My number one goal as a mom is to raise kind kids. Sure, it would be great if they were smart, talented and successful, but I believe: kindness first, the rest will follow.

Let’s be honest, we are all a work in progress. I am constantly analysing my interactions and finding places in which I could have been more kind and inclusive.

Recently, I read somewhere that kindness has to be taught, and that made so much sense to me. Biologically, we are wired to be selfish (survival of the fittest and all that). As soon as babies and toddlers begin to interact, we begin to teach them kindness and inclusion: how to share their toys, not bite their friends, etc.

I love reading to our kids, and while many of our favorite books don’t have an important takeaway (they are just silly, fun, or maybe teaching the alphabet), some of our favorites intentionally teach kindness, value diversity, and model inclusive communities.

Here are five of our tried and true favorites:

1. What Should Danny Do? By Ganit and Adir Levy

This is a choose your own adventure-type book in which the reader gets to make choices for Danny and we get to see first-hand how different behaviors (kindness, empathy, or lack thereof) impact Danny and everyone around him.

This book is a complete hit with my six and three-year-old. At first my three-year-old wanted to test out all of the bad choices, but now she (usually) gleefully exclaims, “pick the kind thing!”

2. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twist and Marlon Bundo

This is a heartwarming and hilarious pro-LGBT book in which Marlon Bundo the bunny falls in love with another boy bunny. They want to get married and face a leader who says they can’t. They rally their friends together, vote, and are able to get married!

It makes it even more fun for grown ups that there is a back story to the creation of this wonderful book (Marlon Bundo is the real name of Mike Pence’s real bunny).

3. Have you Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide for Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud

This is an accessible and fun explanation of different things you can do to be a “bucket filler”, and shows how being kind to others makes you feel good about yourself, and bullying and being mean hurts both parties.

Once in a while I do get a, “you’re dipping into my bucket, Mom,” but it’s worth it because I think this concept has really helped them understand the reasons and benefits of small acts of kindness.

4. A Different Pond by Bao Phi

This is a beautifully written book about a father and son who go fishing to put dinner on the table before the sun is up. The son learns about his father’s life back in Vietnam, before they immigrated to the United States. It’s told in a poetic and raw way; I love reading it and so do our kids.

5. The Way To School by Rosemary McCarney and Plan International

This book features beautiful images of students from all over the world making their way to school. Some students have to wade through rivers, go over mountain passes, or carry their own desks; I love the diversity it shows kids, and yet it’s so relatable because of the images of kids similar ages, making their way to school, just like they do.

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