

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

Oct 21, 2025 • 26min
The Tree of Love | Ep. 301
Real-life couple Paige Davis (Trading Spaces, Pen Pals) and Patrick Page (The Gilded Age, Archduke) headline a Greek legend about two people whose love is so strong, they find a divine way to stay together forever.
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Oct 14, 2025 • 26min
The Stone Horse | Ep. 300
Recorded live in Parker, CO, this Chinese adventure story shows how kindness and hard work can breathe new life into anything... including stone!
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Oct 7, 2025 • 28min
The Palace of Cats | Ep. 299
Jeffrey Donovan, known for his captivating storytelling skills and featured in the live performance, dives into a magical Palestinian tale. He narrates Rafi's journey—a kind neighbor enduring hardships who rescues a kitten, revealing her as the gracious Princess Patches. The tale explores themes of generosity as Rafi's act leads to unexpected rewards—turning peels into treasure that benefits his village. Meanwhile, his unkind neighbor Idris learns a hard lesson about selfishness when attempting to replicate Rafi's fortune.

Sep 30, 2025 • 25min
Encore: The Scholar’s Reward
In this captivating tale, Summer Bishil, known for her roles in The Magicians and Four Samosas, plays a brilliant scholar who introduces the war-hungry Raja to the game of Chaturanga. As they play, the scholar reveals the surprising ripple effects of her unusual request for grains of rice, demonstrating the power of exponential growth. This enchanting story weaves together themes of strategy, kindness, and the transformative potential of peaceful alternatives, leading the Raja to reconsider his obsession with conquest.

Sep 23, 2025 • 23min
The Right Apple | Ep. 298
Academy Award nominee June Squibb (Thelma, Eleanor the Great) headlines a Jewish Turkish story about taking a wrong turn and finding the right prize.
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Sep 16, 2025 • 21min
Sundown on Sunday | Ep. 297
Charlet Takahashi Chung (Wylde Pak, Rugrats) stars in a Japanese folktale about a clever farmer who gives herself a helping hand... and foot!
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Sep 9, 2025 • 25min
The Round Mossy Stone | Ep. 296
Bashir Sylvain, known for his role in Jurassic World Rebirth, voices the clever trickster Anansi in a captivating West African tale. Listeners dive into Anansi's mischief as he discovers a magic stone that puts others to sleep, allowing him to steal their fruit. However, the tables turn when Bush Deer, who witnessed the trickery, cleverly outsmarts Anansi by reading the spell slowly, putting him to sleep instead. The story wraps up with Anansi waking up embarrassed and fruitless, leaving a lesson about consequences and cleverness.

Sep 2, 2025 • 28min
The First Councilor | Ep. 295
Danielle Panabaker (The Flash) and James Wolk (Mad Men, Happy Face) headline a Swedish tale about an uncertain king, a magic fairy, and a monumental decision.
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Aug 26, 2025 • 24min
Princess Persistence | Ep. 294
Aparna Brielle (FUBAR, A.P. Bio) stars as a legendary Indian princess whose love, devotion and courage face the ultimate test.
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Aug 19, 2025 • 22min
True Colors | Ep. 293
Heather Burns (Bored to Death, Manchester by the Sea) and Ajay Naidu (Office Space, Blindspot) headline a Bantu, Zulu and Tumbuka tale about why the hyena's coat is spotted and scraggly.
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