Exploring loss in The Bear-Shaped Hole, with John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty
About Author
John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty explore loss in their picture books, The Hare-Shaped Hole and The Bear-Shaped Hole.
Author and poet John Dougherty, formerly a teacher, is a passionate advocate for public libraries and the importance of reading for pleasure. Born in Northern Ireland, he now lives in Gloucestershire with his wife.
Thomas Docherty is an author and illustrator of children's books, including The Hare-Shaped Hole, Little Boat and The Snatchabook, written by his wife, Helen. Thomas was born in New Zealand, lives in England, and loves travelling, so far to Africa, Asia and South America.
Interview
Supporting children through bereavement with The Bear-Shaped Hole (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
May 2025
John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty's award-winning picture book, The Hare-Shaped Hole, has been followed with a new book exploring bereavement, The Bear-Shaped Hole.
ReadingZone spoke with the author and illustrator to find out how they approach the sensitive subject of bereavement in these stories, and why they wanted to follow up their award-winning picture book with a new story about facing an impending loss.
Review: "Deeply poignant, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a wonderful book to support those facing an impending loss."
Q&A with John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty, creators of The Bear-Shaped Hole
"It's a story of loss and of grief, which is, I think, ultimately hopeful and comforting."
1. Can you tell us a little about yourselves and how you became involved in creating picture books? What kinds of books do you enjoy creating?
John: The very first manuscripts I sent to a publisher were picture book scripts, written for my class when I was a teacher, but it was only after a decade and a half as a published writer that I finally managed to get a picture book accepted - ironically, one of those same manuscripts. The Hare-Shaped Hole is only my second picture book, and Bear my third, though over the next couple of years I have at least three or four more coming, including another collaboration with Thomas for Frances Lincoln. As to what kind of books I enjoy creating - generally, whatever kind of book I happen to be working on!
Thomas: For as long as I can remember, I have always loved drawing, however, I can't say the same about reading. I'm dyslexic and it took me a long time to learn to read properly, and eventually to enjoy it! So when I was young, I spent hours looking at pictures and copying them and drawing my own things. I knew I loved stories, it just took a long time for me to put the two together and realise that I could tell them, not just with words, but with pictures too. Every story needs different pictures to tell it, and coming up with those pictures is a lot of fun!
2. Have you been surprised by the reaction to your first book together, The Hare-Shaped Hole? What happens in the story and what inspired you to create it?
John: Yes, I think I have! I'd hoped The Hare-Shaped Hole would be just a little helpful to children who had experienced loss, but some of the messages I've had have been overwhelming. It seems to be a story that connects with people of all ages, and which in some cases has had a profound impact.
In short, the book is about a turtle whose best friend disappears, to be replaced by a hole in the air. It's a story of loss and of grief, which is, I think, ultimately hopeful and comforting. The inspiration came from a convergence of factors including lockdown, Oscar's Book Prize, and The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley - if I had more space I'd tell you the whole story!
Thomas: I feel very lucky to have been asked by the publisher Quarto to illustrate The Hare-Shaped Hole and delighted that John, who wrote the story, was happy with my illustrations, too! We have received many lovely comments about the story and the pictures. It is touching to think that it has helped people in some small way and it is a book that I'm very proud of.
3. Since you explore grief and bereavement in The Hare-Shaped Hole, what happens in your new picture book, The Bear-Shaped Hole? Were you always going to revisit the original book with another story?
John: The Bear-Shaped Hole goes back to the cub-hood of Gerda, the kindly elder bear from Hare, and a time when she discovered that a much-loved friend was terminally ill. It's about preparing for loss, and making the most of the time you have left.
I hadn't necessarily intended returning to Gerda - when I wrote The Hare-Shaped Hole it felt complete in itself - but when I had the idea for a story on such a connected theme, it seemed natural to make her the central character.
Thomas: For me it was really interesting to return to the same world we created in the first book, and also to draw Gerda as a child. The visual connection between the two books really builds on the narratives and adds depth to the world and the characters.
4. How do you approach the portrayal of grief in each of these stories, and these different kinds of loss? Have you researched how children manage their grief?
John: No, I didn't do any research as such, though as part of the editing process both texts were sent for advice and feedback to charities and professionals who work in the field of bereavement. I took my own approach partly from knowledge (for instance, in The Hare-Shaped Hole Bertle's emotional journey reflects the five stages of grief), partly from my own experiences of loss, and partly from putting myself in the characters' shoes. Not that they wear shoes, but you know what I mean.
Thomas: When drawing the pictures for both books, I spent a lot of time remembering a good friend of mine who sadly died a few years ago. It felt like a positive thing to be able to draw on those memories and feelings and put them into the illustrations. Both stories are so beautifully written and constructed by John that I also just let myself be lead by his words.
5. In many picture books, references to loss are fairly oblique. Did you feel it was important to be more specific about loss in these stories, and if so why?
John: Yes, yes, and yes again! In talking about loss and death, we grown-ups have a choice: we can centre the child by talking to them openly and honestly, and letting them see that their questions and feelings and concerns are normal and completely acceptable, or we can protect ourselves from the reality of their difficult feelings, and the feelings their questions may provoke in us. I believe that when dealing with these big topics, putting the child first is essential.
Thomas: I think that John's approach to loss is very brave in these books and also very true. Loss is a very difficult subject and I hope that there is a compassion and gentleness to my illustrations that helps in the telling of the stories.
6. The stories each share the importance of memories of a loved one - how did you decide to approach this, and what were the challenges in doing so?
John: I knew that the hare-shaped hole would have to be filled with Bertle's memories, and I think it was me who came up with the idea of that being an abstract image, with the memories represented by colours. How to achieve that, I very much left to Thomas!
Thomas: Thinking up all of the happy memories was one of the most joyful parts of illustrating the two books. I thought of all the lovely memories that I have of doing things with my children, family and friends and tried to put those feelings into the pictures.
7. Can you talk about the process of illustrating these stories and how the images support the tone of the text?
Thomas: I tried as hard as I could to put as much emotion as possible into the illustrations, not just in the character's expressions but in the landscape and details. I made the characters as simple as I could and used colour and weather and nature to help set the mood for each page.
The idea for the hole filling up with light and texture came from some scraps of paper I had collected. I often use a bit of paper to clean my brush before painting, or to try out a colour. The colours had built up together and sometimes made beautiful and surprising combinations. They seemed just the right thing to use because they are bright and joyful and spontaneous.
8. What kinds of discussions or activities can the stories be used to encourage children in exploring loss and their feelings?
John: I'm not sure I feel qualified to answer this question! Fortunately, there are lots of people who are. For instance, many schools now have ELSAs - Emotional Literacy Support Assistants - who are trained in this area, and I know many of them are using The Hare-Shaped Hole with children facing loss. The ELSA Support website offers discussion points and suggested activities, many of which will also be appropriate after reading Bear. Of course, you don't have to plan discussions or activities; you can just read the book together, and answer any questions that arise naturally!
Thomas: I imagine that anything that helps children begin to speak about their own experiences of loss and their feelings is a good thing. It's wonderful to think that our book might be of some help to children who need to do this.
9. Are you planning another title to link to these books; is there a clue shared on the last page of The Bear-Shaped Hole? What are you writing / illustrating currently?
John: I'd love to do another book featuring Gerda or Bertle at some point, but we don't have any such plans at the moment. The next book we're doing together is set in Gerda's world, though. The working title is It Won't Be Forever; it's about a fox cub whose dad has to go away from home for a bit, and how she learns to cope with his absence until he returns.
Aside from that, I have a few books currently in progress. I'm working on a couple of collaborations with other writers - a middle-grade comedy-adventure and a themed poetry collection. I've got a couple of rhyming picture books and a poetry project in the early stages - one silly, one scary, and one sciencey. And I started something the other day which might turn out to be a verse novel; I'm not sure yet.
Thomas: I'm illustrating the next title right now! The new book is not linked directly with the first two, but it does take place in a similar world and it is full of emotion. It is about a family of foxes and I love drawing foxes!
10. Where do you go to seek out inspiration for new stories? What kinds of things do you enjoy doing in your downtime?
John: New ideas generally hide from me while I'm looking for them, and then sneak up on me while I'm busy doing other things. The idea for The Bear-Shaped Hole appeared while I was out for a run, thinking about a chat I'd had with a friend the night before, for instance, while the inspiration for Hare came to me while I was watching a virtual prize ceremony during lockdown.
As to downtime: music is a love of mine; I'm not doing enough of it at the moment, but I've been in a number of bands and a cappella groups. I play guitar and I'm trying to learn a bit of bass. My wife has a much more taxing job than I do, though, so spare time at the moment often involves just unwinding with her, making her dinner and catching up on our latest must-see TV. And of course there's always reading!
Thomas: Whenever I go out, I try to take my sketchbook and pens with me. I love to draw the countryside and the city or just things from my imagination. I think my best ideas come from real things that I've seen, or done or heard with a little bit of imagination and magic mixed in.
School Visits: Do you offer virtual / in person events for schools? Can you tell us what your events include, and how schools can get in touch to arrange a visit with you?
John: Yes I do! I love visiting schools, and am more than happy to visit them virtually, too. A visit to a primary school usually involves four sessions, taking in all the children from Reception right up to Year 6, and includes readings, music, Q&A, inspiration and fun! I'm keen to expand my secondary school work, too, with KS3 poetry events; the few I've done so far have been very well received and I'd like to do more. You can arrange a visit by contacting Naomi at Authors Aloud on [email protected].
Thomas: I love doing school events, in person and online. It's brilliant to be able to share my stories and illustrations and help children write and draw their own stories too. You can find lots of information on my website, in the schools section and contact me directly from there. www.thomasdocherty.co.uk
The Bear-Shaped Hole
The Hare-Shaped Hole
