Circle Round
WBUR
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 31, 2026 • 21min
A Tale of Two Neighbors
Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Appalachian tale proves that true friends stick together through thick, thin, and everything in between.
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Mar 24, 2026 • 24min
Copper and Dumplings
Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Japanese story pits a wise baker against two tricky goblins who refuse to face their fears.
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Mar 17, 2026 • 20min
Encore: The Laughing Canoe
A whimsical Brazilian tale about a fisherman whose luck changes when a joke-telling canoe comes to life. The canoe conjures a miraculous catch and insists on sharing the bounty. Jealousy sparks when a farmer tries to steal the magic and faces consequences. The story highlights teamwork, generosity, and playful surprises.
Mar 10, 2026 • 25min
The Bolt of Silk
Samantha Béart (Baldur's Gate 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic) plays a sorceress with a knack for brewing up trouble in this tale with Sudanese, Egyptian and Palestinian roots.
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Mar 3, 2026 • 25min
The Beech-Wood Box
A Romani tale about a peddler, a beech-tree spirit, and a mysterious wooden box. A son grows up with a quest to win a king's prize and faces a strict listening rule. Magic transforms a stick, hair, and box into the very first violin, unleashing a new sound that spreads across the land.
Feb 24, 2026 • 17min
Stealing Summer
Bestselling children's author Meena Harris (Maya's Big Question, Kamala and Maya's Big Idea) plays an ambitious coyote in this Shoshone, Shasta and Hupa legend about how summer and winter came to be.
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Feb 18, 2026 • 25min
Down the Garden Path
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Buddhist story from Tibet and India proves we can all be helpers, no matter our size.
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Feb 10, 2026 • 26min
The Masked Bandit
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Sioux legend follows a rascally raccoon on a gutsy -- and gummy -- quest.
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8 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 24min
The Noise Next Door
Featuring the First Gentleman, an actor known for character voices, who brings lively principal dialogue. The story follows a new president disturbed by relentless blacksmith noise. Plans to silence the racket lead to surprising swaps and a clever, compassionate solution. Performed live with playful clatter and warm humor.
Jan 27, 2026 • 20min
Goodnight Sun
Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this story with roots in India and Vietnam follows a trio of birds on an illuminating adventure to bring back to the sun.
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