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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.
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Episodes

A Tale of Two Neighbors

Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Appalachian tale proves that true friends stick together through thick, thin, and everything in between. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 31, 202621 minSeason 9Ep. 35

Copper and Dumplings

Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Japanese story pits a wise baker against two tricky goblins who refuse to face their fears. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 24, 202624 minSeason 9Ep. 34

Encore: The Laughing Canoe

George Salazar (Be More Chill, Superstore) plays a wise-cracking waterborne vessel in this Brazilian story about the extraordinary things teamwork can bring. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 17, 202620 minSeason 9Ep. 33

The Bolt of Silk

Samantha Béart (Baldur's Gate 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic) plays a sorceress with a knack for brewing up trouble in this tale with Sudanese, Egyptian and Palestinian roots. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 10, 202625 minSeason 9Ep. 32

The Beech-Wood Box

Krassimira Belev (The Therapy) and acclaimed violinist Christian Hebel star in a Romani tale about how the very first violin came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 03, 202625 minSeason 9Ep. 31

Stealing Summer

Bestselling children's author Meena Harris (Maya's Big Question, Kamala and Maya's Big Idea) plays an ambitious coyote in this Shoshone, Shasta and Hupa legend about how summer and winter came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 24, 202617 minSeason 9Ep. 30

Down the Garden Path

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Buddhist story from Tibet and India proves we can all be helpers, no matter our size. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 18, 202625 minSeason 9Ep. 29

The Masked Bandit

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Sioux legend follows a rascally raccoon on a gutsy -- and gummy -- quest. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 10, 202626 minSeason 9Ep. 28

The Noise Next Door

Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this Haitian tale about two blacksmiths whose banging, clanging, clinking and clanking cause a presidential uproar. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 03, 202624 minSeason 9Ep. 27

Goodnight Sun

Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this story with roots in India and Vietnam follows a trio of birds on an illuminating adventure to bring back to the sun. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 27, 202620 minSeason 9Ep. 26

Over the Sea

Tatyana Ali (Abbott Elementary, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) stars as a savvy starfish who outwits a wily whale in this tale from Aboriginal Australia. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 20, 202623 minSeason 9Ep. 25

The Fourth Post

Jeff Meacham (Black-ish, Vampirina) plays a hapless hero whose life turns upside-down in this humorous tale from Great Britain, Italy, Russia and the Philippines. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 13, 202628 minSeason 9Ep. 24

Encore: The Fairy Fort

Taylor Richardson (The Gilded Age) and Alison Wright (The Americans, Snowpiercer) co-star in this Irish tale about mischievous fairies and the power of music. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 06, 202622 minSeason 9Ep. 23

Encore: The Patched-Up Coat

NPR's Peter Sagal (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) stars in this Russian story about how fantastically priceless a little generosity can be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 30, 202520 minSeason 9Ep. 22

Encore: Finding the Light

Kennedy Kanagawa (Into The Woods) plays a young man who brings light to a dark world in this tale with roots in Alaska Native and First Nations legends. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 23, 202520 minSeason 9Ep. 21

Python’s Drum

Gabe Kunda (Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends) and Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure) co-star in a Ugandan legend about friendship, rivalry, and making music. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 16, 202527 minSeason 9Ep. 20

Birbal's Barrels

Ravi V. Patel (Animal Control, LEGO Masters Jr.) headlines this Indian tale about distinguishing need from greed with help from grain, gold, and a barrel of lies. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 09, 202525 minSeason 9Ep. 19

The Underestimated Beetle

Recorded live in Charlotte, NC, this Brazilian tale pits a round-rumped, fleet-footed critter against a teeny-tiny insect in a surprisingly high-flying race. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 02, 202521 minSeason 9Ep. 18

A Sticky Situation

Recorded live in Charlotte, NC, this Japanese legend about a rhyming pine tree puts a (literally) sappy new spin on "poetic justice." Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 25, 202520 minSeason 9Ep. 17

Little Peacock’s Plumage

Alfred Hsing (Train Dreams, The Book of Boba Fett) stars in a Chinese legend about a kind bird, a mystical fairy, and the magic of giving. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 11, 202522 minSeason 9Ep. 15

Whatever You Like

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this story with roots in Jewish and Indian lore proves that when you weigh your words, they can be worth their weight in gold! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 04, 202527 minSeason 9Ep. 14

The Sunlight Tree

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this Swedish tale sheds magical light on kindness, caring, and letting roots run deep. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 28, 202528 minSeason 9Ep. 13

The Tree of Love

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

Oct 21, 202526 minSeason 9Ep. 12

The Stone Horse

Recorded live in Parker, CO, this Chinese adventure story shows how kindness and hard work can breathe new life into anything... including stone! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 14, 202526 minSeason 9Ep. 11

The Palace of Cats

Recorded live in Parker, CO, this magical Palestinian tale introduces you to wisecracking elders, wayward felines, and the unexpected rewards generosity can bring. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 07, 202528 minSeason 9Ep. 10

Encore: The Scholar's Reward

Summer Bishil (The Magicians, Four Samosas) and Michael Maliakel (Aladdin on Broadway) star in an India tale about the first chess game and the surprising ripple effects of our actions. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 30, 202525 minSeason 9Ep. 9

The Right Apple

Academy Award nominee June Squibb (Thelma, Eleanor the Great) headlines a Jewish Turkish story about taking a wrong turn and finding the right prize. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 23, 202523 minSeason 9Ep. 8

Sundown on Sunday

Charlet Takahashi Chung (Wylde Pak, Rugrats) stars in a Japanese folktale about a clever farmer who gives herself a helping hand... and foot! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 16, 202521 minSeason 9Ep. 7

The Round Mossy Stone

Béchir Sylvain (Jurassic World Rebirth) stars as trickster Anansi in a West African tale about a magic stone, a major trick, and getting a taste of your own medicine. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 09, 202525 minSeason 9Ep. 6
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