"A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning." - Joe Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate
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.
