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.
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.
Whistling.
I'm Rebecca Shear 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 Rau.
Providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimalonis.
So circle around, everyone, for Goodnight, Son!
Goodnight, Son!
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 friends spent a good portion of their days complaining.
Ugh, 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?
Uh, 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 grouse.
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.
Ugh!
I can't believe how much those animals bellyache 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 it 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 once, 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.
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 grouse.
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 Bloober 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... 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, 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.
What if Duck and I fall behind?
Then I'll quack.
Quack.
And I'll crow.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
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.
I'm Rebecca Shear.
Welcome back to Circle Round Live at the Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California.
Today our story is called Good Night, Son.
Good Night, Son 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 jet?
Cool my jets.
If my jets were any cooler, I'd be a duck-sicle.
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 griped.
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.
And none of us has good night vision.
So we're always stumbling around and... 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?
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.
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.
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.
Cock-a-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.
And 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 crows, the sun knows it's time to wake up.
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.
Now it's your turn.
What's something you like to do in the sun?
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 at wburorg.
This week's story, Good Night, Son, was adapted 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 Don Tuk.
You can learn more about this Vietnamese stringed instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website.
Wburorg slash 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, wbur.org slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages.
And while you're at WBURorg slash 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 all at WBUR.org slash Circle Round.
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 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.
Grownups, visit WBUR.org slash Circle Round and click on Circle Round Club.
One more thing, grownups.
If you enjoy Circle Round, 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 Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR.
I'm Rebecca Shear.
Thanks for circling round with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story.
Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round 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 Round story is the first counselor.
I like the part, when all the counselors were shocked that Anders was the first counselor.
My name is Kate.
I live in Boston, Washington.
And my favorite subplot 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, I'm empty!
My name is Maeve, and I'm from Gilbert, Arizona.
And my favorite story is The Desolate Stair.
And my favorite part is when Natalia saves her brother.
My name is Eli, and I'm from Portland, Oregon.
And my favorite circle round story is Fiona and the Fairies.
And I like the part when Fiona finally gives the Fairies their cake.
My name is Quinn and I live in Brooklyn, New York.
And my favorite circle around podcast is the star fruit tree.
My favorite part is when the girl lives in the golden land.
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 Round.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry.
Grown-ups.
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 wburorg slash circleround.
