2015 Family Choice Award Winner. 2015 Skipping Stones Magazine Honor Award Winner. Since Sashi can remember, her mother has told her that she was born to Light the Earth. Although a little too young to understand the full meaning, Sashi knows that her mother's words are important. Try as she may, year after year, Sashi struggles with this simple but profound wisdom. However through persistence and trust, she awakens to her mother's guidance, only to become the radiant expression of humanity she was meant to be. Through simple, easy-to-understand language and delightful, heartwarming illustrations, Lighting the Earth beautifully addresses Universal questions such as, "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" Children of all ages will feel truly inspired to follow their inner strengths, and adults will see the importance of lovingly guiding children as they follow their own journeys. "In my village, in west Africa, it is held that each of us comes into this world with a purpose, a gift to deliver. Children and adults alike will recognize the voice of spirit in these pages as they take this gentle journey into remembering who we are and why we are here." -Malidoma P. Some¿, author of e Healing Wisdom of Africa, Of Water and the Spirit, and Ritual: Power, Healing and Community "LIGHTING THE EARTH portrays a loving, trusting relationship between a mother and daughter, one that brings to light in a child-friendly manner, with beautifully-crafted and realistic illustrations, the universal truth that we are all born with a gift and that our purpose in life is to share that gift with the world. Children and adults will surely love this heartwarming book. I highly recommend it for bedtime reading." -Arun Narayan Toke¿, editor, Skipping Stones Magazine. " is book is a springboard for insightful classroom discussion. Lighting the Earth has inspired heartwarming dialogues with my students. I love how Diana Lynne Ho man captures the special relationship between mother and daughter." -Sharon McManus, teacher of 43 years, Oyster River Schools