WBUR Podcasts, Boston. This circle round episode was recorded live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California on January 18th, 2026. You can learn more about our live events and all things circle round, including our picture books, merch, newsletter, and circle round club at WBUR.org slash circle round. Have you ever said something you came to regret? Maybe you snapped at a friend or family remember? We're called somebody not so kind name. It's easy to get annoyed or flustered and say things we regret. In today's tale, a duck, rooster, and bluebird say something they regret, and as a result, they have to eat crow. I'm Rebecca Sheer and welcome to Circle round live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California. Today our story is called Good Night Sun. It was inspired by tales from Vietnam and India. Joining me on stage is a quartet of talented actors, Fiat Orchin, Mary Faber, Helen Hong, and Jessica Rao. Providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimalones. So circle round everyone for Good Night Sun! Way way back in the long ago days when animals ruled the world. There were three best friends, duck, rooster, and bluebird, and during these long ago days, the world was the best one. The difference spent a good portion of their days complaining. It's horrible. It's the worst. It's worse than the worst. You can say that again. It's worse than the worst. Okay, so no need to actually say that again, bluebird. It's an idiom, a figure of speech. Anyway, you may be wondering, what was it that rooster, duck, and bluebird thought was the worst? Worse than the worst. Right. Well, it was none other than the sun. Every morning, the sun would rise above the sea to the east. Every evening, she would set behind the mountains to the west. And during the hours between, as she blazed her fiery trail across the sky, the friends would grumble. The sun is too hot and gross. The sun is too bright. And gripe. If only she would just stop rising. Then we could finally get a break. Duck, rooster, and bluebird were not alone in their complaining. All the animals felt the exact same way. But guess what? The sun could hear every word they uttered. And she was not pleased. I can't believe how much those animals belly ache about me. All they do is grumble and grouse and gripe. This lack of gratitude made the already fiery sun fume with fury. Because after all, without her, the earth would be a cold, dark, desolate place. You can say that again. Actually, can you say that again? Oh, you mean without her, the earth would be a cold, dark, desolate place. Yes, yes. I mean, think about it. I'm the one who heats the world, who keeps it warm, to say nothing of how I help the plants and trees grow. So maybe the world should be a cold, dark, desolate place. As in, you shouldn't rise anymore? Yes. Didn't bluebird say that I am worse than the worst? More than one, sexually? She also said I should just stop rising. So you know what? That's exactly what I'll do. Instead of rising above the sea to the east each morning, I will sit tight. I'll kick back. Settle in and chill. Though in truth, it'll be bluebird and her friends who are chilling as they shiver in the dark. And guess what? That's exactly what happened. The sun stopped rising and blazing across the sky, and the animals were left trembling and stumbling around. So now they had a whole new reason to grumble. It's too cold and gross. It's too dark and gripe. If only the sun would rise again, then we could finally get a break. The animals knew they couldn't go on like this, so duck, rooster, and bluebird decided they would visit the sun and ask her to come back. After all, life without the sun is horrible. It's the worst. It's worse than the worst. You can say that again. It's worse than the one. Oh, right. Idiom. You know, friends, I am all for visiting the sun. Truly, I am. But the sun is hanging out all the way to the east, which is really, really far. So? So ducks can fly. Bluebirds can fly. But a rooster's wings aren't meant for long distance travel. And a rooster's body isn't meant for swimming. Well, a duck's body is totally made for swimming. So how about I swim and you ride on my back? And I can fly above you, leading the way. If it's too dark to see me, you can follow my voice. I'll chirp. Which we went to today. What if duck and I fall behind? Then I'll quack. Quack. And I'll crow. Cock-a-no-no-do! Think you'll hear that blue bird. I think it's impossible not to. So come on, friends. Let's go see the sun. Hopefully she'll be burning to come back to us and won't give us a cold shoulder. Will the three friends make it all the way to the sun? If so, will she take a shine to their request? We'll find out after a quick break. The reviews are in and super fans like you are loving the Circle Around Club, an exciting opportunity to support public radio and get cool stuff, including ad free episodes and a personalized birthday message from me. What I like about the Circle Around Club is that Rebecca Schu sometimes makes some messages and it supports the show and there are no ads. Grown-ups support public radio and sign up today at WBUR.org slash Circle Around Club. I'm Rebecca Schuere. Welcome back to Circle Around Live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California. Today our story is called Good Night Sun. Thank you. Before the break, the sun stopped rising above the sea to the east. Tired of complaints that she was too bright and too hot. She left the animals in a world that was dark and cold. Duck rooster and bluebird were determined to bring the sun back. So they set out across the sea. With duck swimming, rooster riding on her back and bluebird flying ahead. Hey, bluebird, do you see the sun yet? Not yet, duck! How about now? Not yet, rooster! How about now? I told you, duck! Not yet! Can you cool your jets? Cool, my jets! If my jets were any cooler, I'd be a doxical! This water is freezing and rooster weighs a ton. Correction, an elephant weighs a ton. A whale weighs a ton. I'm as light as a feather. Yeah, a ton of feathers! Listen you two, fighting won't help us reach the sun any faster. So can you please pipe down and... Look at that! On the horizon, I see the tiniest faintest hint of light! We're nearly there! The friends picked up their pace and before they knew it, they were staring into the bright, blazing, irritated face. What do you want? Of the sun? Have the three of you traveled all the way out here to tell me how horrible I am, how I am worse than the worst? The trio exchanged a sheepish glance. No, son, we're not here to tell you that! We're here to tell you you're better than the best! And we want you to come back! The world is so dark without you! And so cold! Will you please start rising again? Start rising! You want me to start rising? I believe it was you, Bluebird, who wished I would stop rising! Even though it was I who lit your way, who heated your world, who helped your plants and trees grow. But did you ever once thank me? No! Instead you grumbled and groused and grieved. And we're sorry! It was wrong to treat you that way. From now on, we'll do better. You can say that again. From now on, we'll... When will I learn? Anyway, we need you, son! We're lost without you! Like, really lost! It's so dark! None of us has good night vision, so we're always stumbling around! I meant lost as in! We love her and can't live without her that kind of lost! Oh, right! That too! So? What do you say, son? Will you accept our apology and come back to us? Please! There was a long, simmering pause as the sun weighed the bird's words. And then... Yes! Yes, I will accept your apology! And yes, I will come back! Go, Rad! Yeah! However, I'm afraid there's one problem. You see, happy as I am to come back to you, it's been so long since I made my daily trek across the sky, I'm worried I'll forget to rise! The birds were quiet, then rooster broke the silence. You know what? There's no need to worry, son! As a rooster, I've got a nice, loud voice. So every morning when it's time for you to rise, I'll wake you up with a crow! Cocko-no-no-do! I can help too! As a blooper, my voice isn't as strong as roosters, but once he wakes you up, I'll chirp! And you'll know it's time to start your trip across the sky! With which, with which? In case you need more reminding, after Bluebird makes her call, I will let out a quack! Quack! The sun loved the idea. And ever since, she, rooster, Bluebird and Duck, have kept their bargain. When rooster crow's, the sun knows it's time to wake up! Cocko-no-no-do! When Bluebird chirps, the sun knows it's time to begin her trek across the sky. With which, with which? And just in case she slips, Duck lets out a quack! Quack! To this very day, if you live in certain parts of the world, you'll come early morning, you'll hear the three friends call out in this very order. And when they do, the sun wakes up and rises to the east, showing her much needed and much appreciated face to the world. The sun is shining! The sun is shining! The sun is shining! The sun is shining! The sun is shining! Now, it's your turn! What's something you like to do in the sun? Do you like going for a swim, running through a sprinkler? Perhaps you enjoy riding your bike, or exploring nature? Find some paper, and draw you doing your favorite activity under the sun. Share your picture with someone you have fun with. And if you'd like, share it with us. With your permission, we may feature it in your monthly circle round newsletter, The Lions Roar. Grown-ups, you can email a photo of your circle round fan and their artwork to circle round at wbr.org. This week's story, Good Night's Sun, was adapted by me, Rebecca Sheer. It was edited by Dean Russell, and performed by Theodore Chin, Mary Faber, Helen Hong, and Jessica Rao. Eric Shimalonus composed our original music and played it live on the Danto. You can learn more about this Vietnamese stringed instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website, WBOR. And you can print them out and color them in while you listen. Grown-ups visit our website, WBOR.org slash circle round, and click on coloring pages. And while you're at WBOR.org slash circle round, you can check out our circle round picture books, live events, and the most important thing is to get a picture of the circle and the most important thing is to get a picture of the circle and the most important thing is to get a picture of the circle and the most important thing that shows the isolation sign up for your Circle Around newsletter, The Lion's Roar. Again, it's all at WBUR.org slash Circle Around. Looking for more ways to circle around with us? Join the Circle Around Club and you can support your favorite public media podcast while getting all sorts of cool stuff, including ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, exclusive swag, and the chance to add on goodies like our snuggly lion stuffy and a personalized birthday message from me. For more information, visit WBUR.org slash Circle Around and click on Circle Around Club. One more thing, grownups, if you enjoy Circle Around, please leave us a five-star rating or review on your favorite podcast app. Every rating and review will help us keep circling round with you for years to come. Circle Around is a production of WBUR Boston's NPR. I'm Rebecca Sheer. Thanks for circling round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Around episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Around story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Around stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too. Hi, my name is Dahlia. I live in Montreal. My favorite Circle Around story is the first counselor. I liked the part when all the counselors were shocked that Anders was the first counselor. My name is Kate. I live in the bathroom, Washington. And my favorite suburb is out of time, because I like the part from the two suspects tells the story. My name is Shude. I live in white plain, New York. My favorite episode is the Blizzard Wizard. And my favorite part is when the Blizzard Wizard says, I'm a fan! My name is Maeve and I'm from Gilbert, Arizona. My favorite story is a desolate stare. And my favorite part is where Metelias saves her brother. My name is Eli. And I'm from Portland, Oregon. And my favorite Circle Around story, Fiori and the Fioris. And I like to post when Fiori finally gives the Fiori the cake. My name is Claire and I live in Brooklyn, New York. And my favorite Circle Around part is the Star Fruit Treat. My favorite part is when the girl lives in the toteland. My name is Sabine. I'm from Brooklyn, New York. My favorite Circle Around story is the elephant in the room. I like the part where the elephant freaks out the man in blue so he admits he's the culprit. We love Circle Around. Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry. Ronups, you can find all of our Circle Around stories. Plus links to the Circle Around Club, Picture Books, Coloring Pages, and Oso much more on our website, www.ruxlashcircleround.
