Celebrating World Teachers' Day & More

The first week of October is shaping up to be a special one for me and for Sugar Cookie Books. In just a few days, we’ll celebrate three important events:

📚 World Teachers’ Day — October 5

🏛️ World Architecture Day — October 6

👩🏽‍🏫 Career Day — October 8 (at my son’s school!)

Each of these moments highlights something I deeply believe in: the power of books to spark curiosity, build pride, and open doors to future careers.

World Teachers’ Day (October 5)

Teachers are often the first role models who show kids what’s possible. They don’t just teach lessons—they inspire futures.

That’s why I wrote Andrew Learns About Teachers. It introduces kids to the important role of educators while planting the idea that they, too, can grow up to be teachers. And with a

special emphasis on Black male teachers, the book shines a light on representation that kids don’t see nearly enough in classrooms.

Activity idea: Read the book aloud, then ask students to share one thing they love about their teacher. It’s a quick activity that builds appreciation, vocabulary, and self-expression.

World Architecture Day (October 6)

Architects are problem-solvers, dreamers, and builders. They shape the spaces where we live, work, and play. But too often, children don’t learn about this career until much later—if at all.

Andrew Learns About Architects changes that. The story introduces kids to the creativity, planning, and teamwork that architects use every day. Along the way, readers also meet pioneering African American architects whose real-life stories inspire perseverance, imagination, and pride.

This year, I created a brand-new Educator’s Guide to Andrew Learns About Architects. It’s flexible and easy to use for:

• Whole-class read-alouds

• Small groups or centers

• Independent work

• Cross-curricular connections with math, art, and social studies

Whether kids are sketching their own “dream playhouse,” learning new vocabulary, or simply talking about the buildings around them, the guide helps them connect literacy to real-world careers.

Career Day (October 8)

A few days later, I’ll be joining my son’s school for Career Day. I’m bringing along my books—and the bigger message behind them: kids need career exposure early.

When children see themselves represented in stories, they’re more likely to believe in their own potential. Whether it’s Andrew as a teacher, engineer, lawyer, or architect, these characters make big dreams feel real.

If you’re planning a Career Day at your school, Andrew Learns books make it easy to start conversations. Just a 20-minute session can include:

• A short read-aloud

• A Q&A about what the career involves

• A “Draw Your Future Job” activity to spark imagination

Why This Week Matters

Together, these three events remind me of my mission: to help schools, families, and organizations plug up the school-to-prison pipeline and build a new school-to-talent-pool pipeline.

Through diverse, career-focused picture books, we can:

✔️ Raise literacy rates

✔️ Introduce kids to new possibilities

✔️ Build confidence and representation into every classroom

Ready to Celebrate?

If you’re an educator, parent, or organization, here are three easy ways to join me:

➡️ Order classroom sets or bulk copies of Andrew Learns About Teachers and Andrew Learns About Architects

➡️ Download the Educator’s Guide to Andrew Learns About Architects for ready-to-use activities

➡️ Book an author visit or Sugar Cookie Books Fair to bring these stories directly to your students

This week, let’s honor our teachers, celebrate the builders of our world, and show kids that their futures are bright, possible, and worth dreaming about.

👉 Learn more and order at sugarcookiebooksgmail.com