I've lived my whole life on Normal Street.
There's a lake at one end,
and a forest of shady trees at the other.
But what lies in between
is anything but normal.
The Normal Street Bookmobile.
No one knows where it comes from,
but it shows up once a year,
and drives up and down the street for a few hours.
That's all it does. It just drives.
It never pulls over.
Not for gas. Not for a bathroom break.
Not even for a reasonably priced lemonade.
Never.
Why? Who knows.
It never stops so we can't ask the driver.
For some of us, the most unnerving thing is
not knowing who the driver is.
It could be anyone.
Or, according to Ranger,
anything.
Do it. I'm begging you.
Can't you just find out who's driving
without us having to dare you?
[sighs] Come on. Do this for me.
Okay, Ranger, we officially dare you
- to figure out who's driving the-- - I accept.
And I'd just like to get my theory on the record.
It's Mr. Berg, the tennis coach.
I always suspected he was more reptilian than human.
What's your plan?
You don't want to ruin the surprise, do you?
Is the surprise that you don't have a plan?
We should all get some supplies together.
What kind of supplies?
We just need to be ready for anything.
That sure narrows it down.
Meet me in front in 17 minutes.
Wow, your brother painted your portrait.
Look. It looks just like you.
I think we might have a prodigy on our hands.
Mom, I'm really in a rush. What are these?
Garlic presses.
- Can I have one? - Why?
Because we have two.
Well, can't argue with that.
I found it with your old stuff in the garage.
I figured you might want to read it again.
Why? It's just a kid's book.
Maybe Ranger could use it.
- Gotta run. Love you. - Okay, wait, wait, wait.
Excuse me. Gardner wants to hug you goodbye.
This is my fourth favorite shirt.
I don't want him to get paint on it.
Wow. I was thinking something more like--
like this.
[kissing noises]
Okay, we're gonna need to get closer.
Follow me.
Talk us through your plan again.
And by again, I mean for the very first time.
The plan is to make it up as we go.
That's the opposite of a plan, Ranger.
Let's see what you guys brought.
Hey! Careful.
Your instructions could have been more specific.
Okay, I mean, I guess they're fine,
but they won't make much of a statement
when they bounce off the side of the Bookmobile.
Wait, we're just gonna throw stuff at it until it stops?
What a great plan.
Gortimer. Throw it. You need to get it to stop.
[tires screech]
This?
It's just a silly kid's book.
Maybe if you tell us what you're looking for--
Shhh!
[grunting]
Gortimer, are you okay?
Did you get a good look at it?
No, all I could see was dark shadow.
- [clears throat] - What?
Why are you whispering?
I can't help it. It shushed me.
I can't talk.
I've been shushed.
- Did you see the lo-- - Did you see the logo
that was on the back of that thing's sweatshirt?
That's what I was going to whisper.
Sorry. I recognize it.
It's the old Normal Street Library logo.
- Good catch, Mel. - Good catch, Mel.
Let's see if the library has any info on the Bookmobile.
What about the way the hood reacted when it saw the book?
Like it was looking for something.
Looking for something?
Like what?
Maybe what it's looking for is another copy of the book.
We have to figure it out and get my voice back.
Well, we have to figure it out and get Gortimer's voice back.
[sighs]
Excuse me.
Do you know how few people respect the low volume mandate we have here at the library?
Gortimer: I was hoping you could help us.
You, sir, are an exemplary representative for your generation.
Thanks. We're looking for--
While I'm sincerely touched by your efforts,
I actually can't hear you.
We're looking for information on your Bookmobile.
Bookmobile.
Uh, that program was shut down years ago.
I'm sure you could find some info
down in the old files.
Oh.
What was that all about?
He wanted my picture for the Library Patron of The Month award.
There goes my six month run.
This place is awesome.
Ranger, don't touch anything.
[blowing]
[coughing]
Oh, book mobile.
Should have seen that coming.
[gasps]
Mel. Ranger.
Guys, it's the hood.
Where?
[sighing]
Not funny, Gortimer.
You shouldn't scare us like that.
Me?
What'd you find?
I didn't find anything about the Bookmobile,
but the library had a copy of
"The Mighty Adventures of Fearless Frida."
It was checked out by a Michael Van Goethen.
Over 30 years ago.
It looks like he never returned the book.
My piano teacher lives above a Van Goethen.
I've seen the name on the mailbox.
Think it's the same guy?
There's only one way to find out.
It's too dark.
Yeah, I can't see anything.
Hello, there.
What's up?
I know this seems suspicious,
- but we are-- - Why are you whispering?
We're sorry to disturb you, sir.
We're looking for a Michael Van Goethen.
He borrowed a book from the Normal Street Library years ago.
I'm Michael Van Goethen.
You guys seem a little young to be library cops.
Do you happen to have a library copy of
"The Mighty Adventures of Fearless Frida"?
Why are you so interested?
We're just huge fans of the book,
and the library only had one copy.
What's it about? Huge fans would know.
It's about a girl named Frida.
And she has mighty adventures.
Wait.
Mel: Wait!
Frida's mom was a famous pirate.
Her best friend is a spider named James.
And they travel across the world looking for
the lost treasure of a Catalan prince
who disappeared at sea in the 17th century.
Okay.
You can take a look.
But don't get your hopes up.
I've got a lot of books.
Well, here we are.
You kids are more than welcome to look around.
I'm gonna make some tea.
This is crazy.
How are we supposed to find that one book?
It's like trying to look for a needle in a--
- Haystack? - No.
It's like trying to look for a needle in a pile of other needles.
A needle pile.
Guys, we have to find the book
before the Bookmobile disappears again.
[sighs]
This is impossible.
Yeah, it doesn't even look like they're organized.
Not by title.
Not by author.
But they are organized.
Oh, this is brilliant.
But how?
By plot geography.
See, all those take place in Australia.
And those in South America.
And those are set in the Arctic.
Whoa. You read a lot.
Where does "The Mighty Adventures of Fearless Frida" take place?
On an island chain...
off the coast of Africa.
Found it.
Ranger: And it's the library copy.
Let's just hope it's what the hood's looking for.
I can't believe you found it.
Can we take it with us?
No.
Why? You didn't even know you had it until we found it.
It's mine.
Well, technically, it belongs to the library.
I was happy to let you kids look around,
but you have to leave now.
But--
Um...
can we borrow another book?
Okay, but make it quick.
"Grotsky and the Red Ring of Death."
That sounds scary. What's it about?
It's a Russian version of "Red Riding Hood,"
but the wolf is the hero.
Do you know the adage
"never challenge a wolf to a staring contest"?
- No. - Oh. Well, it comes from that.
What about "Two Gins and a Lead"?
That's a hilarious story about some best friends
who get lost in the Rocky Mountains and nearly starve.
Hilarious story?
Well, maybe not hilarious,
but I picked up some good survival tips.
That last one sounds great.
Thanks, Mr. Van Goethen.
That is one interesting guy.
Let's get Gortimer's voice back.
What now?
The Bookmobile's like a library on wheels, right?
So maybe you have to return the book.
Don't worry.
I'm sure nothing scary will happen.
Gortimer. Gortimer!
What?
Just make sure you get a good look at what's under that hood.
Hello?
- Help. - Both: Gortimer!
So, I have your book.
Is this the one you wanted?
So, where, uh--
Where are we going?
Shhh!
You can just drop me off anywhere.
My house is around here.
Somewhere.
Can't stop now.
Gotta keep driving.
It's what I do.
Ever since that night.
What night?
I had just been named Normal Street's newest librarian.
It was my dream job.
But it meant many late hours,
and time away from my little brother,
who meant more to me than anything else in the world.
And he was having a hard time with our parents' divorce.
Lily.
Not now, monkey, I'm in the middle of a story.
But you haven't read to me in forever.
It's not fair.
You're interrupting, monkey.
[sighs]
I felt horrible I'd hurt his feelings.
So I promised him I would come home early and read to him.
Just the two of us.
You can pick out anything you want.
It'll be our special book.
He picked out "The Mighty Adventures of Fearless Frida."
- Yes! - Shh.
That afternoon, a new shipment of books arrived.
I love the smell of new books,
so I volunteered to catalog and shelve them all.
I lost all track of time.
The sun was setting by the time I left,
but I figured if I hurried,
I could still make it in time
to read my little brother a goodnight story.
But I never made it home.
Gortimer: What happened?
Lily: A dense fog rolled in as I drove down Normal Street.
I couldn't see the road.
I was lost.
Forever.
But every year the fog parts,
and I find myself on Normal Street again.
That is, until the fog returns,
and I'm lost for another year.
You never saw your brother again?
The fog stole my memory.
It's like trying to remember a dream.
Always just out of reach.
But when I saw you holding my little brother's favorite book,
it all came flooding back.
What if you were finally able to read the book to him?
Hm. And where am I supposed to find him
after all these years?
I know where to find him.
You know where my little brother is?
- Gortimer! - Gortimer!
Both: Gortimer!
Hey, guys.
You got your voice back.
What does the hood look like?
This is Lily.
A pretty girl?
Come on. We have to get to Van Goethen's apartment.
Why?
Because Lily is his sister.
Both: What?
Let's go.
I'm not gonna change my mind.
Hi, monkey.
Lily?
Oh, Lily, how--
Would it be okay if I came in?
Maybe we could spend a little time together.
I'd like nothing more in the entire world.
"The islanders didn't count on Frida's extensive knowledge
"of the native flora.
"For instance, Frida knew that if she scratched
"the kitten blossom near the base of flower
"it would open up.
"Just like a kitten yawns when you...
"scratch it under the chin.
"This gave her access to the rare pollen
"from which she could concoct a powerful sleeping potion."
Please don't go.
I'll be back.
Exactly one year from tonight.
We've only just started Frida's story.
There are dozens of chapters left.
I'm so sorry.
Shh!
I love you, monkey.
I love you, Lil.
Van Goethen was reunited with his sister.
And Lily was able to find
everlasting peace and happiness
with a simple bedtime story...
read to a little brother.
"In his tiny spider voice,
"interrupting the famous pirate,
"absolutely not.
"Frida's a better swimmer
"than all the sharks in Sharkbite Bay.
"And that one thing that everyone could agree on
"was that Frida was fearless."
♪♪ at Frida was fearless."