Circle Round

Circle Round The folktales podcast for modern kids & grown-ups from NPR station WBUR, featuring beloved voices from stage, screen, podcasts & public radio!

Circle Round is WBUR’s storytelling podcast for kids ages 3 to 103. Created and produced by parents of young children, Circle Round adapts folktales from around the world as 10- to 25-minute radio plays. Every episode explores universal themes like kindness, persistence, teamwork and generosity, and end with an activity that inspires deeper conversations between children and grown-ups. Notable voices from the stage and screen bring these stories to life with the help of writer, narrator and veteran public radio host/reporter Rebecca Sheir. Eric Shimelonis, composer for the stage and screen, creates original music for each story. Circle Round has earned numerous honors, including a Parents' Choice Gold Award, a Webby nomination, and featured spots at the The UK International Radio Drama Festival and HEAR Now Festival. Circle Round was also the recipient of a major grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Gather ‘round the (virtual) campfire! ✨This summer, dive into a curated collection of Circle Round favorites from our be...
06/09/2026

Gather ‘round the (virtual) campfire! ✨

This summer, dive into a curated collection of Circle Round favorites from our beloved library — all introduced by Erika Henningsen ( The Four Seasons & ). We’re grateful to our former host and composer for the storytelling magic bringing these tales to life.

Whether you’re heading outdoors or cozying up at home, these nature-focused folktales capture the wonder of the natural world and remind us why we should care for our planet and all its creatures.

Perfect for families. Perfect for summer. Perfect for storytelling around the campfire!

→ Link in bio to start listening!

Feed drop alert!Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines "The Blizzard Wizard": a listener-favorite s...
04/28/2026

Feed drop alert!

Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines "The Blizzard Wizard": a listener-favorite story from the indigenous peoples of Siberia about a supernatural spirit with a very cold shoulder.

Listen wherever you get our WBUR 90.9 FM podcast -- and find Sabina Hahn's coloring page here! https://shorturl.at/AvsKZ

Big thanks to The Artful Parent for including our WBUR 90.9 FM folktales podcast in this handy-dandy list of activities ...
04/28/2026

Big thanks to The Artful Parent for including our WBUR 90.9 FM folktales podcast in this handy-dandy list of activities for traveling with toddlers!

Countless families have told us that Circling Round on the road (or in the skies!) has brought so many smiles to their miles. We hope you'll take us with you on your next adventure, too!

Try these seven open ended art activities for traveling with toddlers. Great screen-free options for engaging young kids during travel.

Happy World Book Day!Here at Circle Round, every day is Book Day -- care of that magical, mystical place known as the li...
04/24/2026

Happy World Book Day!

Here at Circle Round, every day is Book Day -- care of that magical, mystical place known as the library.

Scroll to see some of host/writer Rebecca Sheir's latest literary hauls... and big thanks to the librarians who risk getting carpal tunnel as they've checked out Rebecca's bevies of books! 😏

Feed drop alert!As Rebecca & Eric gear up for this weekend's Podcast Playdate in Boston (in-person tix are sold-out, but...
04/22/2026

Feed drop alert!

As Rebecca & Eric gear up for this weekend's Podcast Playdate in Boston (in-person tix are sold-out, but you can get livestream tix at the link below!), we're presenting a listener favorite from the archives.

Edi Gathegi ("The Harder They Fall," "For All Mankind") stars in "The Magic Touch," an East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart!

Listen wherever you get our WBUR 90.9 FM podcast, and find Sabina Hahn's coloring page here! https://www.wbur.org/podcasts/circleround/coloring-pages

https://www.wbur.org/events/1059135/the-mega-awesome-super-huge-wicked-fun-podcast-playdate-5

So happy to see the Circle Round picture books in the fabulous children’s section at this beautiful place. Huge thanks t...
04/20/2026

So happy to see the Circle Round picture books in the fabulous children’s section at this beautiful place. Huge thanks to all the New Yorkers who’ve shared your love and support through the years!

h/t NYPL The New York Public Library cc Storey Publishing

Since Circle Round started in 2017, we've received so much love from our listeners that our hearts are overflowing!This ...
04/19/2026

Since Circle Round started in 2017, we've received so much love from our listeners that our hearts are overflowing!

This recent note from a parent/piano teacher has us beaming from ear to ear. Big thanks to all the fans who've kept us going through the years!

New episode alert!Charlene Amoia (The Breadwinner, How I Met Your Mother) plays a tiny but mighty bird in "Lighting a Sp...
04/15/2026

New episode alert!

Charlene Amoia (The Breadwinner, How I Met Your Mother) plays a tiny but mighty bird in "Lighting a Spark": a high-flying French legend about the origin of fire.

Listen wherever you get our WBUR 90.9 FM podcast, and find Sabina Hahn's coloring page at this link! https://www.wbur.org/circleround/2026/04/14/lighting-a-spark

In-person tickets for our live Apr. 25 show at WBUR 90.9 FM's kids' podcast festival are sold out, but click the link to...
04/13/2026

In-person tickets for our live Apr. 25 show at WBUR 90.9 FM's kids' podcast festival are sold out, but click the link to nab tix to our livestream... and to check out the other fun kidcasts coming to WBUR CitySpace in Boston on Apr. 25 + 26!

CitySpace celebrates cutting edge conversations, adventurous art, innovative ideas. CitySpace is WBUR on stage. Convening leaders in all fields for an array of offerings — readings, interviews, debates, conversations, panels, podcasts, performances, story slams, theater, comedy, book clubs, demons...

How much do you love the creative framing of this classic photo from Circle Round super-fan Max? 💛He sent it our way aft...
04/13/2026

How much do you love the creative framing of this classic photo from Circle Round super-fan Max? 💛

He sent it our way after one of our live Symphony Hall Boston recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and we've been smiling ever since!

Thanks for the love, Max -- and thanks to all of our fans for your generous support of our WBUR 90.9 FM folktales podcast through the years!

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