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
Jul 7, 2020 • 26min
Every Other Friday feat. Melora Hardin and Gildart Jackson
Part one of our special summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Melora Hardin and Gildart Jackson co-star in this tale about a crafty countess who teaches a broke baker never to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Jun 30, 2020 • 23min
Encore: 'Kangaroo And Joey Too'
Recorded live with musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra as part of our 2019 summer pop-up series, this Aboriginal story from Australia imagines how the kangaroo got her indispensable pouch.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Jun 23, 2020 • 13min
Shortie: The Leaky Bucket
Is the bucket half empty or half full? This week's bonus episode comes from a Chinese folktale about the unexpected upside of imperfection.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Jun 16, 2020 • 19min
Encore: 'The Great Ball Game'
In this Native American story, William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) portrays a tiny creature who teaches the other animals and birds to appreciate what it means to be different.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Jun 9, 2020 • 14min
Shortie: The Dinner Date
In this bite-sized bonus episode from West Africa, a tricky spider bites off more than he can chew when he tries outwitting a wise dinner guest.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Jun 2, 2020 • 20min
Encore: The Most Powerful Of All
Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon, Big Little Lies) learns a surprising lesson about size, strength and power in this twist on a folktale from East Asia, India, Spain, Latin America and the southwestern U.S.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
May 26, 2020 • 25min
The Noblest Tale feat. Lisa Loeb
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb (A Simple Trick to Happiness, Feel What U Feel) discovers the true meaning of goodness, virtue and honor in this folktale originally from Mexico.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
May 19, 2020 • 23min
Leopard’s Rhythm feat. Tonya Mosley
Public radio and podcast veteran Tonya Mosley (Here and Now, Truth Be Told) plays a clever turtle determined to outwit the local bully in this whimsical tale inspired by stories told in Ghana.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
May 12, 2020 • 24min
Sweet and Sour feat. Avi Nash & Marshall Escamilla
In this story from the Zulu people of South Africa, Marshall Escamilla (Tumble: A Science Podcast for Kids) and Avi Nash (The Walking Dead, Hosea) star as brothers who are as different as sweet and sour.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
May 5, 2020 • 27min
Chief Know-It-All feat. Chris Sullivan
Actor and musician Chris Sullivan (This Is Us, Joseph The Spouse) plays the boastful, blowhard title character in this Hawaiian tale about an egotistical chief who gets cut down to size.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
