Siri had a small blue backpack. Inside it lived Snorv, her soft crocodile. Today, Siri was traveling with Mom on the ferry. The water glittered and smelled of salt. Seagulls called, and the boat said vroom-vroom like a sleeping cat.

"Do you see the island?" asked Mom.

Siri pressed her nose against the window. Far away, she saw a green shape. "It looks like a hat!" she laughed. Mom smiled. "Soon we'll be at Mango Island. My friend Amina is waiting for us."

When the ferry docked, Amina stood there with a big smile and a basket full of fruit. "Akwaaba!" said Amina, stretching out her arms.

"Ak-wa-a-ba," repeated Siri slowly. The word tasted like sun in her mouth.

"It means welcome," explained Amina. "Come, we're going to the square. Today is the mango festival!"

They got on a bus painted with mangoes, papayas, and bananas. The houses lining the road were yellow, turquoise, and pink, like candy. Small flags fluttered. Siri held Snorv tight and looked in all directions.

At the square were pyramids of mangoes that smelled sweet. Drums thundered softly, like heartbeats. Colorful fabrics waved and glittered in the sun. A boy in a green cap waved. "Hi! My name is Kofi. Want to taste?" He held out a slice of mango.

Siri bit carefully. "Mmm!" Her fingers got sticky. "It tastes like sun and juice!"

Kofi laughed. "Want to hear my favorite rhythm?" He clapped his hands: ta-dum, ta-ta-dum. Soon Siri clapped along. Snorv also got a little clap on the nose.

"Want to try the drum?" asked a drummer with happy eyes. Siri nodded. She hit gently. The drum answered with a warm tone that tickled in her belly.

Suddenly Siri stopped. Her backpack felt light. "Snorv!" she whispered. "Where is Snorv?" She spun around. Mangoes, fabrics, people... but no green crocodile.

"We'll help each other," said Amina calmly. "Ask with your new voice!"

Siri gathered her courage. "Has anyone seen a small green crocodile?" she asked.

Kofi ran between the stalls. "Have you seen a green crocodile?" he called. A woman pointed toward the drums. "There! I saw something green!"

The drummer stood by his big drum. Something green waved behind the strap. Siri peeked closer. A small tail! "Snorv!" she called.

The drummer carefully lifted the strap away. "Oh, sorry! It got stuck when I carried the drum. Here's your friend." He handed Snorv over. Siri hugged the crocodile tight.

"Thank you," she said. "And thank you in your way," added Amina, smiling at the drummer.

The drummer clapped a happy rhythm: ta-ta, ta-dum! "That's how thank you sounds here," he said. Siri clapped back, and Snorv got another clap on the nose.

"Come," said Amina. "We'll make our own little bag for Snorv so he doesn't slip away again." They went to a woman who sewed. She had fabrics with stripes and squares in red, blue, and gold. Siri got to choose. She pointed at a fabric that looked like sun rays.

The woman sewed quickly and softly. "Akwaaba, Snorv," she said and put the crocodile in the little bag. Siri drew a little mango on the bag with a crayon that Kofi had lent. "Now he lives safely," she said.

They drank coconut with straws and walked down to the beach. The sand was warm and soft as sugar. Children ran with paper kites that looked like fish. The wind sang in the kite tails.

"Want to run with us?" asked Kofi. Siri nodded. Snorv looked up from his new bag. They ran until their cheeks were red and the laughter flew like birds.

Soon it was time to go back to the ferry. "Akwaaba," said Siri one more time and turned toward the island.

Amina laughed. "When you come next time, we'll say it again. Welcome!"

On the boat, Siri sat in Mom's lap. She heard the drum in her head: ta-dum, ta-ta-dum. She clapped quietly. Snorv lay safely in the bag with the mango mark.

"Mom," whispered Siri, "I know a new word. Akwaaba." She smiled. The islands became small behind them, but in her belly there was still the taste of sun, the rhythm of drums, and the scent of mango.