Common Sense Media Review
By Lauri C. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fairy tale stories and songs are calming, rarely scary.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Some episodes of the APRIL EIGHT SONGS AND STORIES podcast are songs as short as three minutes, while others tell fairy tale stories of up to 22 minutes. The host April is friendly and kind, and she usually tells tales of Western fairy tale creatures like nymphs, fairies, and witches using vivid sensory descriptions. The stories promote imagination, courage, and kindness, and some episodes include more silly content, like when April acts like her goofy dog Roxie. The episodes are available for free, and some come with accompanying activities on the podcast's website.
Is It Any Good?
While strong on musical creativity and Western fairy tale themes, this podcast doesn't offer much when it comes to meaningful lessons, real-life inspiration, or diversity. Still, the April Eight Songs and Stories podcast is sweet, and it might be comforting to kids who can't get enough enchanted forests, fairy princes, and grumpy trolls. Make sure you read through the episode descriptions so you start with the first story in a series, and don't get a short song when you're hoping for a longer tale. With plenty of good (and free) storytelling podcasts out there, you may want to opt for tales that do a better job celebrating world cultures, diverse voices, feminist retellings, or moral lessons.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the magical world described in this episode of April Eight Songs and Stories. Could you bring it to life with your own story, drawing, painting, or song?
Did any characters in this episode show curiosity, courage, or compassion? How did that important quality help them in their adventure?
Did the story or song in this episode remind you of other stories or characters you have heard of before?
What lesson do you think the characters in this story learned about how to approach the world or how to treat others?
If you could tell a calming and creative story to share with others, what would it be about?
Podcast Details
- Release date : June 7, 2016
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 15 minutes
- Website : https://aprileight.com/
- Host : April Eight
- Production Company and Network : April Eight
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity
- Last updated : September 15, 2025
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