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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 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-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.

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 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-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.

Location:

United States

Networks:

WBUR

Description:

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 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-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.

Language:

English

Episodes

Encore: The Very Busy Fairies

11/16/2021
In this zany Celtic tale from the archives, when fairies come to help Parker Bates (This Is Us) with his chores, he discovers the spirited creatures are far more trouble than they're worth.

Duration:00:20:09

The Bright Yellow Hat feat. Jona Xiao

11/9/2021
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.

Duration:00:26:09

Clear as a Bell feat. Carla Hall

11/2/2021
Chef, author, and TV personality Carla Hall (Carla and the Christmas Cornbread, Holiday Baking Championship) plays a sly, surprising judge in this courtroom tale with roots in China and the Ozarks.

Duration:00:20:13

Catching Fire feat. Lilli Cooper & Chuck Cooper

10/26/2021
Broadway stars and father-daughter duo Chuck Cooper ("The Life," "Trouble In Mind") and Lilli Cooper ("Tootsie," "SpongeBob SquarePants") headline this West African adventure tale about using your inner spark to change the world.

Duration:00:17:42

The Persimmon Sisters (feat. Tennille Read)

10/19/2021
In this story with Jewish, Arab, and Korean origins, Tennille Read (SurrealEstate, Workin' Moms) plays a young woman who learns the true meaning of sisterly love.

Duration:00:19:05

Encore: The Woman in the Moon

10/12/2021
In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we bring back a favorite tale from the archives: Irene Bedard (Pocahontas, Ralph Breaks the Internet) stars in an Alaska Native story about the out-of-this-world power that comes when we work together.

Duration:00:21:16

Getting Skunked feat. Terrence Terrell

10/5/2021
Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Native American tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent.

Duration:00:18:56

Fools Thrush In feat. Anthony Alabi

9/28/2021
Anthony Alabi (Family Reunion, black-ish) headlines an Oneida and Mohawk story about how one of the most beautiful bird songs of all came to be.

Duration:00:19:56

Night and Day feat. MASUMI

9/21/2021
Actor/singer-songwriter MASUMI (Yakuza Princess) headlines this magical tale from the Yoruba people about how night came to a world of endless day.

Duration:00:27:00

The Red Velvet Purse feat. Elisa Donovan

9/14/2021
Elisa Donovan (Clueless, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) plays a judge who puts honesty on trial in this tale with Chinese, Indian, Ethiopian, and Romanian roots.

Duration:00:20:36

The Friend Ship feat. Carra Patterson

9/7/2021
Carra Patterson (Turner & Hooch, Jitney) 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.

Duration:00:22:36

Encore: The Fire On The Other Side Of The World

8/31/2021
We wrap up the summer with another listener favorite: a Cherokee tale in which Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons, Oil and Water) plays a feisty, creative spider who proves that power and strength aren't always about physical size.

Duration:00:22:54

Circle Round Presents: Stories Podcast

8/24/2021
We’re mixing it up today and sharing an episode of "Stories Podcast" -- a show featuring everything from classic fairytales to original stories for kids, written by Dan Hinds and performed by Amanda Weldin. In this story, "The Grass is Always Greener," we meet a bunny named Beverly who's in search of the most delicious grass.

Duration:00:14:51

The Laughing Canoe feat. George Salazar

8/17/2021
George Salazar (Be More Chill, Superstore) plays a wise-cracking waterborne vessel in this Brazilian story about the extraordinary things teamwork can bring.

Duration:00:20:18

Encore: The Chattering Clams

8/10/2021
This week we bring back a listener favorite: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz (hosts of "Wow in the World") star in a whimsical Native American tale about the dangers of gossip.

Duration:00:21:08

The Laws of Nature feat. Mo Rocca

8/3/2021
Mo Rocca (CBS Sunday Morning, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) headlines this eco-conscious Estonian/Finnish tale about conservation, courtesy, and how actions speak louder than words.

Duration:00:21:01

Encore: Sir Luck and Mister Riches

7/27/2021
In this favorite tale from the archives, comedian/kids' author Michael Ian Black (I'm Worried, Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop) and actor/director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Medical Police) believe they know the secret to what makes people truly happy.

Duration:00:24:25

The Patched-Up Coat feat. Peter Sagal

7/20/2021
NPR's Peter Sagal (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) stars in this Russian story about how fantastically priceless a little generosity can be.

Duration:00:19:37

Encore: The King's Face

7/13/2021
Broadway stars Derrick Baskin (Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris, Burn This) play a curious king and clever farmer in this tale with roots in Russia, Italy, India, Greece, Africa and Iran. This episode was originally released on October 22, 2019.

Duration:00:19:31

The Mountain Guardian feat. Alonzo Bodden & Audrey Hsieh

7/6/2021
Audrey Hsieh (Here Today, Mixtape) and Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Who's Paying Attention) headline this Tibetan tale about two family members who are rewarded appropriately by a stone lion, one for her generosity and one for his greed.

Duration:00:25:46

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