Hi, Rebecca Sheer here. Before we get to today's story, I invite you to circle around with us
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W-B-U-R Podcasts Boston
Here at Circle Around, we're taking time off as we gear up for all sorts of exciting things.
This month, we're recording live episodes in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington,
and Chicago, Illinois. We're also getting ready for our annual live recording with members of
the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tango Wood. These events sold out fast, so remember,
to be first to hear about live shows and get all sorts of other fun perks while supporting your
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Circle Around Club. With so much going on at Circle Around this week, we're bringing you an
encore edition of the podcast. A really great story you may have missed the first time. We'll
be back with a new episode soon in the meantime. Enjoy!
Think about the last time you picked a flower. What color was it? What shape? What did it smell like?
We're about to meet a character who is wild about flowers, growing them, picking them,
even talking to them, in hopes that eventually they'll talk back. I'm Rebecca Scheer and
welcome to Circle Around, where story time happens all the time. Today our story is called the Bright
Yellow Hat. Variations of this folktale come from many places, including Japan and Tibet,
France and Canada, Morocco and Peru. Some really great people came together to bring you our
adaptation of this tale, including Jonah Shaw, who voiced young Namari in Disney's animated film
Raya and the Last Dragon, available on Disney Plus. So Circle Around everyone, for the Bright Yellow Hat.
There once was a flower farmer whose name was Flora. Each morning Flora woke up in her cottage
in the countryside, then strolled up and down the rows of her garden to decide which flowers she
would sell at the marketplace that day. Good morning my marvelous miracles, and how are you my precious
betunias? Your pink and purple petals look so pretty. Oh, my sweet sunflowers, you're looking
a bit droopy today. I wonder if you've been getting too much sun. Flora chatted with her flowers as if
they were old friends. Granted, the flowers never chatted back, but Flora didn't mind. She loved
taking care of her garden and took pleasure in watering it and weeding it and fertilizing it
with food scraps from her kitchen. Here you go my little lovelies. Fresh eggshells and coffee grounds.
Your favorite. Flora was equally chatty with her customers and equally generous. She was always
giving away flowers for free. Whether someone was feeling under the weather. Oh, sorry about the
broken leg Mrs. Miller. Have a dozen bologna's. They're on me. We're having a rough day. Oh,
I heard about the runaway horse farmer Craig. Maybe this bouquet of pansies will cheer you up.
We're celebrating a milestone. Happy birthday Dr. Smith. These geraniums are for you on the house.
Not that Flora was rich by any means, but she was comfortable. Her business brought in just
enough money to keep food on her table, clothing on her back and a roof over her head. Until one
summer went everything went wrong. The entire month of June it was rainy and wet.
Oh, goodness gracious. Another rainstorm. My flowers are going to drown.
The entire month of July it was sunny and hot. Holy smokes. What I wouldn't give for some of the
rain that we had last month. The flowers that survived the storms are going to weather in this heat.
And to the entire month of August it was unusually brisk and chilly.
Oh heavens. I wish that warm golden sun would come back. The few flowers I have left will never
survive this cold snap. By summer's end not one of Flora's flowers was left standing.
The poor things were withered and wilted and strewn across the soil as if they had fainted dead
away. As Flora wandered up and down the desolate rows of her garden, her eyes brimmed with tears.
Well, there goes my livelihood. I even worse. There go my friends. My lovely lark spurs.
My petite prim roses. My enchanting impatience. Oh, I wish I could have protected you from all the rain,
sun and chill. I wish I could have found a way to keep you safe from all that.
Hey, miss. Flora, world around. Shuffling toward her cottage was a man carrying a long
pole hanging from the pole where dozens upon dozens of hats. Sorry to disturb you miss.
But I'm a poor hat peddler and I'm afraid I lost my way. I was trying to get to the marketplace
to sell some of my hats, but I took a wrong turn and have been wandering around on my tired
feet ever since. I'm awfully exhausted and terribly hungry. Any chance I could rest inside your
cottage and maybe have a bite to eat? The peddler's face broke into a hopeful smile.
After not selling any flowers all summer, Flora knew her cupboards were practically bare,
but her generous heart went out to the poor stranger. Of course you can rest in my cottage,
sir. Come in, have a seat and I'll bring you some food. Thank you miss. Thank you.
Flora rummaged through her cupboards and found a bit of bread and cheese. The hat peddler put
down his pole of hats, collapsed into a chair, then gobbled up the snack with gusto.
Oh, this positively hits the spot. I feel worlds better already. I wish I could pay you for your
generosity, miss, but all I have are my hats here. Perhaps I can give you one.
Flora smiled. Oh, that won't be necessary, sir. Your hats are beautifully made,
but you needn't give one to me. Please, I insist. The man picked up his pole and began rifling
through the hats. Now let's see which one is the hat for you. There's this one here. No.
How about this one? No. Aha, here it is. The man held up a bright yellow hat with a wide round brim.
What do you think? It's woven from palm leaves, so it's nice and light and won't make your head
all sweaty. Plus, the wide brim will keep you out of the sun. It's the perfect hat for growing flowers
in a garden. Wouldn't you say? Flora was taken aback. Growing flowers in a...but how did you know I
grow flowers? After the summer's terrible weather, my garden is decimated. Oh, I could tell.
And I think this hat will be perfect for you. Please. The man held out the hat. Take this hat
and wear it. It just might bring you the luck you need. Provided you keep your ears open.
Then, with a new found spring in his step, the peddler hoisted up his pole,
waltzed to the door and set out across the countryside. Wow, that was awfully nice of him to give me this hat.
Not sure what he means by keeping my ears open and bringing me luck. But he's right. This would
be the perfect hat for growing flowers. Of course, how am I supposed to grow flowers if I don't have
seeds? I can't afford to buy them, but perhaps there's another way.
Flora gazed out the window. When her eyes fell on a patch of wild flowers across a large meadow,
she suddenly had an idea. Popping her new yellow hat on her head, she grabbed a basket and took
off toward the wildflowers. Oh, look at those golden rods and those snap dragons. Oh, I'll collect
some of their seeds and then take them home and dry them. Once the seeds are ready for planting,
I can start my garden all over again. Oh, this is going to be great! And as we'll soon hear,
it was going to be more than great because Flora was about to receive the surprise of her life.
What do you think will happen next? We'll find out after a quick break.
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Before we get back to our story, did you know that in addition to listening to Circle Round,
you can carry it, eat lunch with it, and read it? Visit the swag link at WBUR.org slash circle
round and get your very own circle round backpack, lunch box and picture books. And bonus,
each book comes with an autographed book plate signed by me. Give to WBUR and get some really
cool Circle Round goodies as our way of seeing things. Now, your swag today at WBUR.org slash circle
round. Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheer. Today, our story is called The Bright Yellow Pat.
Before the break, Flora, the flower seller, worked out a way to replace the beloved flowers she had
lost over the summer. Putting on the bright yellow hat she received from a mysterious head
peddler, she scampered over to a patch of wild flowers to collect their seeds. Well, hello there,
lovely. You golden rods look absolutely gorgeous. And you snap dragons, you are simply superb.
Don't you mean spectacular. Flora froze. What? Who said that? Uh, I did because you called our petals
superb. While I admire the eliteration, I would go with something more dramatic, like
spectacular or stunning or sensational. Superb is just kind of met, you know. Flora stared down at
the flowers. Wait a minute. You talk? Oh, all of us flowers talk. You've just never been able to hear us.
That's right. Now a golden rod piped up. And it isn't just as flowers. It's all the plants. The trees,
the bushes, everybody. Flora pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She wasn't,
but I don't understand. I've been growing flowers for years and talking to them all the while.
How was it I'm only hearing you now? Did I somehow get supersonic hearing? I mean, wait. Suddenly,
the hat peddlers words rushed across Flora's brain. Take this hat and wear it. It just might bring
you the luck you need. Provided you keep your ears open. Oh my gosh. It's the hat. It allows me
to hear the flowers talking, which means I can probably hear the bushes and trees too.
This is amazing. Well, speaking of bushes and trees, there's one tree you absolutely must hear.
The poor thing has been moaning with misery, but his Christ have fallen on deaf ears.
Flora leaned down toward the flowers. Which tree do you mean? And what happened to him? Well,
if you really want to know, it's a cedar tree in the mayor's backyard. The tree was tall and strong
and hearty once, but the mayor chopped him down so she could build a guesthouse behind her mansion.
The thing is, she didn't tear up the tree's roots. And tree roots aren't like flower roots, you know?
Tree roots stretch deep and wide. So the poor cedar tree is writhing in pain.
Flora held a hand to her heart. Well, that's just horrible. But wait, it gets worse.
The tree has cast a spell on the mayor's son and made him very ill. So now, if the mayor doesn't dig up the tree
and plant it where it can grow, the tree will cease to live and the boy will too.
Flora felt her heart clench, but that's not right. Someone should do something.
Well, we flowers wish we could do something to save them both, but we're rooted to the ground.
A human being like you, however, walking around on those two legs of yours?
You could save the tree and save the boy.
Flora realized the flowers were right. She was likely the only person on earth who knew why the mayor's
son was sick, but what was she supposed to do? March over to the mayor's mansion and explain
that she learned the answer from two talking flowers? Surely the mayor would think she was
loopy and throw her out. No, Flora would have to think of some other way to be heard and believed.
And suddenly, she had the answer. Bitting farewell to the flowers,
Flora rushed back to her cottage and dressed herself in a long silk robe. Then she placed
her bright yellow hat on her head and set out for the mayor's mansion. When she reached the front
gate of the grand house, she called out in a disguised voice. Everybody, young and old, come and
have your fortune told. I see the future. I see the past. Your fortune, I'll reveal at last.
All of a sudden, the mansion's gate opened and the mayor came bursting out. You're a fortune teller,
are you? Then perhaps you can help. My son is gravely ill and I've called every doctor and town,
but they're absolutely flummoxed. Please follow me. The mayor led Flora through the front door,
down a long corridor and into a dark room. Lying stock still on a tall featherbed was a small boy.
His eyelids were closed and his frail body was trembling and covered in sweat.
We've tried every cure there is medicines, herbs, potions, but my son won't get well.
Tell me, fortune teller, what are we doing wrong? Flora gazed down at the boy. Then she closed her eyes
and placed her hands over her face. Let me see now. I'm getting a message, yes. Something about
a guest house in your backyard. The mayor nodded. Yes! I built a guest house in my backyard.
About a year ago. And your son. He's been sick for about a year. Two? He has. Come to think of it,
he fell ill the day they broke ground for construction. Dozens of workers came to chop down this old
cedar tree that was growing there. It took forever. What do you ask? Flora uncovered her face,
then opened her eyes and fixed them on the mayor. Before I say more, Madam Mayor, I must visit your
guest house alone. Is that all right? Yes, of course, whatever you need.
The mayor escorted Flora to the guest house and left her at the door, as Flora sat in the main room.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Quick as a wink, Flora leaped to her feet and raised outside where the mayor was waiting When the mayor saw Flora, her eyes lit up Well fortune teller? Can you please tell me what's going on? Do you know how to make my son well again? Flora took a breath and let it out slowly I do, Matt and Mayor Well, what is it? To make your son well again
You must tear down the guesthouse knock down the roof pull down the walls then lift the floorboards and tend to the tree The tree? The mayor cocked her head You mean the cedar tree?
The tree is in the ground The tree is in terrible pain So your son is in pain
If you replant the tree and let it grow strong again Your son will grow strong again too
The mayor paused for a moment Then she clapped her hands and a crew of assistants came running over
Listen people, I want you to summon my workers and have them tear down this guesthouse at once
And please summon my gardeners as well I have a very important job for them
And so that very morning the mayor's workers demolished the guesthouse and uncovered the cedar stump below
Then the gardeners carefully lifted the stump and roots from the ground and moved the tree to a big green garden on the mayor's property
When the gardeners replanted the cedar and the moist fertile earth Flora could hear the other trees, bushes and flowers cheer with triumph
And she could hear the cedar sigh with pleasure
At last I can grow again Thank you dear lady, thank you
Flora tipped her bright yellow hat You're very welcome
I'm very what? But I haven't even said thank you yet
Flora spun around to find the mayor standing right behind her
She was beaming from ear to ear and holding hands with her son, who now looked all healthy and hail
Thanks to you and your powers, fortune teller, my son here is well again
The moment they replanted that cedar tree, he opened his eyes, hopped out of bed and ran straight into my arms
It was like a miracle
The mayor gave her son a loving squeeze, then turned back to Flora
So, fortune teller, tell me, what can I give you to show my thanks?
Bags of gold? Sparkling jewels?
You name it, it's yours
Now if you were Flora, what answer would you give the mayor?
Would you ask for gold or jewels or something else?
Well, as it turns out, Flora asked for something else entirely
And can you guess what it was?
Seeds, flower seeds, so she could start growing her garden again
The mayor obliged, and when Flora returned to her cottage in the countryside, she planted all of her new seeds
And thanks to her bright yellow hat, every time she talked to her burgeoning, blossoming buds
Good morning my lovely lilies, how goes it, my adorable aster's?
She could always hear them talk back
Now it's your turn, Flora was gaga about growing flowers
What's an activity that you enjoy doing regularly?
Do you love baking, painting?
Building with blocks or legoes?
Find a piece of paper and draw a picture of you doing your favorite activity
Then if you'd like, share it with us
Ask a grown-up to take a picture of you and your drawing and send it to circlearound at wbur.org
Grown-ups you can also post all circle-round related art on Instagram
Be sure to tag our handle at Circlearound podcast so that we can check it out
This week's story, the bright yellow hat, was adapted by me Rebecca Sheer
It was edited by our supervising producer, Amri Severton
Eric Shemelonist, as all of our original music and sound design, our artist is Sabina Hahn
Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for every circlearound story so you can color while you listen
Grown-ups you can find more than 140 of our coloring pages on our website
wbur.org slash circlearound
While you're there, you can find links to the circlearound t-shirt, soundstrak and coloring book
Special thanks to this week's actors, Shelley Lee, Jessica Rao, Alejandro Ruiz, Dawn Ursula, and Jonah Shau
Kids listen for Jonah in Disney's animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon, available on Disney Plus
Grown-ups watch for Jonah in high-town on stars
The featured instrument in today's story was the vibraphone
You can read about this mallet instrument and see a picture on our website
Again, that's wbur.org slash circlearound
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Circlearound is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News Station
I'm Rebecca Sheer, thanks for circling round with us
Now that you've made it to the end of this circlearound episode, we want to know
What's your favorite circlearound story?
Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the circlearound stories they like best
Take a listen, maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too
Hi, my name is Gora and I live in Percent area Canada
My favorite circlearound episode is the Vasex
My favorite part is when the girl uses the shield and turns the Vasex to stone
My name is Vincent and my favorite circlearound story is Devil of a job
I like the part where the Devil disappears
My name is Harper, I live in Fort Worth, Texas
My favorite circlearound story was the forest folk
I like all the parts
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My favorite circlearound story is the winter weather
And my favorite part is when the blues is the winter smells into the ground
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And my favorite story is the empty barrel
Because I like the part when she goes flying in her barrel
And there's no water in it
My name is Clay and I live in Portland, Oregon
And my favorite circlearound story is the far wind
And my favorite part is when the Northwood makes the foxes return white
My name is Aya and I'm from Austin, Texas
And my favorite circlearound is all of them
And I like all the parts of all of them
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not Torey!
Grownups, you can find all of our circlearound stories
Plus links to the circlearound club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website
www.wbur.org slash circlearound
