Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Field
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Diverse folktales boast star-worthy cast, great messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
Circle Round features 15- to 20-minute adaptions of folktales from diverse cultures. Voiced by noteworthy performers like Hamilton's Phillipa Soo and chef/author/TV personality Carla Hall, each story ends with an activity that aims to extend thinking/conversations about the tale's main message or universal theme. Host Rebecca Sheir is a well-known voice on shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now, The Splendid Table, and Marketplace. Composer Eric Shimelonis creates original music for each story (which is performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra), and artist Sabina Hahn creates a printable tie-in illustration. The podcast has a strong following and has earned many awards and honors. WBUR, Boston's NPR affiliate, produces the show and has hosted several recordings with a live audience.
Is It Any Good?
Each episode of this podcast feels like a piece of art. The Circle Round library includes hundreds of beautifully adapted and narrated folktales; each explores morals and themes found across cultures. Pairing exciting casts of actors with original music and artwork creates splendid entertainment for listeners of all ages.
Morals and themes within stories aren't always explicitly stated. To make clear connections for kid listeners, extend discussions beyond the show to help them connect the messages to their own lives. But kids will definitely be engaged through two-way communication options with the show -- including email, call-in voice recordings, and social media platforms. In fact, episodes often include recordings of kid listeners sharing their favorite show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the morals of the stories shared in Circle Round. For example, why is telling the truth important? Was there a time when it felt hard for you to tell the truth? Why? What happened?
Think about the time when you faced a problem. How did you solve it?
What did the characters learn in the story (or stories) you listened to?
Do you notice any similarities in stories from different cultures?
Which characters in these stories demonstrate courage, compassion, empathy and self-control? Why are these important character strengths?
Podcast Details
- Release date : June 8, 2017
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 19 minutes
- Website : https://www.wbur.org/podcasts/circleround
- Host : Rebecca Sheir
- Production Company and Network : WBUR
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Fantasy ( Fairy Tales )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Self-control
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : February 16, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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