The Hare Shaped Hole

By John Dougherty

📖 Book Review: The Hare-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty & Thomas Docherty

A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning. — Joe Coelho, UK Children’s Laureate

The Hare-Shaped Hole is a tender and poetic picture book that explores grief and loss with rare sensitivity and warmth.

Bertle the turtle and Hertle the hare are inseparable best friends—until, one day, Hertle is gone. In his absence, Bertle sees a “Hertle-shaped hole” in his world, filled with sorrow, confusion, and longing. No matter how hard he wishes or cries, nothing brings Hertle back.

Then comes Gerda, a gentle bear who helps Bertle understand that while Hertle is gone, the love and memories they shared remain. Slowly, Bertle learns to carry his grief—and to begin healing.

🌟 Why This Book Matters

• A heartfelt, age-appropriate way to talk about death and loss

• Rhyming text that soothes while expressing deep emotion

• Thomas Docherty’s warm, expressive illustrations perfectly complement the gentle message

• A valuable tool for parents, teachers, and counselors to guide conversations about mourning

This poignant story reminds children (and adults) that though someone we love may no longer be with us, their memory can live on—filling the empty spaces with love, not just sadness.