New Storytelling Podcast: #circleround

Circle Round is that rare unicorn in kids’ entertainment in that it’s actually entertaining for parents too! Episodes are narrated by theatre, film, and TV actors that parents will no doubt identify with. I’m proud to partner with WBUR.

For my friends in Boston, WBUR is hosting a free, interactive launch party for Circle Round at the Boston Children’s Museum on Sunday, September 24 at 2 p.m.

Circle Round is a new storytelling podcast for kids ages 4-10, and comes from the WBUR producing team behind the popular podcast Modern Love.

image: WBUR’s Circle Round

And guess what? FOLK TALES!

Circle Round provides global perspectives with voices representing cultures from around the world. Episodes include prompts for discussion, giving children and their caregivers plenty of food for thought long after the story ends. Stories delve into diverse and accessible topics such as kindness, persistence, and generosity.

Even better. This is NOT screen time, it’s a listening thing!

Circle Round is a great option for parents looking for an alternative to screen time. Kids love great stories, especially ones you can listen to anywhere, anytime.

The stories are adapted for modern families into 5- to 20-minute audio episodes featuring original music and sound design.

image: WBUR’s Circle Round

Circle Round is narrated by Rebecca Sheir, a seasoned public radio host, and stars some of today’s most exciting theater, film and TV actors performing carefully selected folktales from around the world.

Interested? You can subscribe to Circle Round via iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app and download episodes!

Need more temptation?

image: WBUR’s Circle Round

The Pilot episode is with Jason Alexander!! Stella & The Dragon (Romania) starring Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent,” “Bad Moms”), James Konicek and Mia Rilette.

Other episodes include:

Why The Ocean is Salty (Philippines): Two brothers, one kind and one mischievous, learn why it’s never wise to take more than you need, starring Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba,” “Longmire,” “The 33”), Jon Briones (“Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary”) and John Lescault.
The Happiest Person in the World (Various, including Uzbekistan, Africa, Greece, Italy): A depressed man believes he’ll finally be happy if he can track down the happiest person on earth, starring Jon Cryer (“Two and a Half Men”), Laura C. Harris, Delores King Williams, Anya Whelan-Smith, Keshav Moodliar, John Lescault and Mitch Hebert.
Thunder and Lightning (Nigeria): A creation story about how lightning and thunder went from being honored members of a village in Africa to living in the sky with their friend Rain, starring Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh in “Hunger Games”).
The Woman in the Vinegar Bottle (United Kingdom): An old woman who lives in a vinegar bottle wishes she could live in a cottage. A fairy grants her request. The woman’s wishes get larger and larger and the fairy grants them–to a point–starring Sela Ward (“Sisters,” “Graves,” “Independence Day”) and Annabella Sherman.

To learn more, check out WBUR website, Facebook, and Twitter. Follow using Hashtag #circleround.

image: WBUR’s Circle Round

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My books:

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

- - Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  - Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
  - Starred review from School Library Journal
  - Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  - 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  - Green Earth Book Award longlist
  - Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me