This is a story of grief, which is told through beautiful, emotional, yet comforting poems, which are also accompanied by stunning and moving watercolour illustrations.

Currently in our family, we are watching a very dear loved one come to the end of their life and this just made the experience of reading this even more moving and left me looking and the mother daughter relationship that I have with my mum and the relationship that she also has with her mum, my Oma.

The poems share both the joys and sorrows of life and honour all the things/parts one may take for granted when it comes to the human body.

Thank-you @clarksonpotter @tenspeedpress @netgalley and Joy for a Digital Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful reflection on a grief ceremony, as told by Harjo, washing her mother's body after she dies, which is something that in reality, Harjo didn't get the opportunity to do. It is devastating to think of in that context, and the art by Dana Tiger illuminates both the sadness and the beauty of this grief.

Wonderful piece of art that can sit heavy on your chest. Really liked/loved!

Thanks to Netgalley and Ten Speed Press for the e-ARC.

Washing My Mother's Body: A Ceremony for Grief is a picture book adaptation of Joy Harjo’s emotional poem. In this iteration, the text is accompanied by breathtaking art from Dana Tiger. As the subtitle says, it is indeed a ceremony for grief. Harjo and Tiger gently guide the reader through this ceremony, creating a unique bond for the reader.
The poem is bookended with notes from the artists, opening with an author’s note and closing with an illustrator's note. Each letter stays true to the tender, gentle nature of the poem, yet both are also powerful, strong— a perfect balance to the book's contents.

Tiger’s art captures the intensity of grief, love, and the promise found between. Bright colors, varying textures, layer upon layer of depth and meaning. The result offers a complement to Harjo's words, at times offsetting the lyrical lines and at times supporting them. The result offers the reader a variety of experiences upon each reading and re-reading.
Both the poem and the art draw the reader in, calling for reflection, deep study, and encouraging taking care— with oneself, and with others.
Washing My Mother's Body: A Ceremony for Grief by Joy Harjo and illustrated by Dana Tiger, both Muscogee Nation citizens, offers an unfiltered look at grief, identifying the love found within it, and honoring the grief journey.
If you know someone on a grief journey, whether they've recently begun their walk with sorrow or have been walking with grief for some time, this beautiful book would make an excellent gift to help them on their path.
Thank you to the author, illustrator, Ten Speed Press, and Net Galley for an E-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
Washing My Mother's Body: A Ceremony for Grief will be available April 1, 2025.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Washing My Mother’s Body is a visually stunning and poetic homage to Joy Harjo’s mother. It is a universal gift that draws on loss and memories of the women who shape us and continue to guide us long after they’re gone.

Those of us who've lost our mothers will surely be able to relate to the sentiments of this author's grief processing. As I read, I felt that the words could well be helpful to others, especially for those who were unable to have been present at the time of the mother's departing moments as happened to Joy Harpo, the author.

On the other hand, since the illlustrations seemed to be more culturally and personally specific for the author's situation, to me, as artful and symbolic though they may be, they did not reach out, generally speaking, and therefore, it may be the same scenario to other potential readers of the world. Overall, though, this book could well be a comfort for those made motherless.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

April 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by Net Galley and the publisher.

The author describes her feelings as she lovingly performs the rituals for the dead in absentia. Many ethnicities have similar rituals, but this author represents those of her Mvskoke Nation. A beautiful tribute to one mother and a reminder of our own.
The illustrations by Anne Dana Tiger are meaningfully evocative of the words of the poetry and beautifully colorful.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley on Thorium from Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press via NetGalley. Avail Apr 01, 2025
#WashingMyMothersBody by @joyharjoforreal illustrated by Dana Tiger @clarksonpotter @tenspeedpress @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones *****Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk @kobo #NetGalley @the.storygraph #grief #grieving #loss #ritualsof grief #ceremonies #poetry #illustratedbook #honoringthedead #memoriestokeep #printisbest

Thank you to Random House for inviting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

This was my first time reading this poem and I really enjoyed it despite its heavy subject matter. The storytelling was beautiful with the everyday items in the mother's life being used in the ritual washing.

The art reminded me of watercolors in a way (I could be wrong since I have little practice in identifying art mediums).

I wish I hadn't read this as an ebook since the styling choices of art and text formatting would work better in a hard copy.

This short book is an illustrated edition of Joy Harjo's poem, "Washing My Mother's Body", in which Harjo reflects upon the grief of losing her mother, as well as the many hardships her mother endured throughout her life. For anyone who has lost a mother or aunt or grandmother or significant woman in their life, this book will touch that spot in your body where the grief and the memory of that person never leaves you. Even though this poem was written about Harjo's mother, there were many specific moments in which I was reminded of a strong woman that I grieve on a daily basis. The watercolor illustrations are a beautiful addition to the poem, and I loved that each page was bright and multi-colored in celebration of life and love, rather than dark or dreary. Overall, I thought that this illustrated book was a really beautiful piece of poetry that would be touching and soothing to so many people who have lost a loved one, and has the power to inspire the reader's own writing or art in order to process their own grief. I would highly recommend picking up this book for yourself or a friend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ten Speed Press, and Joy Harjo for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! This book will be available for purchase on April 1, 2025.

I wish this beautiful book of art and poetry had been in existence when my own mother died. It resonates with the power of strong women and the acknowledgment of the ones who raised them and it reminded me that my mother is still here for me and my own children in the memories we keep of her.

The poetry and artistry of this book capture every daughter's journey through loss, memory, and celebration. Harjo honors her mother with every word and Tiger honors each words with the stroke of her brush. Beautiful.

Beautifully illustrated by Dana Tiger, this is a moving poem by Joy Harjo recollecting her mother's life as she washes her body. It is incredibly tender and intimate, with details ranging from a tough childhood to working long hours in restaurants to help make ends meet. The tub used to wash her body becomes more than a simple utility as the poem goes on — it is a place of transformation.

This mesmerizing poem healed part of my heart.
Dealing with the very recent loss of a close loved one, I read this with tears streaming down my cheeks.

This is a beautiful and intimate poem. The author mentions that it helped them rewrite their history and heal their souls, but it also transcended that purpose and calmed my open wounds a bit.

I saw my grandma in these words.

The illustrations are beautiful and unique, and seamlessly complete this poem.
Words and images dance the tango of playing with your heartstrings.
I love this. Thank you for this lovely gift of a book.

Thank you to NetGalley, authors, and publisher for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this the day before my mom's 10th passing of her passing. This was profoundly touching and beautiful. I loved the artwork and words and look forward to when it's published to get an even better perspective about the art.

A gorgeous and heartwarming meditation on grief of losing one's mother. Memories and grief are the only things that are left behind by loved ones who have passed, and in this poem, the poet laureate Joy Harjo reminisces as she washes her mother's body and holds it one final time.

Accompanied by gorgeous art, the poet weaves grief and memories, reflecting and reminiscing and to adjust to a new reality of seeing empty space where life once filled.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Beautiful book. The imagery was perfect alongside the words. I found myself relating to every page even know our experiences are so different. The water color art adds to this washing imagery. Simply amazing book.

Washing my mother’s body is a gorgeous coy of Joy Hajo’s poem. The poem itself is a beautiful way from Harjo to say goodbye to her mother whilst relaying her beautiful and good she was. The background art, that mixed with the words on the page, only enhanced my experience.

Sometimes unplanned surprises lead to good things. A deeply personal portrayal of grief this poem came into being while working on other projects and was ultimately too good to ignore. It demanded the authors attention and it demands ours as well. The watercolor illustrations are the perfect accompaniment.

A moving poem that I instantly connected with. The accompanying artwork by Dana Tiger is visually engaging and beautiful. Harjo lovingly explores the multifaceted relationships between mothers and daughters that hit you right in the heart.

This was an incredible read. "Washing My Mother's Body" is a beautiful poem that Joy Harjo wrote in honor of her mother. This poem describes how Joy Harjo would have taken care of her mother's body after her death. The illustrations by Dana Tiger were absolutely beautiful. The combination of the poem and the illustrations was perfect. By the end of the poem, I was a bit teary-eyed.

"Washing My Mother's Body" is a poem written in honor of the author's mother and the way she wished she could have taken care of her body after death. The artwork is gorgeous and combines beautifully with the text. I will keep a copy of this for myself, and give it as a gift to friends as they may need it. It encourages me that the poet created such an evocative book from such a difficult experience. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date: April 1st, 2025

#WashingMyMother'sBody