Circle Round

WBUR

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.

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456 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes456

Newest first

Oct 9, 2018 · 17 min
'Armadillo’s Song' | feat. Gad Elmaleh
French comedian Gad Elmaleh stars in this episode about one little armadillo who doesn't let anyone discourage him from following his dreams. This lively Bolivian folktale tells the origin story of the "charango," a small Andean stringed instrument.
Oct 2, 2018 · 16 min
'Fiona and the Fairies' | feat. Selenis Leyva
Selenis Leyva ("Orange is the New Black," "Maniac") stars as a clever baker in this retelling of a Scottish folktale about the power of a little "please" and "thank you."
Sep 25, 2018 · 17 min
'The Tug of War' | feat. Quvenzhane Wallis
Does bigger always mean stronger? Oscar nominee & children's author Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Annie) stars in this East African folktale.
Sep 18, 2018 · 18 min
'Dollars and Scents' | feat. Derek Klena and Max Casella
Our noses can detect nearly a trillion different scents. When the main character in our story smells just a handful of them he winds up in quite a mess! Derek Klena ("Anastasia," "Wicked,") and Max Casella ("The Lion King," "Music Man") co-star in this global folktale.
Sep 11, 2018 · 18 min
'100 Rooms' | feat. Ed Asner
Ed Asner ("Up," "Mary Tyler Moore Show") stars in a British folktale about a father who challenges his young daughters to solve a tricky challenge by thinking outside the box.
Sep 4, 2018 · 13 min
'When Fish Fly' | feat. HGTV's 'The Cousins:' John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino
John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino (HGTV’s “Cousins on Call) co-star in this story about a man who gets a very tricky lesson about the dangers of gossip.
Aug 21, 2018 · 25 min
Encore: 'Sadko And The Sea'
Max Greenfield ("The Neighborhood," "New Girl") stars in this Russian folktale about the power of music.
Aug 6, 2018 · 11 min
Encore: 'The Owner Of The Sun'
YouTuber and comedian Joanna Hausmann stars in a Venezuelan folktale about an enterprising young girl and her quest to free the sun.
Jul 31, 2018 · 14 min
'Cow Wells And Cow Bells' | feat. Billy Porter and Joshua Boone
Greed. Deception. Adorable baby cows. Billy Porter ("Pose") and Joshua Boone ("Seven Seconds") star in this East African folktale that asks: "is honesty always the best policy?"
Jul 24, 2018 · 15 min
'The Unwelcome Guest' | feat. Richard Kind
Richard Kind ("Inside Out") stars in this Middle Eastern folktale about a clever man who teaches his village a thing or two about the dangers of judging a book by its cover.
Jul 17, 2018 · 21 min
'The King And The Cobbler' | feat. Keith David and James Naughton
When the most powerful person in the land has never relied on himself, trouble ensues! Keith David ("Greenleaf") and James Naughton ("The Blacklist," "Our Town") co-star in a folktale that claims many homes--from Afghanistan to Greece.
Jul 10, 2018 · 21 min
'The Months Of The Year' | feat. Ailsa Chang and Joshua Rush
What would it be like to experience the months of the year--out of order? Joshua Rush ("Andi Mack") and Ailsa Chang (NPR) co-star in this story which has its origins in Russia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
Jul 2, 2018 · 13 min
Encore: 'The Woman Who Lived In A Vinegar Bottle' feat. Sela Ward
Sela Ward ("Graves," "Independence Day") stars in a traditional English tale about a woman who can't seem to find home sweet home.
Jun 25, 2018 · 14 min
'The Skylark' | feat. Miriam Shor
Miriam Shor ("Younger," "The Americans,") stars in this Portuguese folktale about a feathered creature who gives a young, impatient man a lesson he'll never forget.
Jun 19, 2018 · 16 min
'The Perfect Partnership' | Feat. Joshua Johnson and Sam Sanders
Being a good partner is all about give and take. But in today’s story, Sam Sanders (NPR) and Joshua Johnson (WAMU) co-star in a Ghanaian story about one man who's far more interested in the taking.
Jun 12, 2018 · 13 min
'The Friendship Orchard' | feat. Susan Stamberg and Linda Wertheimer
NPR's own Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg co-star in a Kazakh folktale about lifelong friends whose bond is tested by the unexpected discovery of big treasure.
Jun 5, 2018 · 18 min
'A Taste Of Honey' | feat. Hannah Simone
Hannah Simone ("New Girl") stars alongside her real-life father Naren Simone in a South Asian tale about the power of self-reliance.
May 29, 2018 · 13 min
Encore: 'It Could Always Get Worse' | feat. Jason Alexander
Whether we’re 3 or 93, we all love a good story. Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld") stars in this classic Yiddish folktale.
May 23, 2018 · 1 hr 48 min
Two Hour Road Trip Reel: 'The Animal Kingdom'
Is there a very long road trip ahead of you? We've got you! This playlist features two hours of your favorite Circle Round stories about our furry and feathered friends.
May 23, 2018 · 1 hr 22 min
90 Minute Road Trip Reel: 'Casting A Spell'
We just made your road trips so much better. This nearly 90 minute playlist features your favorite Circle Round stories about magic!

Circle Round

'Armadillo’s Song' | feat. Gad Elmaleh

'Fiona and the Fairies' | feat. Selenis Leyva

'The Tug of War' | feat. Quvenzhane Wallis

'Dollars and Scents' | feat. Derek Klena and Max Casella

'100 Rooms' | feat. Ed Asner

'When Fish Fly' | feat. HGTV's 'The Cousins:' John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino

Encore: 'Sadko And The Sea'

Encore: 'The Owner Of The Sun'

'Cow Wells And Cow Bells' | feat. Billy Porter and Joshua Boone

'The Unwelcome Guest' | feat. Richard Kind

'The King And The Cobbler' | feat. Keith David and James Naughton

'The Months Of The Year' | feat. Ailsa Chang and Joshua Rush

Encore: 'The Woman Who Lived In A Vinegar Bottle' feat. Sela Ward

'The Skylark' | feat. Miriam Shor

'The Perfect Partnership' | Feat. Joshua Johnson and Sam Sanders

'The Friendship Orchard' | feat. Susan Stamberg and Linda Wertheimer

'A Taste Of Honey' | feat. Hannah Simone

Encore: 'It Could Always Get Worse' | feat. Jason Alexander

Two Hour Road Trip Reel: 'The Animal Kingdom'

90 Minute Road Trip Reel: 'Casting A Spell'