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The Bear-Shaped Hole

By John Dougherty
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Brief Description
 A beautiful companion title to the critically acclaimed The Hare-Shaped Hole, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a profound, heart-warming story that helps children understand and prepare for loss.  Gerda and Orlo are best bear friends. When Gerda was there, Orlo always had time for a game or... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1899
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The Bear-Shaped Hole is a moving and sensitive picture book that explores preparing for loss. Gerda the bear has to process that her best friend, Orlo won't be around forever.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
 A beautiful companion title to the critically acclaimed The Hare-Shaped Hole, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a profound, heart-warming story that helps children understand and prepare for loss. 

Gerda and Orlo are best bear friends. When Gerda was there, Orlo always had time for a game or a story, a joke or a rhyme. He was never too busy to listen, to talk, to help, to share, or to go for a walk.

But slowly, something starts to change. Orlo reveals he is ill, and as he softly explains to Gerda, he is not going to get better. Gerda is overwhelmed by emotions she cannot quite explain, but Orlo gently helps her prepare, so they can spend their time together making memories that will last a lifetime. When the time comes, Gerda can fill the Bear-Shaped hole in her life with the special moments she shared with Orlo.

This brand new picture book is the latest powerful and moving tale from John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty, the award-winning creators of The Hare-Shaped Hole. This sensitively written and beautifully illustrated story explores the process of preparing for loss as well as the experience of loss itself. 

The Bear-Shaped Hole is a gentle, heartfelt tale that helps children navigate and understand the complex emotions associated with loss. Perfect for parents looking for a way to address sensitive topics, it covers a range of themes to support meaningful conversations. 

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780711296602

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 May 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Illustration: Colour illustrations

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Thomas Docherty

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 276.0mm

Weight: 350g

Pages: 40

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children's Picture Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational John Dougherty

About the Author

Author and poet John Dougherty has been writing children's books for over twenty years. His work ranges quite literally from the sublime to the ridiculous, including as it does the hilarious and surreal Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series and There's a Pig Up My Nose, and the beautiful and multi-award winning The Hare-Shaped Hole. His books have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide. A former teacher, John was one of the first Patrons of Reading in the UK and is a passionate advocate for both public libraries and the importance of reading for pleasure. Born in Northern Ireland, he now lives in Gloucestershire with his wife Jennie.Thomas Docherty is an author and illustrator of children's books, who is based in Swansea. His first picture book, The Little Boat was shortlisted for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal, and he has also worked on several books with his wife Helen Docherty, including The Snatchabook, The Knight Who Wouldn't Fight and Pirate Nell's Tale To Tell. His books have been sold around the world and have been translated into more than 25 languages.

Also by John Dougherty

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  • The Hare-Shaped Hole
    The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching, and poignant picture book which 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...
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  • Something in the Darkness
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    As night falls and strange whispers seem to follow your every step, the question lingers – what’s out there in the dark? Packed with suspense, this unputdownable story will keep young readers on the edge of their seats, eventually revealing that some things are more frightening in the darkness than they are in the light. A must-have picture book for...
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  • It Won't Be Forever
    From the award-winning creators of The Hare-Shaped Hole. In the woods, there lives a fox family. One of the cubs, Vixie, has a close relationship with her dad, Rey. He makes her feel safe, and he's always there for her when she feels lonely, worried, or sad. One day, Rey tells the family that he has to go away for...
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