The Hare-Shaped Hole sensitively deals with the subject of grief and loss. This beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and can support a child who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
The Story: Bertle, a turtle, and Hertle, a hare, are best friends forever. But one day Hertle isn’t there any more. As Bertle tries to come to terms with the hare-shaped hole in his life he meets Gerda. Gerda comforts and listens to Bertle and sensitively and kindly helps him find a way to come to terms with his loss.
Bertle and Hertle have a wonderful friendship. Despite being two completely different species of animal they enjoy lots of different activities together and when Hertle has gone we feel Bertle’s pain. We empathise with the little turtle as he experiences disbelief, sadness and anger while trying to make sense of the massive hare-shaped hole in his life. But Gerda is adorably kind, she’s a comforting older bear whose own experience helps Bertle come to terms with his loss, she encourages him to talk about his happy memories with Hertle.
We love Thomas Docherty’s illustrations and the way that the dark hare-shaped hole contrasts with the natural colours of the woodland where the animals live. The dark shape dominates many of the spreads as Bertle grieves and shouts but as he gradually thinks about his happy memories of Hertle the hole fills up with colour.
The Hare-Shaped Hole is a great book to initiate class and small group discussions about losing a loved one or a family pet. Children will immediately relate to the adorable characters and can be encouraged to share their own happy memories of people or pets that they have lost.
Age Range: 3 +
Author: John Dougherty / Illustrator: Thomas Docherty
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