Obsessed with Encanto? Read These Books for Children and Tweens
by Dena McMurdie
Encanto is the first movie my family has seen in the theater since the pandemic started. It was everything my family and I hoped for — fantastic songs, engaging characters, and a message that we all adored. It was the perfect way to celebrate the next step in our return to (almost) normalcy.
Ever since that trip to the theater, my kids have listened to the soundtrack nonstop and re-watched Encanto on Disney+ countless times. Because they’re obsessed with the movie and music, I looked for books that tap into their enthusiasm. Here are some of the best books for children and tweens who can’t get enough of Encanto.
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Disney Encanto Little Golden Book (Disney Encanto)
Available from:Preschoolers obsessed with the movie will love this Little Golden Book retelling. They’ll relive their favorite moments and experience the story again on the page. It’s an excellent book to read at bedtime.
(Ages 2 - 5)Also available from: -
Family Is Everything (Disney Encanto)
Available from:One of the best ways to encourage beginning readers is to hand them a book about something they love. In this leveled reader, children get introduced to the Madrigal family, their magical gifts, and the movie’s message that family matters more than anything else.
(Ages 4 - 6)Also available from: -
Digging for Words
Available from:José Alberto Gutiérrez is a garbage collector in Colombia who built a library, one book at a time. When he finds a book on his route, he takes it home and adds it to his collection. This incredible true story is perfect for Encanto fans who believe that small actions can add up to become something extraordinary.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
With Lots of Love
Available from:Themes of family, love, and home make this gorgeous picture book a must-read for kids obsessed with Encanto. It’s about a little girl named Rocio who moves to the United States and misses her home and Abuela in Central America. The message of love and keeping family bonds strong resonates with young readers.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Dreamers
Available from:This bestselling and award-winning picture book memoir delivers a timely message of courage and hope. The author shares her experience of moving to the United States with her young child, learning English, and sharing her creative gifts with the world. If you loved Encanto’s themes of family and home, you’ll enjoy this beautifully illustrated book.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Mango, Abuela, and Me
Available from:Encanto shows us the importance of grandmothers in family relationships. This adorable picture book celebrates that special bond and one little girl’s determination to nurture it. Readers of all ages will appreciate this sweet story about love that crosses generations and language barriers.
(Ages 5 - 8)Also available from: -
Waiting for the Biblioburro (Spanish-English Bilingual Edition)
Available from:In Encanto, Mirabel goes on a perilous journey to restore her home’s magic and save her family. Similarly, Luis Soriano Bohórquez goes to great lengths to deliver books to rural Colombia and improve the lives of the children he serves. Young readers who identify with Mirabel’s selfless nature will enjoy reading this story about a dedicated librarian and his trusty donkeys.
(Ages 5 - 8)Also available from: -
Juana and Lucas Series
Available from:Growing readers looking for a good chapter book series will love these illustrated stories about a little girl and her dog in Colombia. Whether she’s learning English, getting to know her new step-dad, or preparing for a baby sibling, Juana tackles each challenge with humor and heart. These books are utterly irresistible!
(Ages 5 - 8)Also available from: -
Disney Encanto: The Graphic Novel (Disney Encanto)
Available from:This Encanto retelling is excellent for newly independent readers who enjoy the graphic novel format. The familiar story, full-color artwork, and lively characters make it appealing to enthusiastic and reluctant readers alike.
(Ages 6 - 8)Also available from: -
Lotería
Available from:Kids who love the magical setting and adventure in Encanto will get hooked on this middle grade novel based on Mexican folklore. When her cousin disappears, Clara journeys to the enchanted Kingdom of Las Pozas to search for him. But she doesn’t know that her success and survival depend on a card game played by Life and Death. It’s a fast-paced and mythical story about courage, destiny, and changing your fate.
(Ages 8 - 12)Also available from: -
Savvy
Available from:This Newbery Honor-winning and bestselling middle grade novel is about a family with supernatural gifts, like the Madrigal family from Encanto. On their 13th birthday, each member of the Beaumont family receives a magical gift. But an unexpected event disrupts Mibs’s special day and sends her on an unforgettable journey.
(Ages 8 - 12)Also available from: -
Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene
Available from:A talented family, secrets, and a girl who doesn’t feel like she fits in makes this novel perfect for Encanto fans. Sofía doesn’t love ballet, but she doesn’t know who she is outside her family and ballet. As Sofía and her family work on a local production of The Nutcracker, she learns more about herself, her family’s history, and how she fits in.
(Ages 8 - 12)Also available from:
