Summer is a great time of year to catch up on reading. Here at the Ad Council, our staff has read many books over the years that helped inspire us to get involved in the field of public service. As part of a new, recurring series called “Books that Inspire,” our summer interns put together a list of books that have inspired them to want to make the world a better place.

We decided to kick off the series at the very beginning — with children’s books that have underlying positive messages. Whether this list will help you find the perfect bedtime story for your kids or just take you on a trip down memory lane, we hope to keep you entertained and uplifted.

For an added inspiration: check out our “Book People Unite” PSA from our reading campaign.