LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
In gentle accomplished rhyme by poet John Dougherty, we have the story of Hertle and Bertle who ‘were always a pair, though one was a turtle and one was a hare’. The very best of friends, they were always together until one day the end comes.
Bertle experiences every emotion as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his best friend, but eventually with the support of Gerda the bear, realises that she'll always live on in his heart and his mind. This book thoughtfully creates an age appropriate and beautiful metaphor to depict bereavement.
Rather than leaving the reader feeling sad, The Hare-Shaped Hole feels hopeful as it focuses on collecting and carrying positive memories. The stunning illustrations are bright, optimistic and full of love. This is not a book that needs to be put in a cupboard and saved to support a specific need. This has a lovely message that can be read for pleasure by any child and belongs in every primary classroom.
Joy Court
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About
The Hare-Shaped Hole Synopsis
The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching, and poignant picture book which 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 can be used as part of a gentle conversation about death and grief with children.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780711276055 |
| Publication date: |
7th March 2023 |
| Author: |
John Dougherty |
| Illustrator: |
Thomas Docherty |
| Publisher: |
Frances Lincoln Childrens Books an imprint of Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
32 pages |
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Press Reviews
John Dougherty Press Reviews
A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning. - Joe Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate
Author
About John Dougherty
John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland. He studied psychology at university and then tried his hand at a number of jobs including YMCA hostel worker, factory machine operator, and unsuccessful singer-songwriter, before becoming a primary school teacher.
Whilst John was teaching, his interest in children's literature was reawakened and he soon began writing stories and pestering publishers with them. After the publication of Zeus on the Loose (2004) he left teaching and took up writing full-time, only with more tea breaks. More recent books include the critically-acclaimed Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face series and his poetry collection, Dinosaurs & Dinner-Ladies.
His books have been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards and chosen for various book of the week/year roundups by the broadsheets, but more importantly, they make children giggle.
More About John Dougherty
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