✦ New cast · Round 3

Suri Starfish

Five-armed peach felt starfish with stitched coral spots and a tiny teal waist pouch.

TeachesReceiving kindness without owing affection

EpisodeThe Gift and the Wave

LengthAbout 30 seconds

Catchphrase“Thanks can be a wave!”

Read the script All 100 new friends

The script.

Suri receives a handmade picture from a helper who opens their arms. Suri offers a wave instead; the helper accepts it comfortably. Suri waves all five arms in a comically uneven rhythm.

0–6s

Thank you for the picture. I do not want a hug right now.

Suri receives a handmade picture from a helper who opens their arms.

6–16s

I can be grateful and choose how I say thanks.

Suri offers a wave instead; the helper accepts it comfortably.

16–25s

That was five thank-yous with traffic problems.

Suri waves all five arms in a comically uneven rhythm.

25–30s

Thanks can be a wave!

Hold the resolved comic result; deliver the catchphrase without rushing.

More episodes.

5 new episodes starring Suri Starfish, plus 3 guest appearances with the rest of the crew. Each is a 30-second script: tap one to read it.

saying thanks your own wayThanks Can Be a WavePuffa gives Suri a gift and offers a hug, and Suri thanks her with a five-arm wave instead.With Suri Starfish, Puffa Pincushion · tap for the script

0-6s Puffa hands Suri a shiny shell.
Puffa: For you! Want a hug? I found it by the pond.
6-16s Suri hesitates, arms curled.
Suri: Thank you. I do not want a hug right now.
16-25s Puffa nods, still smiling.
Puffa: That is okay. Thanks can be a wave!
25-30s Suri waves all five arms at once and spins like a pinwheel. Puffa waves back with her leaf.
Suri: Thanks! / Puffa: Best wave ever! / Suri: Five thanks!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

accepting kindness without paying it backTwo Kind WordsChester compliments Suri and she thinks she has to give one back right away, until she just lets it land.With Suri Starfish, Chester Chestnut · tap for the script

0-6s Chester admires Suri's spots.
Chester: Your spots are really cool.
6-16s Suri panics.
Suri: Oh! Your... uh... your shoes are... gold? Your shoes are shiny too!
16-25s Chester smiles.
Chester: You do not have to pay me back. Let a kind word land.
25-30s Suri sits with it, then grins and does a tiny happy wave with one arm.
Suri: Thanks. / Chester: Landed! / Chester: Nice wave!

“Let a kind word land!”

receiving help without owingNo Owing ScoreKora helps Suri carry her pouch, and Suri worries she owes her, until Kora explains helping is not a scoreboard.With Suri Starfish, Kora Kitchenscale · tap for the script

0-6s Suri's waist pouch spills shells. Kora helps gather them.
Kora: Here you go. Got them all.
6-16s Suri frets.
Suri: Now I owe you three helps. Or four! Or ten!
16-25s Kora laughs.
Kora: Help without a scoreboard. Thanks is enough. We are friends, not a bank.
25-30s Suri gives a big thank-you wave. Kora's dial accidentally spins like she is laughing.
Suri: Thank you! / Kora: Zero owed! / Suri: Zero!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

saying thanks without owing affectionBeach HelperShelby helps Suri out of a sand pit and asks for a cuddle; Suri says thanks her own way.With Suri Starfish, Shelby Scallop · tap for the script

0-6s Suri is stuck sideways in soft sand. Shelby pulls her out.
Shelby: Got you! / Suri: Whew! Sand everywhere!
6-16s Shelby opens her shell for a cuddle.
Shelby: Hug for the helper? You can say no.
16-25s Suri shakes off sand.
Suri: Thank you. I like waving better. Here is my thank-you wave!
25-30s Suri waves. Shelby claps her shell like a castanet, making a funny click-clack.
Shelby: Wave back! / Suri: Thanks can be a wave! / Shelby: Click-clack thanks!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

thanking without pressureBow for a DoorRubb holds the door for Suri, and they trade thank-yous their own ways.With Suri Starfish, RUBB · tap for the script

0-6s Suri's arms are full. Rubb holds the dojo door.
Rubb: After you. / Suri: Oh! Thanks!
6-16s Suri freezes, thinking she must do something big.
Suri: What do I do? A hug? A gift? Do I owe you?
16-25s Rubb smiles.
Rubb: Thanks is plenty. You do not owe me anything.
25-30s Suri gives one wave. Rubb bows. Suri tries to bow too and tips over like a cartwheel star.
Rubb: Nice bow! / Suri: Thanks can be a wave! / Rubb: Star bow!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

Guest appearances

receiving kindness without owing affectionThanks Can Be a WaveSasha helps Suri and opens her arms for a hug, but learns a wave is a perfectly good thank you.With Sasha Shaker, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Sasha helps Suri pick up her spilled shells.
Sasha: There you go! All your shells are back!
6-16s Sasha opens her arms for a hug. Suri steps back.
Suri: Thank you. I do not want a hug, though.
16-25s Sasha lowers her arms.
Sasha: That is okay! You do not owe me a hug. Thanks can be a wave.
25-30s Suri waves with all five arms at once. Sasha waves back so hard she spins in a circle. They both laugh.
Suri: Thanks can be a wave!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

receiving kindness without owing affectionThank-You WaveSuri gives Chester a drawing and he doesn't want a hug, so he finds his own way to say thanks.With Chester Chestnut, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Suri hands Chester a bright drawing of him.
Suri: I drew you! You look so shiny!
6-16s Chester holds it gently but steps back a little.
Chester: I love it. I don't want a hug right now.
16-25s Suri waves all five arms.
Suri: That's okay! Thanks can be a wave!
25-30s Chester waves back with both hands; Suri waves all five arms; soon it's a whole waving dance.
Chester: Thank you! Let a kind word land! Suri: Wave-wave!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

receiving kindness your own wayThanks Can Be a WaveSuri brings Socko a blanket and he says thanks in the way that feels right to him.With Socko Soft, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Socko sits sadly. Suri brings a soft little blanket and sets it down.
Suri: For you, if you want it.
6-16s Socko pulls the blanket on. He does not want a hug.
Socko: I want to say thanks, but no hug. Suri: That is okay.
16-25s Suri smiles and waves all five arms.
Suri: Thanks can be a wave! Socko: Wave back! Socko: Wave wave!
25-30s They wave so much the blanket flaps like a cape. Socko giggles.
Socko and Suri: Thanks can be a wave!

“Thanks can be a wave!”

reaching out after feeling aloneWindow WaveSolo cleans windows alone and feels lonely, until he waves hello to Suri.With Solo Squeegee, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Big window. Solo wipes alone, swish, swish. He sighs.
Solo Squeegee: Just me again. Swish, swish, all alone.
6-16s On the other side of the glass, Suri passes by. Solo waves.
Solo Squeegee: Hello, Suri! Want to play a window game? / Suri Starfish: Hi, Solo! Yes!
16-25s Suri waves with all five arms. Solo wipes in a circle.
Suri Starfish: Draw something for me! / Solo Squeegee: Watch this!
25-30s Solo wipes a clean star shape. Suri presses into it on her side. Perfect match.
Suri Starfish: That is me! / Solo Squeegee: One hello can start it!

“One hello can start it!”

respecting a no to a hugA Wave Is FineMimi wants to hug Suri goodbye, Suri says no thanks, and they find a wave goodbye.With Mimi Magnet, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Pickup time. Mimi opens her arms wide.
Mimi Magnet: Bye-bye, Suri! Bye-bye hug?
6-16s Suri steps back.
Suri Starfish: No hug, thanks, Mimi. / Mimi Magnet: Okay! A no can stay a no.
16-25s Suri waves with all five arms.
Suri Starfish: How about a starfish wave? / Mimi Magnet: Yes! A magnet wave!
25-30s Mimi waves so hard her magnet pulls a paper clip that sticks to her nose. Suri giggles.
Mimi Magnet: Ha, nose clip! A no can stay a no!

“A no can stay a no!”

letting a friend choose comfortHug, Sit, or QuietSuri feels sad, and Nudge offers choices instead of deciding for her.With Nudge Nest, Suri Starfish · tap for the script

0-6s Bench. Suri sits with droopy arms.
Suri Starfish: I feel sad today. My kite broke.
6-16s Nudge sits nearby, not too close.
Nudge Nest: Want a hug, sit together, or quiet? / Suri Starfish: Just sit together, please.
16-25s They sit side by side.
Nudge Nest: I am right here. / Suri Starfish: Thanks, Nudge. This helps.
25-30s A breeze bounces Nudge's pom-poms. One rolls into Suri's lap. She smiles a little.
Suri Starfish: A pom-pom friend. / Nudge Nest: Comfort gets a choice!

“Comfort gets a choice!”

Round 3 crew.

The other characters from this round. Swipe to meet them.

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