I think it is so important to talk about the difficult topics with children and teenagers...and even with adults! This book gave me a way to talk about grief with various client populations. I think it does a really good job of discussing a challenging topic.

I remember doodling in school. When I saw the title of this book I was immediately drawn to it. I don’t have any grief at the present time but I wanted to know how one uses doodling for grief. As I read the book, I was impressed with her suggestions for paper and ink. She tells that doodling can be done anywhere and any place. She suggest different shapes to get you started on doodling. If you’ve never done doodling, I think this will inspire you to doodle and find other reasons to doodle. It’s an important book for all people regardless of age.

This is a fantastic workbook for anyone who has lost someone -- at any age. You're definitely going to cry, but it'll be worth it.

I lost my dad when I was 12. Since then I've both been very interested in things meant for grieving children and deeply skeptical of those same things. The world is getting better about how we treat grieving kids, but tbh we've got a long way to go. Going into this, I didn't have super high expectations because of past experiences, but I was so happy to be wrong here. This is wonderful. Highly recommend.

Thank you to BQB Publishing, WriteLife Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a temporary digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the idea of this book, and the non preachy way it is set out. I hope it helps a lot of people. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

I’m trying to decide if a kid would be able to organically find this book on their own. I think an adult would likely have to recommend it. A grieving child wouldn’t seek it out. I like the concept, as well as the quick tips on doodling methods. The writing prompts were also cool. Overall though I just wonder if this would end up in a willing kid’s hands to take and use and gain therapeutic knowledge from. It’s pretty prescriptive, but I also think it could help kids. Adults too, really. 3.75 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Such a beautiful book for any age and any person going through grief. The author describes how exactly doodling can help overall in our life, facts about doodling, and different tools that you can doodle with. Then each page has a different doodle prompt you can follow and a small text that helps ask you a question or helps in healing. Things such as Nature is Healing, Linking Objects, In Memory, A New Day, and so much more. I am grateful I came across it as my children have lost a few grandparents and our beloved dog without warning this last year, and I know my daughter especially will really love this book.

I am so grateful for this book. And please do not listen to anyone telling you that doodling doesn't help in life. Yes, they do. Because I have gone through rough phases of my life and doodling did help me go through them without feeling everyone needed to understand me.

This book is exactly just that.

Full of doodling tips and quite helpful, but never preaching anything about the matter, the ones who have compiled this book do show that grief is something to get over with.

Thank you for publishing such a simple yet a helpful book.

Thank you, author/artist and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.

In the book Grief Doodling by Harriet Hodgson prompts are given to create doodles to help deal with grief. This book could be used as a resource for therapists when working with individuals who are working through grief to allow the child (or any aged person) to express themselves. #GriefDoodling #NetGalley

Bring back your smiles with grief doodling

Posted on May 2, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist

Here is a vitally important children’s title for social services workers, parents, grandparents … well, everyone, everywhere who suffered the loss of someone they love.
Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles, written and illustrated by Harriet Hodgson offers a kind, gentle approach to the heavy subject of grief by using a physical process to express a feeling that is difficult for some learners to put into words.
This book is precisely what it says. It is a personal journey through pen and paper to understanding and accepting a recent life loss. Grief doodling, according to designer Steven Heller, is the art of thinking, which means that the practice of doodling helps a person’s mind calm down and allow tension to float away while they are drawing simple shapes and forms about whatever subject is on their mind at the time of creation.
Doodling stills the mind so that it can gather facts. Doodling transmits ideas as it allows the person doodling to express themselves; it helps the mind pay closer attention to the inner subject rolling around in a person’s head.
Hogson writes that additionally, doodling improves memory, releases feelings, is creative, and helps the doodler know him or herself. It can be spiritual but does not have to be. Doodling is whatever the doodler’s mind wants it to become.
And that is why doodling is the perfect application to present hands-on learners while processing the subject of grief. Because grief, Hogson says, is a journey and doodling offers beacons of light on that path.
This book is excellent. Among its contents are doodling technique tips, examples of an object that might represent sadness, stormy thoughts, or sunny days. There are no rules in this art title, which is the ultimate freedom for readers to work through their confusing, waves of feelings.
Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles, is listed as a children’s title. But honestly, this one is perfect for my 57-year-old mind to use. I don’t know about anyone else, but in my case, when grief hits my heart and my breath catches in my throat, I feel very childlike; vulnerable, afraid, and unsure how to proceed. For my personality, processing confusing, sophisticated feelings with this approach is perfect.
Let’s take a quick look inside.
Hogson presents the process of grief in a visual way and its pages lead the doodler through the classic five-stage grief process; denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance.
Just reading this book’s intended message and thumbing through its pages, compels my mind to raise the subject of my latest grief process and challenge me to consider if I’ve made it through myself. This is the epitome of the word “workbook.”
Social workers, funeral homes, families, emergency staff, anyone who interacts with this inevitable, awkward, and emotional phase of life should at least have quick access to this 60-page title. Sometimes the best way we can help another person process their grief is by not saying anything at all. Instead, Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles can do the talking for you.

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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2

Books like this one are so important. While I am not experiencing grief currently, I can certainly see how the distraction and creativity of doodling would prove helpful for someone who is grieving but moving towards healing. There's a special little boy in one of my classes I intend to suggest use this book.

GRIEF DOODLING by Harriet Hodgson

What a wonderful book! I requested it based upon the doodling part. At this time, I have no grief in my life. The author has a charming way to address grief with doodling. The book is appropriate for all ages of persons to use. She gives handy tips for the types of pens and paper to use for doodling. She mentions when the best time is for doodling (anytime) and where (anywhere) to help you to cope with the things that are giving you stress.

There are a lot of whimsical doodles that the author gives you to use. I will use them and using her instructions adapt them with my own designs. This book will help you open your mind to the different possibilities for successful doodling if you are new to doodling. Highly recommend.

Much appreciation to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #griefdoodling I was under no obligation to post a review.

This is such a good book for any child that is going through grief. The whole book talks about how you will feel and what you can do about it. Each page gives you the ability to fill in some already doodled pictures. The author also gives you examples of doodles and how to make them. This would be wonderful and needed for any child who is trying to help themselves with grief. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

I appreciate Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to preview an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I’m a doodler. My notebooks are full of squiggles, flowers, and designs. In fact, I carry a doodling notepad and colored markers to draw while I listen to seminars and meetings. When I saw “Grief Doodling” listed as being available for advance release review, I crossed my fingers and toes that the publisher would grant me the opportunity. The book combines my love of doodling with my love of therapeutic tools. My crossing worked and my hopes were not crushed in that this book is everything I hoped it might be.

Hodgson opens the book with a doodling “how to” guide that will prompt the reluctant but not tether those familiar with the process. She then takes time to explain the benefits of doodling as a part of processing thoughts as one is grieving. Each page that follows gently nudges the reader to consider their grief journey while creating. She isn’t sly with her intentions but remains gentle and affirming.

For clinical use, this book would be a fantastic tool for homework to take the place of an open journal. It will appeal to older elementary aged children through adults as it is simple and self-guided. Outside of the therapeutic setting, this would make a nice gift for a loved one experiencing grief. Once completed, “Grief Doodling” serves as a time capsule of memories and progress through a difficult period.

#bibliotherapy #thanatology #grieving #grief #griefcounseling #counseling #therapy #mentalhealth #kidsincounseling #therapist

This is a sweet book that gives children prompts for doodles to create to help deal with their grief. It is written by someone who has been there and I appreciated that she didn't pretend that grief would end or that you'd get to the other side of it. The prompts were sometimes more helpful for me personally than others. In some cases I felt that they relied too much on artistic talent, like instructing kids to draw themselves and their loved one doing something. I preferred the prompts that let you use symbolism instead, as many kids would probably get hung up on their doodles not looking enough like the people. Still, this is likely to be a helpful book for grieving kids. Teens and adults may also find it helpful.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

This is a good book for grieving children. It has instructions on each page for different doodles. This is a good distraction technique for kids who have recently had a loss. I’ve never seen a book like this before and I think it would be a good tool for children or adults.