Rebecca Sheir

West Stockbridge

Host, Circle Round at WBUR-FM (Boston, MA)

Host of @WBUR's @ComeCircleRound folktales podcast + Author of the new Circle Round picture books from @storeypub. https://t.co/X6cOu5UjVW…

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Articles

Out of Time | Ep. 290

1 month ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Think about your favorite story. If I asked, you could probably tell me its plot, right? The series of events that unfold? But what if I were to ask you about its theme: the message the story is trying to convey? Sometimes the message of a story is easy to figure out.
The Fruits of Labor | Ep. 289

1 month ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Have you ever heard the phrase “planning for posterity”? “Posterity” is another word for future generations. So“planning for posterity” means taking actions and making choices that will benefit the generations to come. We’re about to meet a wise old woman who doesn’t just plan for posterity… she plants for it!Our story is called “The Fruits of Labor.” It’s inspired by Jewish tales written in the Middle East more than 1,000 years ago.
The Big Green Bag | Ep. 288

1 month ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Have you ever thought about the difference between a “want” and a “need”? Wants are things that might be nice and fun to have, but we can survive without them: things like toys or ice cream. Needs are things that we must have in order to stay healthy and safe, like warmth, shelter and food.
Call of the Cuckoo | Ep. 287

1 month ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Think about the last time you felt angry. It's normal for us to feel angry at times. And it helps if we can express our feelings in a safe and appropriate way, and do what we can to work through them. In today’s story, we’ll hear what happens when anger is outlawed and frustration is forbidden.
At First Light | Ep. 286

2 months ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Have you ever woken up early enough to watch the sunrise? It’s pretty magical, right? Watching those first glimmers of daylight as they start to peek out from the horizon? Today’s tale is all about how the first sunrise came to be: way, way back in the earliest (and darkest and coldest!) of times. Our story is called “At First Light.” It comes from the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia, who have lived on this continent between the Pacific and Indian Oceans for over 50,000 years.
The Donkey’s Tail | Ep. 285

2 months ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

An old Persian proverb says: “Thinking well is wise. Planning well, wiser. But doing well is the wisest and best of all.”In other words: thinking, planning, and coming up with ideas is smart. But smartest of all is putting our ideas into action.
One Good Turn | Ep. 284

2 months ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Ever heard the old saying, “One good turn deserves another”? What it means is: if someone helps you out, then you should find a way to help them out.
In the Willow Tree | Ep. 283

2 months ago | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Think about a time you returned a favor: a time when someone did something kind for you, so you turned around and did something kind for them. In today’s tale, when a tiny critter has the chance to return a favor, she finds a colossal way to give back!Our story is called “In the Willow Tree.” Versions of this tale come from the East Asian country of Taiwan. Voices in this episode include Stephanie Koenig and Patrick Luwis.
Miss Tilda | Ep. 282

Mar 25, 2025 | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Imagine you have a friend who’s struggling in some way. How far would you go to help them out? How big would your kindness and generosity stretch?
Crocus-Pocus | Ep. 281

Mar 18, 2025 | wbur.org | Rebecca Sheir

Have you ever had a bad day? When we’re having a bad day, it can be helpful if we talk about it, and share how we’re feeling with someone we trust. We’re about to meet a character who isn’t just having a bad day; he’s having a bad summer. And when he talks about it with a complete stranger, things go from tragic… to magic!Our story is called “Crocus-Pocus.” You’ll find versions of this tale from the southern Italian island of Sicily: the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.