|
The Dougherty & Docherty books"Powerful and moving text... paired perfectly with warm illustrations"
- Books for Topics |
|
"Elegant and beautiful, ‘The Hare-Shaped Hole’ is destined to be a modern classic.” - Dr Áine McGillicuddy, chair of the Children's Books Ireland judging panel
|
What's a turtle to do when his best friend just... disappears?
When Hertle Hare vanishes, leaving nothing but a dark, empty hole in the air, Bertle is distraught. How can he send the emptiness away and bring his friend back?
And what if he can't? |
|
"A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning"
(former Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho), The Hare-Shaped Hole has won five awards to date, and is available in more than 25 different languages worldwide. |
|
ReviewsGrief expert and author Lizzie Pickering wrote this lovely review for the Chipping Norton Literary Festival.
These booksellers loved it, with Nicole from Waterstones calling it “One Of The Most Beautifully Moving Children's Picture Books I Have Ever Read.” minitravellers.co.uk described it as "exquisitely moving... an absolute stunner of a book", and myshelvesarefull.com said it was "an absolute must-have... completely cathartic." This comment is from an email received via this website, and is quoted with permission.
"Last week my husband and I attended a funeral for his friend, who had taken nearly a year to die. My husband, an ex defence force vet, alpha male type of bloke from a hideously dysfunctional family, was very sad, but mostly only on the inside, because “real men don't show their emotions”. I read him your book. It was good for both of us." |
Aimee at Books on the Hill was personally touched by the book, which she believes "will be invaluable to children everywhere"
Readers That Care included The Hare-Shaped Hole in their round-up of books on grief, loss & war. The review is the third one, here - do read the other reviews, as well. Just Imagine described it as "a warm hug of a book", while Kirkus Reviews called it "Moving...a tender portrayal of a character grappling with loss." And Read for Good called it "a remarkable book... incredibly special and one that once read leaves an imprint on the heart of the reader." |
“This sensitive, gentle, straightforward story of friends who must part will help small readers weather the painful emotions that come before a loved one dies.” - The Guardian
|
A beautiful companion title to The Hare-Shaped Hole, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a profound, heart-warming story that helps children understand and prepare for loss. When little Gerda discovers that her big friend Orlo is going to die, she is distraught. How will she deal with the hole his loss will leave in her life? "One of the most important picturebooks of 2025" - Jon Biddle, teacher and Reading for Pleasure expert & influencer
|
|
Take a look at the reviews of the book on Goodreads, which describe it - among other things - as , "emotional", "powerful", "important", "perfect", "incredible", "essential", "brilliant", "lovely", "stunning", and "impeccably rhymed and beautifully illustrated". Many of the reviewers said that it moved them to tears.
|
|
|
|
The Bear-Shaped Hole was chosen by Empathy Lab for their Read for Empathy 2026 collection. |
"Charming, comforting and thoughtfully crafted, this is a story that lingers long after the final page, promoting emotional literacy, resilience and empathy” – Inis Magazine
|
It Won't Be Forever is the story of a little fox cub who is distraught to hear that her dad needs to go away for a while. But with some love and understanding, and a promise that's written in kingfisher blue, Vixie learns how to stay strong and feel connected to him until he comes back. |