The Hare-Shaped Hole

The multi-award-winning picture book
The Hare-Shaped Hole is a poignant and touching picture book exploring death and grief, as Bertle the turtle learns to cope with the loss of his best friend Hertle the hare.

WINNER of the Junior Juries Award and Judges Special Award – KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards 2024
WINNER of the UKLA Book Awards 2024 
SHORTLISTED for The Oscar's Book Prize 2024

'A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning.' – Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate 22-24

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.

Contributor: Thomas Docherty (Illustrated by)

Illustrator: Thomas Docherty

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

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