Goodnight Sun

Summary

Circle Round: "Goodnight Sun"

WBUR | Released: January 27, 2026
Episode recorded live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center, CA

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Episode Overview

In this live-recorded episode of Circle Round, host Rebecca Sheir and a group of talented actors perform “Goodnight Sun," an adaptation of folktales from Vietnam and India. The story explores the themes of gratitude, the impact of our words, and taking responsibility for mistakes. Young listeners learn how three friends—Duck, Rooster, and Bluebird—regret their rash words, must make amends, and find a creative way to restore light to their world. The episode concludes with a creative activity for children and grown-ups to share.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Summary

Introduction: The Burden of Regret

• [00:43] Rebecca Sheer sets the stage by asking, “Have you ever said something you came to regret?” She explains the importance of thinking before speaking and introduces the episode’s characters and theme of making amends for careless words.

The Friends Who Complain: Duck, Rooster, and Bluebird

• [02:25] The three animal friends spend their days complaining about the sun being too bright and too hot.
• Notable dialogue:
  • Bluebird: “It’s worse than the worst.” [02:48]
  • Duck: “Okay, so no need to actually say that again, Bluebird. It’s an idiom, a figure of speech.” [02:57]

The Sun’s Fury

• [04:21] The sun overhears the animals’ complaints and feels deeply unappreciated, deciding to stop rising altogether.
• Notable quote:
  • Sun: “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.” [05:22]

Darkness Falls

• [05:49] Without the sun, the world becomes cold and dark, and the animals are miserable.
• The trio realizes their mistake and decides to journey to the sun and apologize, highlighting the theme of taking responsibility for one’s words and actions.

The Journey to the Sun

• [07:19] Duck volunteers to swim with Rooster on her back, while Bluebird flies ahead, guiding with her voice.
• Notable, humorous exchanges:
  • Rooster: “A duck’s body is totally made for swimming. So how about I swim and you ride on my back and I can.” [07:19]
  • Duck: “If my jets were any cooler, I’d be a ducksicle. This water is freezing, and Rooster weighs a ton.” [10:00]
  • Rooster: “I’m as light as a feather.” [10:08]

Making Amends

• [10:41] The trio finally meets the sun, who confronts them about their past complaints.
• Sun: “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?” [10:50]
• The friends sincerely apologize.
• Rooster: “It was wrong to treat you that way.” [11:53]
• Duck: “We’re lost without you.” [12:09]

Restoring the Cycle (and the World's Light)

• [13:19] Rooster suggests he can help the sun remember to rise by crowing each morning.
  • Rooster: “So every morning when it’s time for you to rise, I’ll wake you up with a crow.” [13:19]
  • Bluebird: “I can help too. As a bluebird, my voice isn’t as strong as Rooster’s, but once he wakes you up, I’ll chirp and you’ll know it’s time to start your trip across the sky.” [13:33]
  • Duck: “And in case you need more reminding, after Bluebird makes her call, I will let out a quack quack.” [13:49]
• The sun accepts their solution and begins to rise again, establishing the dawn chorus that continues every morning.

The Story’s Message

• The animals and the sun demonstrate that forgiveness is possible and that everyone can play a part in making things right.
• The story explicitly ties the origin of Rooster’s crow, Bluebird’s chirp, and Duck’s quack at dawn to their promise to the sun.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s worse than the worst.” – Bluebird [02:48]
• “Without her, the earth would be a cold, dark, desolate place.” – Rebecca Sheer [04:31]
• “You can say that again. Actually, can you say that again?” – Sun [04:45]
• “We want you to come back. The world is so dark without you and so cold.” – Duck [11:12]
• “We’re lost without you.” – Duck [12:09]
• “So every morning when it’s time for you to rise, I’ll wake you up with a crow.” – Rooster [13:19]
• “When Rooster crows, the sun knows it’s time to wake up... And when Bluebird chirps, the sun knows it’s time to begin her trek across the sky…” – Rebecca Sheer [14:11]
• “If my jets were any cooler, I’d be a ducksicle.” – Duck [10:00]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:43 Introduction of theme: Regretting our words
• 02:25 Friends begin complaining about the sun
• 04:21 Sun reacts to the animals’ complaints
• 05:49 World becomes cold and dark, new appreciation for the sun
• 07:19 Planning and beginning the journey to the sun
• 10:41 The group confronts the sun and apologizes
• 13:19 Rooster, Bluebird, and Duck propose their morning song solution
• 14:11 Establishment of the dawn chorus and resolution
• 15:05 Interactive activity for listeners: drawing favorite sunshine activities

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Activity & Closing

Listener Activity (for families):

• [15:05] Rebecca encourages kids (and grown-ups) to draw themselves doing their favorite thing in the sun and share the drawing with others—or with the Circle Round community.

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Language & Tone

• Warm, playful, and musical—just right for a family audience.
• Inclusive of humor and clever word play (e.g., idioms and puns on names).
• Consistently kind, with direct speech illuminating each character’s personality.

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For New Listeners

This episode is a sound- and music-rich, engaging retelling of a meaningful folktale, perfect for sparking conversations about the power of gratitude, the impact of words, teamwork, forgiveness, and creative problem-solving. The story is presented in a fun, interactive way—an excellent listen for families or classrooms.

Transcript

[Rebecca Sheer]

Wbur podcasts, boston.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This Circle Round episode was recorded live at the Glendale Performing Arts center in Glendale, California on January 18, 2026. You can learn more about our live events and all things Circle Round, including our picture book, Circle Merch newsletter and Circle round club at WBUR.org CircleRound.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Have you ever said something you came to regret? Maybe you snapped at a friend or family member, or called somebody a 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 Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round live at the Glendale Performing Arts center in Glendale, California. Today. Our story is called Goodnight Sun. It was inspired by tales from Vietnam and India. Joining me on stage is a quartet of talented actors, Theodore Chin, Mary Faber, Helen Hong, and Jessica Rao. Providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimalonis. So circle around, everyone for Goodnight Sun. Way, way back in the long ago.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Days when animals ruled the world, there.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Were three best friends, Duck, Rooster and Bluebird.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And during these long ago days, the.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Friends spent a good portion of their days complaining, it's horrible.

[Rooster]

It's the worst.

[Bluebird]

It's worse than the worst.

[Duck]

You can say that again.

[Bluebird]

It's worse than the worst.

[Duck]

Okay, so no need to actually say that again. Bluebird. It's an idiom, a figure of speech.

[Bluebird]

Oh.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Anyway, you may be wondering, what was it that Rooster, Duck and Bluebird thought was the worst?

[Bluebird]

Worse than the worst, Right.

[Rebecca Sheer]

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.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Mountains to the west.

[Rebecca Sheer]

And during the hours between, as she blazed her fiery trail across the sky, the friends would grumble, the sun is too hot.

[Rooster]

And grouse, the sun is too bright.

[Bluebird]

And gripe, if only she would just stop rising, then we could finally get a break.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Duck, Rip, 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.

[Audience Member/Listener]

Ugh.

[Sun]

I can't believe how much those animals belly ache about me. All they do is grumble and grouse and gripe.

[Rebecca Sheer]

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.

[Sun]

You can say that again. Actually, can you say that again?

[Rebecca Sheer]

Oh, you mean without her, the earth would be a cold, dark, deep, desolate Place?

[Bluebird]

Yes, yes.

[Sun]

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.

[Rebecca Sheer]

As in, you shouldn't rise anymore.

[Bluebird]

Yes.

[Sun]

Didn't Bluebird say that I am worse.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Than the worst more than once?

[Sun]

Actually, 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.

[Rebecca Sheer]

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.

[Bluebird]

It's too cold.

[Rooster]

And Grouse, it's too dark.

[Rebecca Sheer]

And gripe.

[Bluebird]

If only the the sun would rise again, then we could finally get a break.

[Rebecca Sheer]

The animals knew they couldn't go on like this. So Duck, Rooster and Bluber decided they would visit the sun and ask her to come back.

[Duck]

After all, life without the sun is horrible.

[Rooster]

It's the worst.

[Bluebird]

It's worse than the worst.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You can see.

[Duck]

Say that again.

[Bluebird]

It's worse than the oh, right. Idiom.

[Rooster]

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.

[Audience Member/Listener]

So.

[Rooster]

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.

[Duck]

Well, a duck's body is totally made for swimming. So how about I swim and you ride on my back and I can.

[Bluebird]

Fly above you, leading the way? If it's too dark to see me, you can follow my voice. I'll chirp, win, toot toot.

[Rooster]

What if Duck and I fall behind?

[Duck]

Then I'll quack, quack.

[Rooster]

And I'll crow.

[Bluebird]

Cock a doodle doo.

[Rooster]

Think you'll hear that, blue bird?

[Bluebird]

I think it's impossible not to. So come on, friends, let's go see see the sun. Hopefully she'll be burning to come back to us and won't give us a cold shoulder.

[Rebecca Sheer]

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.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm Rebecca Shear.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Welcome back to Circle Round Live at the Glendale Performing Arts center in Glendale, California. Today, our story is called Good Night, Sun. 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.

[Duck]

Hey, Bluebird, do you see the sun yet?

[Bluebird]

Not yet, Duck.

[Rooster]

How about now?

[Bluebird]

Not yet, Rooster.

[Duck]

How about now?

[Bluebird]

I told you, Duck. Not yet. Can you cool your jets? Cool my jets?

[Duck]

If my jets were any cooler, I'd be a ducksicle. This water is freezing, and Rooster weighs a ton.

[Rooster]

Correction. An elephant weighs a ton. A whale weighs a ton. I'm as light as a feather.

[Duck]

Yeah, a ton of feathers.

[Bluebird]

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.

[Rebecca Sheer]

The friends picked up their pace, and before they knew it, they were staring into the bright, blazing, irritated face.

[Sun]

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?

[Rebecca Sheer]

The trio exchanged a sheepish glance.

[Duck]

No, son, we're not here to tell you that.

[Rooster]

We're here to tell you you're better.

[Bluebird]

Than the best, and we want you to come back.

[Duck]

The world is so dark without you and so cold.

[Bluebird]

Will you please start rising again?

[Sun]

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?

[Bluebird]

No.

[Sun]

Instead, you grumbled and groused and griped and were sorry.

[Rooster]

It was wrong to treat you that way.

[Bluebird]

From now on, we'll do better.

[Duck]

You can say that again.

[Bluebird]

From now on, we'll. Ugh. When will I learn?

[Rooster]

Anyway? We need you, son.

[Duck]

We're lost without you.

[Bluebird]

Like, really lost. It's so dark, and none of us has good night vision, so we're always stumbling around, and I meant lost.

[Duck]

As in we love her and can't live without her. That kind of lost.

[Bluebird]

Oh, right.

[Audience Member/Listener]

That too.

[Duck]

So, what do you say, son?

[Bluebird]

Will you accept our apology and come back to us, please?

[Rebecca Sheer]

There was a long, simmering pause as the sun weighed the bird's words. And then, yes.

[Sun]

Yes, I will accept your apology. And yes, I will come back all right. 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.

[Rebecca Sheer]

The birds were quiet. Then Rooster broke the silence.

[Rooster]

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.

[Bluebird]

Cockle doodle doo. I can help too. As a bluebird, my voice isn't as strong as Rooster's, but once he wakes you up, I'll chirp and you'll know it's time to start your trip across the sky.

[Duck]

And in case you need more reminding, after Bluebird makes her call, I will.

[Sun]

Let out a quack quack.

[Rebecca Sheer]

The sun loved the idea, and ever since she, Rooster, Bluebird and Duck have kept their bargain. When Rooster crows, the sun knows it's time to wake up.

[Rooster]

Cockle doo doo doo.

[Rebecca Sheer]

When Bluebird chirps, the sun knows it's time to begin her trek across the sky. 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, 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.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now it's your turn.

[Rebecca Sheer]

What's something you like to do in the sun?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Do you like going for a swim or 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 Lion's Roar Grown Ups. You can email a photo of your Circle Round fan and their artwork to circleround bur.org.

[Rebecca Sheer]

This week's story, Goodnight sun, was adapted.

[Narrator/Announcer]

By me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Dean Russell and performed by Theodore Chin, Mary Faber, Helen Hong and Jessica Rao. Eric Shimalonis composed our original music and played it live on the Dan th.

[Rebecca Sheer]

You can learn more about this Vietnamese.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Stringed instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website WBUR.org Circleround Circle Round's artist is Sabina Han. Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our Circle Round Stories and you can print them out and color them in while you listen. Grown Ups, Visit our website to WBUR.org CircleRound and click on coloring pages. And while you're at WBUR.org circle round, you can check out our Circle Round picture books, live events and sign up for your Circle Round newsletter. The Lion's Roar. Again, it's [e-mail] CircleRound looking for more ways to Circle Round with us? Join the Circle Round Club and you can support your favorite public media podcast while getting all Circles 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. Grown ups. Visit WBUR.org CircleRound and click on Circle Round Club. One more thing Grown Ups if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star rating or review on your favorite puppet podcast app. Every rating and review will help us keep Circling Round with you for years to come. Circle Round is a production of WBUR Boston's npr. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for Circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the.

[Rebecca Sheer]

End of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Take a listen.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Audience Member/Listener]

Hi, my name is Dalia. I live in Montreal. My favorite Circle Round story is the First Counselor. I liked the part when all the counselors were shocked that Anders was the first first Counselor. My name is Kate, I live in Bothell, Washington and my favorite sophomore is out of Time because I like the part when the two suspects tell the story. My name is Jude, I live in White Plains, New York. My favorite episode is the Blizzard wizard and my favorite part is when the Blizzard wizard says My Victory. My name is Maeve and I'm from Gilbert, Arizona. And my favorite story is the Desolate Stair and my favorite part is where Natalia saves her brother. My name is Eli and I'm from Portland, Oregon and my favorite silk around Shore is Fiona. And the figurines the when Fiona finally gives the fairy their cake. My name is Quinn and I live in Brooklyn, New York and my favorite Circle Round podcast is the Starfruit Tree. My favorite part is when the girl lives in the old Land. My name is Sabine, I'm from Brooklyn, New York. My favorite Circle Circle Round 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 Round.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Did someone mention a story you've missed?

[Rebecca Sheer]

Not to worry, grown ups.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh, so much more on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound.