Across the world, families have weathered the heavy toll of a global pandemic — learning setbacks, missed milestones, mental health challenges, and the deep strain placed on parents. But now, we stand at a turning point. What was once uncertainty is becoming opportunity. What was once burnout is becoming empowerment. The parenting journey is being reimagined.

This newly revised book is more than a guide — it’s a spark.
A spark to reignite joy in parenting, rebuild confidence, and reaffirm the powerful truth: parents are the first and most important teachers in a child’s life. Designed to
be a companion to our Illoominate mobile app, this book is part of a larger movement to bring parents and children together through meaningful moments, simple routines, and shared growth.

As classrooms shift and the educational landscape continues to evolve, Illoominate opens a bright path forward. It offers practical, heartfelt strategies to help parents reclaim their role as educational leaders in the home. Rooted in love, resilience, and 21st-century learning, this book is a toolkit for building strong family connections, fostering curiosity, and helping children develop the skills they need to thrive in
a changing world.

The future of parenting starts here — with hope, with
purpose, and with you.

Gary offers a candle of hope. He invites parents to reclaim the joys of parenting and reaffirm their important role as their children’s first teachers. Gary is a successful teacher, educational consultant, and father of four, is a passionate advocate for children’s success. Here, for the first time, he has collected ideas and strategies from his popular parenting workshops for reconnecting with your kids on a deep level. 

​In his book he offers simple, enjoyable ways to empower your child by sharing everyday activities, passions, and projects. You will learn how to become an educational leader in your home, by instilling the 21st Century skills and resiliency your children will need to succeed in the economy of the future. In the process, you will be building relationships with them that will last a lifetime.

In Cooking with Papi, educator, entrepreneur, and father of four, Gary Surdam, invites parents into a powerful journey—one that blends the warmth of a family kitchen with the deeper purpose of nurturing lasting relationships with their children. At its heart, this book is about building stronger families through intentional time, conversation, and connection.

With the simple act of cooking as a backdrop, Gary shares heartfelt stories and actionable strategies that empower parents to become educational leaders in their homes. From pancake breakfasts to spaghetti nights, Gary reveals how shared experiences—even the messy, imperfect ones—can create moments of learning, trust, and joy.

Drawing from his own experiences as a father and global educator, Gary provides practical tools, creative activities, and conversation prompts that parents can use immediately to bond with their children in meaningful ways. Whether it's a weeknight dinner or a Saturday morning bake-off, these moments become opportunities to cultivate communication, confidence, responsibility, and love.

In a world full of distractions, Cooking with Papi reminds us that one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children is our time—and that some of the most important life lessons are learned not in classrooms, but around the kitchen table.