Circle Round

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.

Encore: 'It Could Always Get Worse'

Whether we’re 3 or 93, we all love a good story. Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld") stars in this classic Yiddish folktale. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

05-29
14:49

Encore: The Chattering Clams

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. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

08-10
19:58

'It Could Always Get Worse' | Circle Round 1

Whether we’re 3 or 93, we all love a good story. Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld") stars in our first episode, a classic Yiddish folktale. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

06-08
13:24

'Stella And The Dragon' | Circle Round 2

Kathryn Hahn ("Bad Moms Christmas") stars in this Romanian folktale about a clever mother and her quest to outwit a powerful dragon. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

09-18
19:02

'Why The Ocean Is Salty' | Circle Round 3

Lou Diamond Phillips ("Longmire," "33") and Jon Jon Briones ("Miss Saigon") star in the classic Filipino folktale "Why The Ocean is Salty." Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

09-26
14:56

'The Happiest Person In The World' | Circle Round 4

Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men") stars in a story about a man chasing happiness--and the elusive shirt that will make him smile again. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

10-02
12:59

'The Rice Cakes And The Oni' | Circle Round 5

Tamlyn Tomita ("The Good Doctor") and Hudson Yang ("Fresh Off The Boat") star in this Japanese story about a mother and son team with a seriously good sense of humor. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

10-10
16:20

'The Barber's Secret' | Circle Round 6

Noah Schnapp ("Stranger Things") stars in a story about a prince, a barber, and a secret that was impossible to keep. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

10-17
18:22

'The Owner Of The Sun' | Circle Round 7

YouTuber and comedian Joanna Hausmann stars in a Venezuelan folktale about an enterprising young girl and her quest to free the sun. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

10-24
12:11

'The Woman Who Lived In A Vinegar Bottle' | Circle Round 8

Sela Ward ("Graves," "Independence Day") stars in a traditional English tale about a woman who can't seem to find home sweet home. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

10-31
13:32

'The Lion's Whisker' | Circle Round 9

Marsai Martin ("Black-ish"), Miles Brown ("Black-ish"), and NPR's own Ofeibia Quist-Arcton star in this story about a brother and a sister who are prepared to do just about anything in order to get along. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

11-07
13:13

'Thunder and Lightning' | Circle Round 10

Yetide Badaki ("American Gods") and Dayo Okeniyi ("Shades of Blue") star in this Nigerian folktale about thunder and lightning and how they found their home in the sky. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

11-14
18:14

'Princess In The Mirror' | Circle Round 11

Live from the Boston Jewish Film Festival! In this Israeli folktale, an adventurous princess learns that the greatest lessons may not be learned in far flung lands but rather--right at home. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

11-21
22:03

'Onions And Garlic' | Circle Round 12

The second installment from our live performance at the Boston Jewish Film Festival. In this old Jewish folktale, we tell a story about spicy, flavorful onions... but we promise it won’t make you cry. If anything you’ll laugh and laugh. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

11-27
27:19

'Clever Manka' | Circle Round 13

Bridget Moynahan ("Blue Bloods") re-tells this Czech folktale about a clever young woman who uses her intelligence to win the hearts of her town. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

12-05
19:46

'The Shepherd's Disguise' | Circle Round 14

Tony Hale ("Veep," "Arrested Development") stars in a German folktale about a royal advisor whose dishonesty gets him into a royal mess. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

12-12
21:05

'The Magpie With Salt On Her Tail' | Circle Round 15

Rachael Harris ("Lucifer," "Suits") and Taran Killam ("Nature Cat," "Killing Gunther") star in a classic Swedish tale about a little boy who learns that--with a little hard work--dreams can come true. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

12-19
21:54

'The Answer You Seek' | Circle Round 16

NPR's own Ari Shapiro and Wade Goodwyn star in a Thai folktale that explores the power and universality of empathy. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

12-26
19:43

'Latchkey Stew' | Circle Round 17

Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("Underground," "Friday Night Lights,") stars in this classic tale about a young girl who teaches a group of neighbors what it means to really share. Find your free coloring page for this episode at: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

01-02
19:50

'The Forbidden Knot' | Circle Round 18

Adapted from the original Estonian folktale, Mel Rodriguez ("Last Man On Earth" "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams") stars in a story about a fisherman who learns how important it is to keep your word. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

01-16
21:25

Christie Urquijo

love circle round! thank you! 💙

10-20 Reply

Mahbub

I love all of your stories Thank you so much

09-25 Reply

Susan Ham

this cool

08-28 Reply

Saba Rafiei

it was wonderful

08-13 Reply

Saba Rafiei

This is a great story. I loved that.

08-12 Reply

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