the importance of having a sound, sensible head, and a warm, fuzzy heart.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024

Encore: Chameleon’s Contest

Jonica Booth (Rap Stuff, Bad Girls Club) and Jay Pharoah (Out of Office, Saturday Night Live) co-star in this West African tale about a clothing-obsessed goddess and a crafty, colorful chameleon.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2024

A Horse for Hire

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Haitian and Creole tale is all about hefty horses and broken deals.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2024

The Price Master

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Indian tale shows what happens when the price is right... and the price is wrong!

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2024

The Farmer and the Cow

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Icelandic tale features a magical bovine who's able to moooooove mountains!

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2024

Laughing and Crying

Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale with East Asian and Egyptian roots pits a proud king against a sharp-witted schoolteacher who proves she's nobody's fool.

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2024

Giant Steps

Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale from the Iraqi Jewish tradition gives a whole new meaning to "putting your best foot forward."

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2024

The Spotted Goat

Recorded live at Town Hall Seattle, this tale with Palestinian and Lebanese roots suggests that when somebody gets your goat, don't be shy about putting them on the spot!

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2024

Granny Snowstorm

Recorded live at Town Hall Seattle, this Ukrainian tale follows a sister and brother as they meet the supernatural spirit who brings winter.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2024

The Doggies in the Window

Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this Japanese tale about fragile statues and tough shopkeepers proves that every dog can have its day.

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2024

The Sea and the Sky

Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this high-flying tale explains how the islands of the Philippines came to be.

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2024

The Buffalo’s Shadow

Recorded live at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, MN, this Cambodian folktale shows what happens when you find clever solutions to shady problems.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2024

Home Sweet Home

Recorded live at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, MN, this East African tale about unlikely roommates proves that sometimes the smallest can be the strongest of all.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

Encore: Misery Loves Company

Samin Nosrat (Salt Fat Acid Heat, Home Cooking), Hrishikesh Hirway (Home Cooking, Song Exploder) and Josh Malina (The West Wing, Chutzpod) star in this Ukrainian and Polish tale about what happens when misery loves company so much, it actually comes to life!

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

Encore: The Friend Ship

Carra Patterson (Rustin, Elsbeth) stars in a tale from Japan about a woman with enough generosity to last a lifetime, and a man with enough greed to sink a ship.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024

Encore: The Little Blue Pebble

In this magical story with worldwide roots, Broadway performers Bret Shuford and Stephen Hanna (Broadway Husbands) play farmers who receive a little magic that leads to big transformations!

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2024

Encore: The Bright Yellow Hat

Jona Xiao (Raya and the Last Dragon, Hightown) plays a flower peddler who makes gardens and goodness grow in this story with Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, Moroccan, French, Canadian and Peruvian roots.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2024

The Crystal Story Box

Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick, South Side) plays legendary trickster Anansi in this West African tale about how stories first came to the world.

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2024

Encore: The Troupe of Ten

Malia Baker (The Baby-Sitters Club), Kelly Jenrette (All-American: Homecoming) and Kenny Leu (Midway) headline a story about a troupe of actors who bring down the house until they're nearly brought down themselves.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2024

The Long Crimson Thread

Jessika Van (Seoul Searching, Awkward) and Mark Pellegrino (American Rust, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley) co-star in a Welsh tale about a girl, a drought, and a mouse with a life-saving secret.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2024

The Snow Eater

Cree Summer (Good Times, Abbott Elementary) headlines a Blackfoot legend about fast friends, warm winds, and why bears hibernate during the winter.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2024

The Laughing Bird

Kenny Curtis (Greeking Out) stars in a legend from Aboriginal Australia about dark days, light humor, and a little bird with a big laugh.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2024

The Rightful Heir

Oliver Stark (9-1-1, Into the Badlands) plays a clever king who concocts the perfect plan for telling a good egg from a bad seed.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2024

Encore: The Friendship Orchard

NPR veterans Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg co-star in a Kazakh folktale about lifelong friends whose bond is tested by an unexpected discovery.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2024

A Bee in the Bush

Erika Ishii (Worlds Beyond Number, Apex Legends) headlines this Vietnamese tale about getting a bee in your bonnet, buzzing off, and feeling the sting.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2024

The Cleverest Person in the Room

Vanessa Aspillaga (Dora Saves the Snow Princess, Leave the World Behind) stars in this Puerto Rican and Chilean tale about baby basil, cuddly kittens, and how two heads can be better than one.

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2024

The Whole Cart

Julia Chan (Bojack Horseman, Extinct) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder, The West Wing Weekly) co-star in a story from India about matching wits, mincing words, and getting the upper hand.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2024

The Young Healer

Jonigan Booth (The Underdoggs, This Is Us) headlines this Angolan tale about flowing with your heart, and the healing power of dreams.

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2024

The Polka-Dotted Pigeon

Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly!

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2024

The Uncommon Commoner

Recorded live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, this story with roots in Europe and Asia proves that wisdom can be found in unexpected places.

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2024

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