The Hare-Shaped Hole

by John Dougherty, Thomas Docherty (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The kind of picture book that breaks you down and puts you back together better than before, this is the perfect narrative for engaging young minds about grief and loss. With gorgeous illustrations to bring the delicate subject to life, it’s a masterclass in emotional resonance for young audiences.

*As Seen on CBC*

The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching and poignant picture book that gently explores themes of grief and loss.

Hertle and Bertle were always a pair, though one was a turtle and one was a hare.

They were utterly buddies, and best friends forever, and whenever you looked, you would find them together... until quite unexpectedly... the end came. When Hertle disappears for good, Bertle can only see a Hertle-shaped hole where his friend should be. He pleads with it, get angry with it, but the hole still won't bring his Hertle back. It seems like hope is lost... until Gerda the kindly bear finds him.

She explains that he must fill the hole with his memories of Hertle. And slowly... Bertle begins to feel a little bit better.

Powerful and moving text from children's author and poet John Dougherty is paired perfectly with warm illustrations from the wonderfully talented Thomas Docherty, in a thoughtful and sensitive approach to this difficult topic.

This moving picture book will be loved and treasured by children and adults alike. With kids, it can be used to start a gentle conversation about death and grief. And as a gift for a grieving friend, it’s the ideal gesture. Anyone who has lost a pet or loved one will be comforted by Bertle’s journey to acceptance and reassured by the fact that, eventually, things do get better.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780711276079
Publisher:	Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication date:	01/02/2024
Pages:	34
Sales rank:	55,238
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, and not many years later they made him go to school–an experience he didn’t find entirely enjoyable. Fortunately, the joys of reading helped him through the difficult times. It’s therefore not completely surprising that when he grew up he became first a teacher (the nice sort), and then an award-winning writer of stories and poetry for children. He also writes songs, some of which he performs with First Draft, a band made up of three children’s authors and a bookseller. He now lives in England with his two children. Thomas Docherty is an author and illustrator of children's books, who is based in Swansea. His first picture book, The Little Boat was shortlisted for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal, and he has also worked on several books with his wife Helen Docherty, including The Snatchabook and The Knight Who Wouldn’t Fight. His books have been sold around the world and have eben translated into more than 25 languages.

Editorial Reviews

"An exceptionally tender exploration of a universal experience."—Booklist

"sweetly tender book...Warmly colored artwork is a perfect complement to the story."—School Library Journal

"Moving."—Kirkus Reviews

"A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning"

—Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate

"Explaining grief to children is one of the hardest things of all but Hare-Shaped Hole does it beautifully. Bertle Turtle experiences every emotion as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his best friend, Hertle Hare, but eventually realises that she'll always live on in his heart and his mind. It's a book full of love, empathy and wisdom. Hare-Shaped Hole is a fantastic collaboration between author John Dougherty and illustrator Thomas Docherty and needs to find a place in primary schools across the country."—Jon Biddle

"This book is a delight and perfect for working with children on bereavement, grief and loss […] deserves to be in every classroom in the UK" —ELSA Support

"Truly a wonderful read"—Grief Encounter

"A beautiful book"—Winston's Wish

“Beautiful guidance on how to keep the memories of those we love and miss alive within us.” —The Grief Gang Podcast

“The perfect starter book for introducing children to conversations about death and dying.”—Cumberland News

‘A touching story that navigates the stages of grief with grace, this is a beautifully written story with breath-taking illustrations. An excellent book that I’ve no doubt will bring some readers a lot of comfort.’—Books Ireland Magazine

"This is a deceptively deep story about love and loss, enlivened by charming art."—Storytime Magazine

“When Hertle the hare goes away, Bertle can only see a Hertle-shaped hole and he misses his friend. A sweet and poignant story about loss.”—The Bookseller

"The Hare-Shaped Hole tackles ideas around grief and bereavement with sensitivity and warmth, and could help you and your children start tricky conversations." —BookTrust

"Powerful and moving text... highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, kindergarten, and community library collections." —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

02/01/2024

PreS-Gr 3—Dealing with loss is hard. Trying to explain it to young children who can only think concretely is very difficult. This sweetly tender book attempts to do so in a way that children will be able to understand, but is engaging enough that it can also offer older readers opportunities to talk about their grief. Hertle the rabbit and Bertle the turtle are best friends. They are very different, but they each help the other and appreciate each other's differences as well as their similarities. One day, Hertle disappears. There is no explanation for why Hertle is gone, and Bertle feels like there is a big hole where Hertle used to be. At first, Bertle is angry, and begs and bargains; then Bertle is sad. Gerda the bear finds Bertle weeping and, after allowing time for sad feelings, suggests filling up the hole with happy memories of Hertle, which helps. The depiction of the Hertle-shaped hole being filled with bright colors and stars will help readers understand that loss doesn't always have to mean just pain. Warmly colored artwork is a perfect complement to the story. VERDICT Every library needs titles to pull down and hand over in a sad moment, and this one should be one of them.—Debbie Tanner

School Library Journal

2023-10-07
It’s hard to lose someone you love.

Bertle the turtle and Hertle Hare are the best of friends; though different, they support each other no matter what. Then, one day, Bertle finds that he’s alone except for a dark, Hertle-shaped shadow: “a hole in the air where a hare ought to be.” Bertle looks everywhere, but he cannot find any sign of Hertle. He yells at the dark hole, but it doesn’t respond. Then he begs the hole to bring Hertle back; he offers toys and promises to be on his best behavior, to no avail. Bertle sits by the riverbank where the two friends used to go and cries. Gerda, a kind older bear, comes along and hugs Bertle, letting him express his grief. When Bertle asks why Hertle had to go, Gerda responds that though sometimes those we love must leave us, we can fill the hole that’s left behind with memories of the good times. As Bertle shares his memories, the hare-shaped hole fills with colors and stars. Depicting several stages of grief, this sweet book is a tender portrayal of a character grappling with loss. The narrative is open-ended—Hertle is just “gone” one day—so readers in many situations will be able to relate. The steady, rhyming text works well with the painterly, roughly textured illustrations, which balance out the sad subject matter with a bright palette.

Moving. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews